http://beeradvocate.com/news/stories_read/692

We're guessing that most of you have run into a Hefeweizen before-a
German-style wheat beer ("weizen") with yeast ("hefe") in suspension,
which is known for its cloudiness, and subtle clove and banana
characters, and often comes garnished with lemon. Light, flavorful,
refreshing, and with a moderate alcohol by volume (ABV), these unique
ales are delicious session brews. When decanted properly into a tall,
slender Hefeweizen glass, well, everything in the world seems like
it's going to be just fine-as long as your beer glass stays half-full.

'Buzzards Bay Hefe WeizenSo what happens when a craft brewer out of
Westport decides to brew a traditional Hefeweizen using a lager yeast
strain? You get Buzzards Bay's interpretation, brewed with Canadian
two-row pale malt, malted wheat, Vienna malt, Magnum hops for
bittering, and traditional Tetnang and Saaz hops for flavor and aroma.
However, as yeast plays a big role in the development of beer
characters, let's see how throwing a lager yeast into the mix changes
things.

The Taste
After pouring most of the bottle into a traditional Hefe glass, we
swirled the last bit of the beer to grab the yeast for the final pour-
recommended for the style. What arose was a thick, bubbly white head;
the wheat proteins did their job, as the lace stuck to the glass most
of the way down.

A bit fruity; with notes of green banana, angel food cake, faint
clove, and a kiss of powdery yeast. The aroma offers traces of lemon
and apple as well. A bit Hefe, a bit lager and a bit Belgian-esque?
Odd.

Intense clove flavors attack the palate-one side stays spicy, and the
other shows a maltiness and sweetness. Some tropical fruitiness;
strong, fresh apple and bubble-gum notes; and more biting phenols meet
in the middle-like a train wreck. Peppery and bitey yeast, with an
unpleasant pithy and tannic astringency. Smacks of lager-esque
sourness, under a faint lemon. Some sweet malty flavors attempt to
well up amid the chaos, but they get killed halfway through. Finishes
dry, with a gummy character akin to Bazooka bubble gum, and lingering
phenols.

Final Thoughts
Buzzards Bay "Hefe Weizen" is pretty flamboyant for 4.5 percent ABV;
and man, is this beer is all over the place. The clove characters are
overpowering, and the overall abundance of misplaced complexities
knocks drinkability to the ground after a few sips. It simply lacks
balance, and is way too odd for such a delicate style. Hefe lovers
might want to look elsewhere; or you can give it a try and be your own
judge. Part of their "Limited Releases" series, out now, and available
in 12-ounce bottles and six-packs.

Note to Buzzards Bay: Sometimes there's something to be said for
hundreds of years of German brewing tradition. Stick with an ale yeast
next time.

Checkout: buzzardsbrew.com

Respect Beer.