Hard Core Hefeweizen

Had a pint of this at the Mission Valley location on a somewhat busy Monday Night Football evening. Normally I go for Oggi's decent IPA -- but instead wanted something a little different.

Good appearence -- big-ass head of foam, with a very cloudy body. So far, so good. And the aroma? More high marks there. Not as banana/clove-y as I would like, but just fine for an American-style Hefeweizen. Like I said -- so far, so good.

But all is not well when it comes to the flavor profile. While I'm a hop-head through and through, I really rather not have a Hefeweizen packed with hops like this. The hop profile basically turns this otherwise decent Hefe into little more than a cloudy-looking Golden or Pale Ale. In other words, this is interesting as a Golden Ale, but very off-putting if one tries to consider it to be something a Hefeweizen.

Adequate mouthfeel and drinkability, that rounds out a beer that really needs some identity assistance. Fine, if you expect to *not* get a Hefeweizen.
//TB