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Summit Hefeweizen

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Lightly toasted breadcrumb notes, a little Tettnang hop spice and familiar banana and clove aromas from a German yeast strain sit under effervescent foam, and the finish is dry. First introduced in 2002, this wheat beer built a cult following before a long hiatus and has since come back. At 4.5% ABV, brewed with US Pils and wheat malt.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter18 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
clovebananawheat
clove
banana
wheat
bready
toasty
yeasty
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced banana and clove notes from the German yeast strain, accompanied by subtle lightly toasted breadcrumb aromas.
also:spicy hop
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Summit Hefeweizen

◎ Appearance

Pale golden-yellow with a slight haze characteristic of the style. A dense, effervescent foam rises and clings to the glass with steady retention. The carbonation is visibly active, creating a lively and inviting presentation.

pale goldenhazydense foameffervescent

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced banana and clove notes from the German yeast strain, accompanied by subtle lightly toasted breadcrumb aromas. A gentle Tettnang hop spice threads through, adding a delicate herbal edge without overpowering the fruity esters. The overall bouquet is bright and characterful, with good aromatic definition.

banana esterclove spicetoasted breadcrumbherbal hopyeast-forward

◐ Taste

The palate opens clean and light, with wheat malt providing a soft, grainy foundation. Clove and banana flavors from the yeast dominate the mid-palate, balanced by a subtle bready-toasty undertone from the US Pils base malt. The modest 18 IBU contributes a restrained, crisp hop bitterness that does not intrude, allowing the yeast character to remain central.

crispwheat-softclove-bananalight bodydry finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with lingering banana and clove notes fading into a refreshing, slightly herbal aftertaste. The beer closes with a sense of clarity and refreshment, inviting another sip.

drycrisp aftertasterefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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 Summit Hefeweizen

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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, wheat character as Summit Hefeweizen 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 →