Hefeweizen

It's all in the Yeast

Hefeweizen is a simple, refreshing German style of beer whose main characteristics are determined by very low flocculating yeasts that produce a cloudy end product ('hefe' in German means yeast.) Hefeweizen specific yeast strains also produce characteristic phenol and esther compounds among others that remind tasters of bannana, clove, bubblegum.

The other major flavor comes from a grain bill of about half wheat - giving this beer a nice, full mouth feel and that crackery and subtly bready wheat flavor. The other half of the grain bill is generally Continental Pilsner malt.
Hopping, like many German styles, is fairly low and authentic results come from a Noble hop like Hallertau or an American offshoot like Liberty.

Ingredients

The yeast is the star of the show here. A good Hefeweizen cannot be made without the right yeast. Plain and simply, do not bother to try. The three yeasts I would recommend are special Weizen strains from White Labs or Wyeast or the dry Fermentis WB-06 wheat yeast. Reports are that a restrained fermentation temperature (62-64F) will produce a clean fermentation with the desired ester and phenol characteristics.

On your grain bill, resist the urge to throw any adjuncts or other such in here ... save that for other styles. Hefeweizen is a clean, straight-forward, simple style that is meant to let the yeast do the talking.

Yeast Choices

White Labs	Hefeweizen Ale Yeast	WLP300	Basic Hefeweizen yeast, moderate phenol and esther
White Labs	Hefeweizen IV Yeast	WLP380	More Clove and phenol, less banana than WLP300. Higher attenuation, less flocculant. Citrus & Apricot notes.
Wyeast	German Wheat	WY3333	Subtle weizen characteristics.
Wyeast	Bavarian Wheat	WY3638	Good amount of balanced banana/clove flavors with bubble gum, apple, plum.
Wyeast	Weihenstephan Weizen	WY3068	Full flavored, classic strain used widely by many producers in Germany.
Fermentis	Wheat Yeast	WB-06	Dry yeast alternative to the liquid cultures.

Style Facts

OG: 1.044 - 1.052

FG: 1.010 - 1.014

IBU: 8 - 15

SRM: 2 - 8

ABV: 4.3% - 5.6%