I did a little checking around and the local stores don't have their Oktoberfests in yet for our meeting next Monday the 22nd. So after conferring with the Beer Geeks, we've decided to switch up the style of the month, and I believe we're going to do another BJCP beer judging tutorial. So bring your Hefeweizens! Hefe's are the traditional, unfiltered German wheat beer (as opposed to a kristallweizen which is filtered).
German Beer Guide BJCP 2008 Style GuideAccording to Wikipedia, wheat beers are commonly marketed in the Spring & Summer so let's toast the great summer we've had! (and not yet think about Oktober)...
"The hefeweizen style is particularly noted for its low hop bitterness (about 15 IBUs) and relatively high carbonation (approaching four volumes), considered important to balance the beer's relatively malty sweetness.
Another balancing flavour note unique to hefeweizen beer is its phenolic character; its signature phenol is 4-vinyl guaiacol,[8] a metabolite of ferulic acid, the result of fermentation by top-fermenting yeast appropriate for the style. Hefeweizen's phenolic character has been described as "clove" and "medicinal" ("Band-aid") but also smoky. Other more typical but less assertive flavour notes produced by Weissbier yeast include "banana" (amyl acetate), "bubble gum", and sometimes "vanilla" (vanillin)."
For more info:German Beer Guide BJCP 2008 Style GuideAccording to Wikipedia, wheat beers are commonly marketed in the Spring & Summer so let's toast the great summer we've had! (and not yet think about Oktober)...