Moylan’s Hefeweizen

It’s a rare clear, dry, sunny day in November here in Portland, which means I had to go out for lunch to sit in the sun. With the rumor that Green Dragon is going to be bought out by Rogue Brewing, and considering that Green Dragon is 4 blocks from my office and has sunny outdoor seating, I had to head there for lunch. Which of course means beer!

Their rotating tap list can be overwhelming, but a gorgeous warm day like this calls for something crisp and light so I chose Moylan’s Hefeweizen. For a hefe, this is a very clear and golden ale. No wheaty haze at all. I was also surprised on my first taste at how sweet – but not sugary – this beer is. It’s the sweet of hay drying in the summer sun, not the sweet of caramel or candy. It’s medium-bodied and well matched to a sunny but not hot day.

While a delicious beer, I’m not sure it qualifies as a hefeweizen. The lack of haze or citrus flavor left it tasting more like a cross between a cream ale and a kolsch. Not that I’m complaining! It just wasn’t a hefeweizen at all.

Now I wish I could go back for another and sit in the sun some more, but work calls…