Sprecher Brewing Company - Hefe Weiss

Sprecher has done an admirable job of producing their hefe-weiss in a traditional Bavarian style, which is somewhat of a rarity among American brewers who often put out various “pale wheat ales” that offer none of the characteristics of a true German wheat beer. Hefe-weiss, meaning literally “yeast-white,” is a reference to the very cloudy appearance of these beers due to the yeast left in suspension. Also known as hefeweizen, meaning “yeast wheat,” these brews offer a prominent “twangy” wheat flavor and various fruity and phenolic qualities that are often missing from American-made wheat beers. Sprecher’s offering is definitely cloudy on the pour (feel free to swirl up any yeast sediment in your bottle and dump it in your glass) and offers the classic Bavarian aroma profile. The distinct character of wheat jumps out, along with notes of clove and some mild banana and bubblegum. Yeast adds some spicy earthiness, and there’s a grassy, spicy, and herbal quality from the Mt. Hood hops. In the mouth the phenolic clove notes are prominent, and there are hints of lemon zest and pith. Creamy, smooth, and lightly tart, this is a quintessential warm weather brew – try it with grilled lemon & herb marinated chicken, or spicy scallops. Prost!

Sprecher Brewing Company has impressed us for quite some time now.  With more than 20 different beers in their brewing portfolio, including seasonal and limited release brews, we’ve pretty much liked everything we’ve been able to get our hands on.  Likely the first thing you’ll notice is that the bottles look foreign; the German name implies German origins, and with the typeface and the griffin on their logo, one definitely gets the impression of an old German brewery (an impression that will be bolstered after trying the beer!).  But, a little more examination reveals “Est. Milwaukee 1985.”

Randal (Randy) Sprecher, a former Pabst Brewing Company brewing supervisor, founded Sprecher Brewing Company in Milwaukee, WI in 1985 with an emphasis on German-style beers.  After about a decade, the company had grown to the point where they needed a larger facility, and in 1994 the brewery was moved to its current location a few miles to the north in Glendale, WI.  The new, bigger brewery offered the company the room to keep growing, and they have established themselves as significant contributors to the city of Milwaukee’s impressive brewing tradition which reaches far beyond the presence of the current mega-brewery that’s based in the city.  In the late 19th century, Milwaukee boasted over 80 breweries, but Prohibition led to the demise of most of them in 1919.  Nevertheless, the city can be spoken of historically as a craft brewing haven, and the success of the Sprecher beers there in recent years shows that the enthusiasm for great beer is still alive and well.

If you’re ever in the Milwaukee area, check out the Sprecher brewery and buy as many brews as you can bring home with you (you might need an extra suitcase!).  For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, visit their website at www.sprecherbrewery.com or call them at call (414) 964-2739.