Hefeweissen #3 Review

This is my third Hefeweissen, but the first to use my temp-controlled fridge to ensure the "right" temperature of 62F during fermentation.

I was a bit afraid since I stupidly set the wrong program running on my HTC-1000+, which started ramping up from 62F a day too early. But, this yeast was a very vigorous fermenter and my guess is that most of the fermentation occurred within the first two days, when the beer was indeed held at 62F. Also I did wonder with such a vigorous fermentation and the temperature probe taped to the side of the carboy, whether the temp in the middle of the carboy would be significantly higher. I suppose though that the taste of the beer will ultimately be the best indicator of whether the process was correct.

Appearance: Light, hazy orange with fluffy, white and persistent foam. Good lacing. Appropriately cloudy. (The first few pours from the keg were too yeasty giving the beer a nasty white-gray appearance and overly yeasty taste, but at this point the level of yeast in the beer is correct.)
 
Aroma: Yeasty, a little phenolic, slightly bready. What I would expect from a Hefeweisen. Doesn't have a strong banana or bubblegum aroma. Overall pretty restrained but to-style.

Taste: Again yeasty, but with a nice maltiness and some bready notes. Some cloves and phenolic notes, but again fairly restrained, as it should be. I might get a hint of sourness.

Mouthfeel: A little too "chewy" for the style. It should be a bit more carbonated, which may also help to give it a more billowing head. Medium fizziness. Low sweetness, so fairly crisp. Yeasty and clove like aftertaste. (I recently got a kegging system but I am still fiddling with it to fix leaks. Will now carb this up a bit to 16PSI for ~3 volumes of CO2.). In my stomach, it's filling.

Overall:  Much better than my previous two attempts. Fairly restrained in character, but none of the great German wheat beers are over-the-top in character, and JZ in Brewing Classic Styles that restraint is important in this style. Refreshing for a summer day, and with a moderate ABV, can be consumed in quantity. Could be a bit more bready - maybe try a decoction mash? F
or next time, run the right program in the STC-1000+.