Malt aroma & flavor
Very low to medium-low
German Origin Ale Styles
South German-Style Hefeweizen
Ale · Straw to amber
What to expect
A wheat beer with banana-like fruity esters and clove-like phenolic character. Hop aroma and flavor stay very low or absent, with a medium to full body.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
3–9
Pale / strawBlack
Straw to amber · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
4.9–5.6%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
10–15
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 19 · PDF page 28. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Not present to very low
Perceived bitterness
Very low
Body & mouthfeel
Medium to full
Clarity
If served with yeast, appearance may be very cloudy.
Color
Straw to amber
Fermentation characteristics
Medium-low to medium-high fruity and phenolic attributes are hallmarks of this style. Phenolic attributes such as clove, nutmeg, smoke, and vanilla are present. Banana ester aroma and flavor should be present at low to medium-high levels. Diacetyl should not be present.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
Beers in this style are made with at least 50 percent malted wheat, and are very highly carbonated. These beers are typically (though not always) roused during pouring, and when yeast is present, they will have a yeasty flavor and a characteristically fuller mouthfeel.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.047-1.056 (11.7-13.8 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.008-1.016 (2.1-4.1 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.9%-4.4% (4.9%-5.6%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 10-15 • Color SRM (EBC) 3-9 (6-18 EBC)