Weizen

A highly carbonated wheat ale with signature banana and clove yeast aromatics, pillowy texture, and cloudy appearance. Lightly tart with low bitterness. Its identity is driven more by expressive yeast and wheat texture than by hop or malt intensity.

Defined by expressive yeast-driven esters and phenols, balancing banana, clove, and creamy wheat body.

Also known as: Hefeweizen; Weissbier; Weizen; Bavarian Wheat Beer
Family: Fruity & Yeasty Ales - Wheat beers and fruit-forward ales with expressive fermentation
Core Style - Part of the Expressive Ales, defined by a clearly dominant sensory driver such as hop intensity, yeast expression, strength, or acidity.
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ABV, IBU and colour

This section summarises the typical alcohol strength, bitterness level and colour range of Weizen within the GBI model.

ABV: 5,2%
IBU: 13
Colour: 4,5 SRM / 8,9 EBC

Taste profile

The sensory profile below shows the typical intensity range of the 15 core flavour dimensions.

Colour:
Straw Gold
Clarity:
Hazy Opaque
Aroma – Malt:
Low Medium
Aroma – Hop:
Low Medium
Aroma – Yeast:
Medium High
Aroma – Special:
None Low
Sweetness:
Low Medium
Sourness:
None Low
Bitterness:
Low Medium
Body:
Medium High
Astringency:
Low Medium
Carbonation:
High Very high
Alcohol Strength:
Low Medium
Finish Length:
Short Medium
Oxidation:
None Low

Creamy, fruity, and effervescent with refreshing drinkability.

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What gives Weizen its character

These structural drivers help shape its characteristic sensory profile.

  • A very high wheat share strongly increases haze potential and can add some fullness to the body.
  • A high priming rate contributes a strong increase in natural carbonation.
  • Yeast in suspension can create a soft, natural haze.
  • Pilsner malt provides a pale grain base with relatively restrained malt aroma.
  • Hefeweizen yeast contributes pronounced yeast-derived aroma, commonly combining banana-like esters with clove-like phenolic notes.
  • A chloride-forward balance supports a fuller, slightly sweeter palate while softening perceived bitterness.
  • Moderate grist intensity provides more extract, supporting somewhat higher gravity, body and alcohol strength.
  • Strong phenolic spice.
  • Strong fruity esters.

History

Weizen emerged in Bavaria as a wheat-based ale once restricted by brewing privilege, later becoming a defining regional style known for its distinctive yeast expression and cloudy presentation.

How Weizen compares to other beer styles

This comparison shows meaningful differences in sensory ranges and style character based on the GBI data.

Weizen vs Dunkelweizen

Compared with Dunkelweizen, Weizen has:

  • a lighter color
  • less intense malt aroma

Other differences:

  • Dunkelweizen has caramel malt notes; both styles have raw Wheat and doughy malt notes.

Weizen vs Weizenbock

Compared with Weizenbock, Weizen has:

  • a lighter color
  • less intense malt aroma
  • a milder alcohol impression
  • a shorter finish

Other differences:

  • Weizen can have a lighter body.
  • Weizenbock has melanoidin and honey-like malt notes; both styles have raw Wheat and doughy malt notes.

Compare Weizen with another beer style

Choose any GBI beer style to compare sensory ranges and style character.

Want to explore the underlying data in more detail? Compare styles in the GBI Explorer →

Modelled variants of Weizen

The following variant profiles are formally modelled expressions derived from this Core Style, each differing structurally in at least one primary sensory driver.

Best food pairings for Weizen

These food pairings complement the dominant sensory traits of Weizen.

  • Light seafood
  • Salads
  • Citrus chicken or citrus dressings

Service & Aging

Practical guidance for serving and handling Weizen.

Serving notes
Serve cool · Rouse yeast if desired · Sediment normal
Pouring technique
Swirl last 1–2 cm to add yeast
Aging potential
Drink fresh · Aging destroys aroma
Common faults
Phenolic harshness · Clove imbalance
Style details
  • Origin: Germany — Originating from German brewing traditions.
  • Glassware: Weizen Glass — Classic tall Weizen glass built to support large foam heads and showcase wheat beer aromas.
  • Serving: Bottle — Served from bottle.
  • Conditioning: Bottle-conditioned — Naturally carbonated in the bottle.
  • Aging vessel: Stainless — Aged or matured in stainless steel.
  • Packaging: Bottle — Packaged in bottle.

Commercial examples of Weizen

The following commercial examples illustrate widely recognised expressions of Weizen in the market.

  • Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
  • Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier
  • Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier

Weizen – Competition winners and medalists

Medal winners for Weizen from major beer competitions. Categories follow each competition's official classification and may include stylistically adjacent interpretations.

