Hefeweizen is an unfiltered Bavarian wheat beer with a top-fermenting yeast that drives banana ester and clove phenol character. The style is pale to amber, hazy, soft-carbonated and refreshing. The hopIQ Score for Hefeweizen evaluates each beer against the Hefeweizen reference and weights medals from style-judged competitions.
Currently leading the ranking: Weihenstephaner Hefeweißbier (Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan), Kurpfalzbräu Ur-Weizen (Kurpfalzbräu) and Schneider Weisse TAP7 Original (G. Schneider & Sohn).
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 490 beers from 375 breweries.
Top 5 of 50
ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Mild
Colour
golden 5
Weihenstephan's best-known beer is a cloudy, top-fermented wheat beer brewed from barley and wheat malt on the Weihenstephan hill. It pours a hazy amber under a fine-pored white head, with clove leading the nose ahead of ripe banana. On…Weihenstephan's best-known beer is a cloudy, top-fermented wheat beer brewed from barley and wheat malt on the Weihenstephan hill. It pours a hazy amber under a fine-pored white head, with clove leading the nose ahead of ripe banana. On the palate the banana and clove sit on a gently spicy, soft and grainy base, and the body turns almost creamy before a mild finish with little bitterness. Original gravity is 12.7 °P.
Kurpfalzbräu Ur-Weizen#35 worldwide
ABV
5.0%
Bitterness
Mild
Colour
golden 5
An amber-coloured, top-fermented wheat beer with a fine yeast haze. The brewery describes it as full-bodied and refreshing, with fruity, spicy yeast notes and a pronounced malt sweetness; tasters mention banana and clove. It is brewed from…An amber-coloured, top-fermented wheat beer with a fine yeast haze. The brewery describes it as full-bodied and refreshing, with fruity, spicy yeast notes and a pronounced malt sweetness; tasters mention banana and clove. It is brewed from wheat and barley malt with Hallertauer Tradition hops at an original gravity of 12 °P and is part of the year-round range.
Schneider Weisse TAP7 Original#85 worldwide
ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Mild
Colour
golden 5
The brewery's flagship is still brewed to Georg I. Schneider's recipe of 1872: a deep amber, cloudy Hefeweizen of wheat and barley malt, hopped with Hallertauer Tradition and Herkules and brewed from 12.8 °Plato. Open fermentation and…The brewery's flagship is still brewed to Georg I. Schneider's recipe of 1872: a deep amber, cloudy Hefeweizen of wheat and barley malt, hopped with Hallertauer Tradition and Herkules and brewed from 12.8 °Plato. Open fermentation and bottle conditioning shape its yeast character. Ripe banana and clove lead the nose, joined by caramel, nutmeg and allspice. The palate is soft and full, with pear-like fruit over a mildly sweet malt base and lively, well-integrated carbonation.
Which of these beers fits your taste?
Build your Beer DNA and see which of these top beers fit your taste — free, in two minutes.
Build my Beer DNA4
Ayinger Bräuweisse#127 worldwide
ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Mild
Colour
golden 5
A hazy pale wheat beer of bright gold under a fine, close head. The nose is led by a soft top-fermenting yeast character and a clear banana note, with a light clove edge behind it. The first sip is velvety, soft and mild, lifted by a…A hazy pale wheat beer of bright gold under a fine, close head. The nose is led by a soft top-fermenting yeast character and a clear banana note, with a light clove edge behind it. The first sip is velvety, soft and mild, lifted by a champagne-like prickle of carbonation. The body runs full for a wheat beer of this strength, and the finish carries delicate spicy-fruity citrus notes. Bitterness stays barely perceptible throughout. Brewed at 11.8 degrees Plato.
5
Ketterer Ur-Weisse Hell#175 worldwide
ABV
5.2%
Bitterness
Mild
Colour
amber 12
A naturally cloudy Hefeweizen from the Schwarzwald, poured in matte gold and built on the house yeast's signature estral character. The bouquet opens with fresh fruit tones—apple and banana in the foreground—while the palate finds balance…A naturally cloudy Hefeweizen from the Schwarzwald, poured in matte gold and built on the house yeast's signature estral character. The bouquet opens with fresh fruit tones—apple and banana in the foreground—while the palate finds balance between a soft, rounded body and restrained bitterness. Fine carbonation lifts the drink without harshness, keeping it clean and refreshing from first sip to finish. Drink lightly chilled, around 45–48 °F, when you want a Hefeweizen that lets clarity and fruit speak louder than spice or heaviness.
Ranks 6–10
6
Windansea Wheat#217 worldwide
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…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.
7
Hirsch Hefe Weisse#255 worldwide
Hirsch Brauerei Honer's Hefe Weisse is the wheat beer done right — vivid banana and clove pop immediately, followed by a soft, pillowy body that feels effortless to drink. High carbonation keeps it crisp rather than cloying. This is a beer…Hirsch Brauerei Honer's Hefe Weisse is the wheat beer done right — vivid banana and clove pop immediately, followed by a soft, pillowy body that feels effortless to drink. High carbonation keeps it crisp rather than cloying. This is a beer that reminds you why the style endures.
8
Gouverneur Weizen#275 worldwide
A wheat beer in the German tradition: lightly hazy, soft on the palate, under a dense head. Banana and clove lead, with clear fruitiness and almost no bitterness. Brewed on barley and wheat malt with top-fermenting yeast, at 5.4 percent.…A wheat beer in the German tradition: lightly hazy, soft on the palate, under a dense head. Banana and clove lead, with clear fruitiness and almost no bitterness. Brewed on barley and wheat malt with top-fermenting yeast, at 5.4 percent. Serve at four to six degrees.
9
Baumgartner Weisse hell#276 worldwide
Hefeweizen at 5.4% in glowing amber, yeast-cloudy. The typical fruity, aromatic nose brings banana and citrus fruits; the first sip is soft with a mild fullness and a light sparkle. Particularly fresh, nicely rounded, very fruity and…Hefeweizen at 5.4% in glowing amber, yeast-cloudy. The typical fruity, aromatic nose brings banana and citrus fruits; the first sip is soft with a mild fullness and a light sparkle. Particularly fresh, nicely rounded, very fruity and pleasantly spicy, velvety yet sparkling in the mouth, it ends balanced and round with a mild, sweetish close. In 2014 Baumgartner built a new fermentation cellar for its wheat beers.
10
Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrüb#280 worldwide
Franziskaner's flagship wheat beer pours a copper-gold colour with an even yeast haze and a dense white head. The nose brings ripe banana and citrus with a light floral touch and a hint of clove-like spice from the house top-fermenting…Franziskaner's flagship wheat beer pours a copper-gold colour with an even yeast haze and a dense white head. The nose brings ripe banana and citrus with a light floral touch and a hint of clove-like spice from the house top-fermenting yeast. High carbonation gives a lively, prickling feel; the palate is gently sweet with a balancing tartness, fruity and juicy, before a moderate bitterness leads into a clean, fairly dry finish. The body is light to medium.
The taste landscape
Of the 50 top beers, 18 lean malt-forward and 15 lean hop-forward.