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Windansea Wheat

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Banana, clove and bubblegum lead the way, with a hint of vanilla, all from a closely guarded Hefeweizen yeast strain. Served hazy and unfiltered, this 5.1% wheat beer is brewed true to the Bavarian style with Tettnanger hops. The name comes from the shack at Windansea beach, which winter storms sometimes wash away and a local rebuilds. Gold at the 2026 World Beer Cup in South German-style Weissbier.

ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
golden5
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2026
World Beer Cup
South German-style Weissbier
★Gold — World Beer Cup (South German-style Weissbier)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
clovebananabubblegum
clove
banana
bubblegum
wheat
vanilla
noble hop
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced phenolic clove and bright banana esters from the signature Hefeweizen yeast strain, immediately recognizable and well-defined.
also:yeasty
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Windansea Wheat

◎ Appearance

Deep golden hue with a pale straw undertone, held in a hazy, unfiltered matrix that catches light with soft diffusion. A dense, creamy head forms readily and clings to the glass with notable persistence, leaving fine lacework as the beer descends. Vigorous carbonation is evident throughout, driving steady streams of bubbles upward through the cloudy body.

golden, hazycreamy headunfiltered

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced phenolic clove and bright banana esters from the signature Hefeweizen yeast strain, immediately recognizable and well-defined. Beneath these primary yeast descriptors lies a delicate vanilla note and subtle pink bubblegum sweetness, along with soft wheat grain and a whisper of noble Tettnanger spice. The aromatic profile is clean and classically Bavarian, with no harsh or oxidative edges.

clove, bananavanilla, bubblegumnoble hop spice

◐ Taste

Entry is light and refreshing, with the yeast-derived phenolic and ester character dominating the mid-palate—clove and banana remain forefront, complemented by a gentle vanilla undertone. The wheat base provides soft body and a slightly grainy sweetness, while Tettnanger hops contribute restrained bitterness and a dry, herbal balance that prevents cloying. Carbonation adds liveliness to the finish and enhances the overall crispness.

clove-forwardwheat-softlightly bitter

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with yeast character and noble-hop bitterness lingering gently on the palate. A faint vanilla sweetness and grain dryness persist briefly before fading to a crisp, refreshing conclusion.

dry, cleanmoderate length
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
87
Appearance
86
Finish
85
Serve at 5–8°C

Slightly warmer than a lager — 8–12°C allows the banana and clove esters from the yeast to fully develop.

Weizen glass

Tall and narrow at the base, flaring at the top — designed to hold the abundant foam of a wheat beer while showcasing its hazy golden body.

Best fresh. The yeast-driven banana and clove character fades over time. Drink within 4 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Windansea Wheat

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About Hefeweizen

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Hefeweizen?

Hefeweizens are unfiltered Bavarian wheat beers with 4.9–5.6% ABV. Yeast-driven banana and clove esters define the style, alongside a hazy golden body and soft wheat sweetness.

Finding a similar Hefeweizen

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clove, banana, hazy character as Windansea Wheat will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Hefeweizen beers in hopIQ →New to Hefeweizen? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →