August Schell 30th Anniversary Hefe Weizen Series: 1984 Weiss Beer

August Schell Brewing is using a new marketing strategy, positioning themselves as craft beer pioneers, into it before it was a thing. "German craft", to be specific. This year they are celebrating 30 years since they starting expanding their line-up beyond Deer Brand, Bock and Dark. First came the Pilsner series, since that was one of their first craft offerings, back in the 80's, but that sampler was a low priority for me, since I don't really get into the style. Now, it's time to celebrate 30 years since they release their first hefe weizen, with four different versions.
I'l start with….


Schell's Weiss Beer, 1984, 30th Anniversary Series, August Schell Brewing Company, New Ulm, Minn., USA.

"In 1984, August Schell brewed the first wheat beer in America since Prohibition, a filtered German-style wheat beer called Schell's Weiss Beer. It's light and dry with a citric tartness." So, says the label. Recently, Jace Marti of Schell's told the tale of how the Anchor Brewing Company claimed that they were the first, and went he went to check the records, he found they were both right, and had brewed their beers on the exact same date. Although, he pointed out, Schell's brewers would record their brewing notes the day after they started the batch. So, there.

Here we go, cracking open a re-creation of that first Weiss Beer, a Kristall Weisse.

Clear, bright golden colored, with a prodigious, bone-white head. Looking lovely.

Aroma: soft, floral, and slightly spicy. Faintly felt esters of weizen yeast, and banana notes.

Taste: Beautifully smooth entrance on the palate, lingering a little. Light-bodied, and exceptionally drinkable. Just enough wheaten flavoring, just a touch of the usual weizen touches. Echoes of banana and spice, though with most kristall weisse brews, I yearn for the flavors that could have been if the yeast were left in to do it's magic.

It makes me wonder if this approach was taken for an early introduction to the German wheat beer style, as most of the target audience were unaccustomed to unfiltered brews.

Finally, just for kicks, here is Michael Jackson's mention of this beer in his 1988 completely revised and updated edition of The New World Guide to Beer: "The brewery makes a revivalist Pilsener which is one of the best in the United States: aromatic, with a hoppy palate and a lightly dry finish. It also has a fruity, liqueurish Wheat Beer in the style of Southern Germany: August Schell Weiss."

"Liqueurish"? Huh. I guess...