Franziskaner Weissbier is one of the best-known Bavarian wheat beers outside Germany, brewed by the Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau brewery in Munich under a name dating back to a medieval Franciscan monastery on the same site. It is unfiltered, cloudy, and brewed with a top-fermenting wheat yeast that throws the banana-and-clove aroma the style is known for.
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Franziskaner Weissbier Review: Taste, Ingredients, and Where to Buy It at a Glance
| Style | Bavarian Hefeweizen (wheat beer) |
| ABV | 5.0% |
| Brewery | Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau, Munich, Germany |
| Price | $14.49 for 6 bottles on Saucey |
How It Tastes
The pour is hazy gold with a thick, long-lasting white head, typical of an unfiltered hefeweizen. The nose leads with ripe banana and a clove-like spice from the yeast strain, backed by a soft wheat sweetness. It drinks light and fizzy with a mild, sweet finish rather than any real bitterness, which is exactly what the style promises.
Fresh, spicy and fruity, with a mild sweet finish that never turns cloying.
- Real banana and clove hefeweizen character
- Light and refreshing even at 5.0% ABV
- Widely available and reasonably priced
- Wheat haze means it needs a proper pour to avoid a gushing glass
- Not for drinkers who want a crisp, clean lager instead
FAQs
What does Franziskaner Weissbier taste like?
Banana and clove from the wheat yeast, a soft wheat sweetness, and a mild finish with very little bitterness.
Is Franziskaner Weissbier the same as Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse?
Yes, Weissbier and Hefe-Weisse both refer to the same unfiltered Bavarian wheat beer style Franziskaner brews.
What is the ABV of Franziskaner Weissbier?
5.0% ABV.
Who owns Franziskaner?
Franziskaner is brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau in Munich, which has been part of the AB InBev group since 2004.
What kind of beer is Franziskaner Weissbier?
A Bavarian hefeweizen, a wheat beer brewed with at least 50 percent wheat malt and fermented with a yeast strain that produces its signature banana and clove notes.
How many calories are in Franziskaner Weissbier?
About 153 calories per 12oz (355ml) serving, with roughly 11.6g of carbohydrates.
Does Franziskaner Weissbier have sugar or carbs?
It has about 11.6g of carbohydrates per 12oz serving and no added sugar beyond what naturally remains from the wheat and barley malt. If you are watching carbs, our best non-alcoholic beers list has lower-calorie options.
Is Franziskaner Weissbier gluten free?
No. It is brewed with wheat malt and barley malt, both of which contain gluten, so it is not suitable for celiac or gluten-sensitive drinkers.
How can I make Franziskaner Weissbier taste better?
Pour it hard down the center of the glass to build a thick head and release the aroma, or use it as the lager base in a beer cocktail like a Radler for a lighter, citrusy version.
What country is Franziskaner Weissbier from, and where is it brewed?
It is a German beer, brewed at the Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau site in Munich, Bavaria. For more from the same country, see our best German beers guide.
What is Franziskaner Weissbier made of, and how is it brewed?
Water, wheat malt, barley malt, hops and a top-fermenting wheat yeast strain. It goes through a warm, quick top-fermentation typical of German wheat beers, which is what produces the banana and clove character. See our best German beers guide for more from the same brewing tradition.
What is a good alternative to Franziskaner Weissbier?
If you want another benchmark German hefeweizen, Erdinger Weissbier is the other classic worth comparing it against.
How much is a 12-pack of Franziskaner Weissbier, and where can I buy it?
Saucey does not sell it in a 12-pack, it is listed as a six-pack of bottles for $14.49. Check availability on Saucey.
How do I open Franziskaner Weissbier without a bottle opener?
The bottle-on-bottle trick or hooking a lighter or key under the cap both work. See our full guide to opening a beer without an opener for methods that will not chip a tooth.
What glass should I use for Franziskaner Weissbier?
A tall, curved weizen glass, which has room for the thick head and channels the banana-and-clove aroma toward your nose. See our style-by-style glassware guide for other beer styles.
