7.1

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

12oz bottle consumed on 8/23/06.
Popping the cap, I’m greeted with one of the most impressively strong/aromatic aromas I’ve ever encountered in a hefe weizen. Wonderfully lush malts boast succulent honey and lots of it, but also make room for reserved bubble gum, banana, lemon and nutty wheat. Hops are evident as well, highly evident. I hate to say that the non-traditional amounts of hops seems to be very well-received in my nose. Peppery, herbal and moderately bitter, but tucked in to the malts so as to not seem too out-of-style. Aroma wanes somewhat as it decants and breathes, with yeast dullness and wheat nuttiness growing stronger.
First sip and my mouth is burning uncontrollably and very intensely for about 10 seconds. I don’t know what the hell it was, but it was almost like an intense, spicy, astringent herbal flavor. Must have been some acidity, I don’t know, but it didnt agree with the roof of my mouth and was EXTREMELY spicy/burning. This has a lingering effect on subsequent sips, but mixing in more yeast, it subsides eventually. Hmmm, what to think after that? It’s certainly nutty, yeasty and heavily wheated, with the same hop bitterness seen from the nose, but without as much of the flavor. Some vanilla and light caramel even. Body is slick, strong, moderately carbonated. Heavy, heavy phenols sit on the end, almost a burnt clove/pepper-like note that is intensely dry and spicy. Esters and dry herbs abound.
Plenty going on and quite a wild ride of a beer, not sure what to think. Can’t say I enjoyed the intense burning sensation, but it’s very probable there were other factors at play there (perhaps a food I ate earlier?) I certainly will drink it next time I see it and see what I can make of it then.