Erdinger WeissbiervsWeihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

Clean, consistent, reliably pleasant. The yeast character is there but restrained — a light banana, very gentle clove, mostly just clean wheat sweetness. Pours a good cloudy gold with a stable foam. The mouthfeel is medium, the carbonation lively without being aggressive. The finish is slightly sweet and relatively neutral. It's a beer designed to not offend anyone, which it achieves spectacularly. The kind of thing you drink three of without noticing.

From the world's oldest brewery (founded 1040), which sounds like trivia but the yeast strain they've maintained tells the story. The banana aroma is more expressive and complex than Erdinger — warmer, more layered, with a slight tartness underneath that comes from real yeast character. The sip has more dimension: the wheat, the fruit, the faint spice all distinct rather than blended into a general 'wheat beer' impression. It demands to be appreciated.