United Nations of Beer

Trader Joes Bavarian style hefeweizen

by Ann O'Connell
(Beer Delegate, CO, USA)

Trader Joe's Bavarian-style hefeweizen (5.3% ABV)

For those of you who aren't fortunate enough to have a Trader Joe's nearby, it's a grocery store which, through carrying its own brands of food, manages to offer unique, good-tasting treats at lower prices than major supermarkets.

TJ's is prolific in California and has made a name for itself by offering Two-Buck Chuck, a pretty decent wine sold for only $2. What many people don't know, however, is that TJ's also has its own line of – you guessed it – beer.

At about a dollar a bottle, this beer is a true bargain.

One of the beers offered in TJ's line is Trader Joe's Bavarian-style hefeweizen, an unfiltered wheat beer which, according to the label, is brewed and bottled in San Jose by Trader Joe's Brewing Co.

I'll let you in on a little secret here, though: this Hef is actually made by none other than Gordon Biersch Brewing Company. While GB's Hef is only available in the summer, TJ's version is available year round (and don't forget its discounted price!).

TJ's hefeweizen is a strong one – quite spicy and with a strong aftertaste of banana. According to its label, it has undertones of citrus, bubble gum, clove and banana. I'm not sure I get the bubble gum part, but it sure sounds interesting...

The beer is brewed with a minimum of 50% malted wheat and, in the tradition of hefeweizens, weighs in low on the alcohol volume at 5.3% ABV.

Overall, Trader Joe's Bavarian-style hefeweizen is a pretty good beer and definitely worth its price.

It's not quite so summery as many hefeweizens can be. Because of its spiciness, I can see it being an appropriate autumn beer, to be sipped in the pumpkin patch or outside raking leaves.