2026 competition results

World Beer Cup 2026

South German-Style Weissbier

  • Gold – Windansea Wheat – Karl Strauss Brewing Co. , United States
  • Silver – Weihenstephaner Kristallweißbier – Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan , Germany
  • Bronze – Goggle Fogger – Fat Heads Brewery , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2026

Weizen

  • Gold – Dampegheest Weizen – Brouwerij Dampegheest , Netherlands
  • Silver – Gouverneur Weizen – Lindeboom Bierbrouwerij , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Tullupie – Dorpsbrouwerij Uzzewuzze , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

2025 competition results 24 medalists

European Beer Star 2025

South German-style Leichtes Weizen

  • Gold – Zebra Craft Xiao Mai Bai – Zebra Craft Beer , China
  • Silver – Spalter Weizen leicht – Stadtbrauerei Spalt , Germany
  • Bronze – Hofmühl Weißbier leicht – Privatbrauerei Hofmühl , Germany

South German-style Hefeweizen Hell

  • Gold – Hirsch Hefe Weisse – Hirsch-Brauerei Honer , Germany
  • Silver – Sonhoshin German-Style Wheat Beer – Beijing Sonhoshin & Five Star Beer Company , China
  • Bronze – Rittmayer Weizen – Brauerei Rittmayer Hallerndorf , Germany

Non-alcoholic Hefeweizen

  • Gold – Maisel's Weisse Alkoholfrei – Brauerei Gebr. Maisel , Germany
  • Silver – Schlappeseppel Weißbier alkoholfrei – Eder & Heylands Brauerei , Germany
  • Bronze – Weizen alkoholfrei – Brauerei Rittmayer Hallerndorf , Germany

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

Great American Beer Festival 2025

German Wheat Ale

  • Gold – Weizenbock – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. , United States
  • Silver – Southern Storm – Tucker Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Sixpoint Brewery Mimic Weisse – Brewers at 4001 Yancey , United States

South German-Style Hefeweizen

  • Gold – Goggle Fogger – Fat Heads Brewery , United States
  • Silver – Abso-hefin'-lutely! – East Village Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Hefewiezen – JAFB Wooster Brewery , United States

Source: Great American Beer Festival ( official website )

World Beer Cup 2025

South German-Style Hefeweizen

  • Gold – Washout Wheat – Holy City Brewing , United States
  • Silver – Shed & Silo – 3 Nations Brewing , United States
  • Bronze – Hefeweizen – Dru Bru , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2025

Weizen

  • Gold – Gouverneur Weizen – Lindeboom Bierbrouwerij , Netherlands
  • Silver – Witzige Weizen (biologisch) – vandeStreek bier , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Weize Vos – Stadsbrouwerij Vos , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

Brussels Beer Challenge 2025

Weizen

  • Gold – Primátor Weizen – Primátor , Czech Republic
  • Silver – Buckskin Hefeweizen – Buckskin, King Car Group , Taiwan
  • Bronze – Bayreuther Hefe-weissbier – Bayreuther Bierbrauerei AG , Germany

Source: Brussels Beer Challenge ( official website )

2024 competition results 9 medalists

European Beer Star 2024

South German-style Leichtes Weizen

  • Gold – Hofmühl Hefeweizen leicht – Privatbrauerei Hofmühl , Germany
  • Silver – Zebra Craft Xiao Mai Bai – Zebra Craft Beer , China
  • Bronze – Weissbier Leicht – Gebr. Müller Müllerbräu , Germany

South German-style Hefeweizen Hell

  • Gold – Grolsch Weizen – Koninklijke Grolsch , Netherlands
  • Silver – Seeweisse – Brauerei Max Leibinger , Germany
  • Bronze – Kaiser Hefe hell – Kaiser Brauerei , Germany

Non-alcoholic Hefeweizen

  • Gold – Maisel's Weisse Alkoholfrei – Brauerei Gebr. Maisel , Germany
  • Silver – Franziskaner Alkoholfrei – Spaten Franziskaner Bräu , Germany
  • Bronze – Edelweiss Alkokohlfrei – Brauerei Zipf , Austria

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

2023 competition results 9 medalists

European Beer Star 2023

South German-style Leichtes Weizen

  • Gold – Hirsch Sport Weisse – Hirsch-Brauerei Honer , Germany
  • Silver – Weissbier Leicht – Gebr. Müller Müllerbräu , Germany
  • Bronze – Ayinger Leichte Bräuweisse – Brauerei Aying Franz Inselkammer KG , Germany

South German-style Hefeweizen Hell

  • Gold – Urbrew First-Wort Weissbier – Urbrew , China
  • Silver – Hacklberg Jakobi Weißbier Hell – Brauerei Hacklberg , Germany
  • Bronze – Weihenstephaner Hefeweißbier – Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan , Germany

Non-alcoholic Hefeweizen

  • Gold – Maisel's Weisse Alkoholfrei – Brauerei Gebr. Maisel , Germany
  • Silver – Edelweiss Alkoholfrei – Brauerei Zipf , Austria
  • Bronze – Hefeweizen Alkoholfrei – Schönbuch Braumanufaktur , Germany

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

Competition results for Weizen variants

These modelled variants have separate competition results in the GlobalBeerIndex dataset.

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