Beer Review: Dream Weaver Wheat Beer

Reviewing the Dream Weaver Wheat Beer from Tröegs Brewing Company. Somehow, this is my first review of a hefeweizen beer. Hefeweizens were my favorite style when I first got into craft beer.
Score: 82

Bottled 10/22/11, batch #111010. Served in a 312 weizen glass and enjoyed on 03/01/12.

Appearance: Pours that classically hazy yellow hefe color with a slightly orange twist. On the more more extreme opaque side of translucent. Lemonade-ish color atop the glass when held up to light. Three fingers of foamy white head at pour settle into a thin layer. Average lacing for a hefeweizen, below average retention. Effervescent appearance. 3/5

Smell: Classic hefeweizen aroma. Bananas, clove, wheat, coriander and phenolic Belgian yeast. Pears, a little apple juice and light barley malt. Juicy Macintosh apple too. Pretty run of the mill for a hefeweizen. 3.5/5

Taste: Lots of banana and pear throughout. Coriander, some bready yeast, and wheat. Orange juice on the midpalate too. Some black pepper and ripe apple. Very juicy and savory. A very faint apple tartness as the beer layers. Very true to the style, though it tastes more like a Belgian wheat beer than a traditional German hefeweizen. Super refreshing and drinkable. I could mow the lawn while drinking this brew. More apple juice as this beer layers on the palate. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, medium carbonation. Juicy mouthfeel. Savory, malty finish, though there is a little bit of a drying effect. 3.5/5

Overall: Light and refreshing. A very solid American-made wheat beer. Nothing stand out, nothing especially worth seeking out, but a certainly a prototypical summer beer. There are plenty of better wheat beers out there, ranging from the more "innovative" wheat beers like Gumball Head to the more traditional like Weihenstephaner, but this one won't offend.

Recommendation: Not worth seeking out, but certainly a good starter craft beer from casual beer drinkers. If you need to rehydrate, buy one.

Pairings: Tangy barbeque and harvest chicken salad.

Cost: $8.99 for a six pack.