Weizenbier: The German Wheat Beer Style Explained

German name

Weizenbier / Weissbier

Alcohol

4.9–5.6% ABV

Colour

Pale gold to amber (dark for Dunkelweizen)

Fermentation

Top-fermented (ale)

Origin

Bavaria

Glass

Tall, curved Weizen glass (0.5 litre)

Serve at

6–8 °C

Wheat beer is Bavaria’s great gift to the beer world. Cloudy, golden and topped with a tall, fluffy head, it tastes of banana and clove without any fruit or spice being added. Its light, refreshing character makes it one of the most popular German beer types in Australia.

Looking for specific beers to try? See our ranked list of the 12 best German wheat beers.

Where does wheat beer come from?

Wheat beer has been brewed in Bavaria for more than 500 years. For a long time the right to brew it was a royal monopoly, which made the Bavarian dukes rich and kept wheat available for bread. By the 19th century wheat beer had fallen out of fashion, and in 1872 Georg Schneider bought the right to brew it from King Ludwig II, founding what is now Schneider Weisse.

Wheat beer made a huge comeback from the 1960s, and today breweries such as Erdinger, Weihenstephaner and Paulaner sell it around the world.

The styles of German wheat beer

• Hefeweizen / Hefeweissbier: Unfiltered and cloudy, with yeast in the bottle. The classic.
• Kristallweizen: Filtered and clear, crisper and more sparkling.
• Dunkelweizen: Brewed with darker malts for caramel and bread flavours.
• Weizenbock: A strong wheat beer of 6.5–8.5% or more.
• Wheat beer mixes: Such as Schöfferhofer Grapefruit, half wheat beer and half fruit soft drink.
• Alkoholfrei: Alcohol-free wheat beer. See our alcohol-free German beers.

What does wheat beer taste like?

• Look: Hazy gold with a thick, long-lasting white head
• Aroma: Banana, clove, a little bubblegum or vanilla
• Taste: Soft and creamy from the wheat, fruity and lightly spicy, with almost no bitterness
• Finish: Refreshing and slightly tart from the high carbonation

How to serve wheat beer

Serve it at 6–8 °C in a tall, curved Weizen glass, and pour the last bit of yeast from the bottle on top. See our guide to German beer glasses.

Food pairing: Weisswurst and pretzels with sweet mustard, grilled prawns, fish tacos, Thai salads, barbecued chicken and soft cheeses.

Wheat beer in Australia

German wheat beer is easy to find in Australia. Paulaner, Erdinger, Weihenstephaner, Franziskaner and Schöfferhofer are in most big bottle shops. All the brands below brew one.

German beer brands that brew Wheat Beer

From our top 20 German beer brands in Australia, ranked by how easy they are to find here.

1. 01PaulanerMunich’s best-known exportMunich, Bavaria · since 1634
   Try: Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier NaturtrübEasy to find
2. 02ErdingerThe world’s biggest wheat beer breweryErding, Bavaria · since 1886
   Try: Erdinger WeissbierEasy to find
3. 03WeihenstephanerThe world’s oldest breweryFreising, Bavaria · since 1040
   Try: Weihenstephaner HefeweissbierEasy to find
4. 06Hofbräu MünchenThe royal brewery behind the HofbräuhausMunich, Bavaria · since 1589
   Try: Hofbräu OriginalEasy to find
5. 07FranziskanerMunich wheat beer with the friar on the labelMunich, Bavaria · since 1363
   Try: Franziskaner Weissbier NaturtrübEasy to find
6. 09KrombacherGermany’s best-selling beer brandKreuztal-Krombach, North Rhine-Westphalia · since 1803
   Try: Krombacher PilsIn larger bottle shops
7. 11SchöfferhoferWheat beer and the famous GrapefruitFrankfurt am Main, Hesse · since 1978
   Try: Schöfferhofer GrapefruitEasy to find
8. 13Hacker-PschorrMunich tradition since 1417Munich, Bavaria · since 1417
   Try: Hacker-Pschorr Münchner GoldIn larger bottle shops
9. 14AugustinerMunich’s cult favouriteMunich, Bavaria · since 1328
   Try: Augustiner Lagerbier HellSpecialist bottle shops
10. 16Schneider WeisseBavaria’s wheat beer specialistsKelheim, Bavaria · since 1872
    Try: Schneider Weisse TAP7 Unser OriginalIn larger bottle shops
11. 18AyingerFamily-run village brewery near MunichAying, Bavaria · since 1878
    Try: Ayinger Celebrator DoppelbockSpecialist bottle shops

Wheat Beer FAQs

What is the difference between Weizenbier and Weissbier?

Nothing. Weizenbier (“wheat beer”) and Weissbier (“white beer”) are two names for the same style. Weissbier is more common in Bavaria, Weizen in the rest of Germany.

Why does wheat beer taste of banana and clove?

The flavours come from the special top-fermenting wheat beer yeast, not from added fruit or spices. During fermentation it produces an ester that smells of banana and a compound that tastes of clove.

How do you pour a German wheat beer?

Rinse a tall Weizen glass with cold water, tilt it and pour slowly down the side. With about a tenth of the bottle left, swirl the bottle to lift the yeast from the bottom, then pour the rest on top to create a tall, creamy head.

What are the best German wheat beers in Australia?

Weihenstephaner, Paulaner, Erdinger, Franziskaner and Schneider Weisse are among the best and easiest to find. See our list of the 12 best German wheat beers for tasting notes.

← Back to all German beer types · Last updated 2 October 2026.