Schlafly Raspberry Hefeweizen Ale

So... You say Matt is not a lover of the fruity sweet beers he's gonna give this a downer review. I really thought, and was prepared to whine about, a ruined Hefeweizen. As usual you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. The front of the bottle shows all these sweet raspberries as if they laced it with fruitiness. I will say, It has a raspberry flavor in it, but it is a well balanced addition to the Classic hefeweizen flavors and , dare I say it...is quite good. an unfiltered bitterness comes across but the addition of the raspberry adds a little balance. A bit of fruitiness comes out in the nose and the magnificent fluffy white head emanates raspberry, but not overly so. I recommend you pull this one out with a fresh apple pie with extra whipped cream and enjoy a beer with your dessert.
Matt gives it a 3.5 out of 5

If you have tried other beers brewed with raspberries, you will already know that they are often used to balance a bitter brew and lend a smoothness to an ale. This is definitely the case with Schlafly's raspberry hefeweizen. A well crafted hefeweizen made smoother by a subtle addition of raspberry. This ale is unfiltered and should be swirled in your bottle before the last is poured in the glass. As it warms, you can smell the berries even stronger, and their scent mixes well with the phenolic tones coming off this beer. This brew has a crisp mouthfeel with just a hint of slickness. A very enjoyable brew.
-Zech gives this offering from Schlafly a 3.5 out of 5 as well-

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dark

They claim fame to being the worlds oldest brewery. This German brewed beer makes you stop take another look and try again! Wow what a group of flavors come from this dark heffeweissen. The dark fluffy head definitely passes the 2 finger rule, and sticks there with you throughout the journey. The flavors begin with a sweetness I can only describe to you as fresh picked sweet corn right out of the husk, no doubt the wheat standing out. Then the finish stays around on the back of your tongue and in your throat. As with most real beers the flavors are more distinct as it warms. I wouldn't recommend this to a newbie beer drinker trying to expand their horizons. One pint will do you.  You could enjoy a bowl of white beans and cornbread, drink this beer and your life would be completed.  Matt gives this 3.5 out of 5

  I have a new love and thy name is Dunkel Hefeweissbier. The aroma and flavor is so intoxicating, so rich and so unlike anything else that these dark, top fermented, unfiltered wheat beers invented in Germany can only be compared to each other. The clove flavor rolls across your palate very pleasantly. If you feel a slight tingle in your lips or the roof of your mouth when drinking this brew, that only means you have become sensitized to aromatic hydrocarbons. (hydrocarbons with a benzene ring attached) Eugenol or in the case of a weissbier, 4-vinyl guaiacol, the chemical responsible for the clove-like smell, is a phenylpropanoid containing hydroxybenzene (these properties of this organic compound relate it to aromatic hydrocarbons) and is one of several phenols produced by the yeast.
   But Fear Not Intrepid Readers! The levels of phenols are so low that you would have to consume hundreds of cases of this beer over a lifetime to increase your risk of brain cancer.
  Now that the science crap is out of the way, let me say that I love this beer. (Did I already say that?) I highly recommend it to our adventurous readers. The Germans enjoy this brew with kielbasa and even more so with weisswurst, otherwise known as white sausage, which demonstrates Matt's genius at food pairing because both of those are ridiculously good with white beans.
  Zach gives Weihenstephaner  Hefeweissbier Dunkel a 4 out of 5

Yazoo Brewing Company, Nashville TN

   Well, what a day it has been! Matt & I, accompanied by a guest reviewer, Warren, rode over to Nashville in search of some Tennessee brewed craft beer and wow! We were not disappointed.
    We would like to give a huge Thank You to all the folks at Yazoo Brewing company and particularly to Neil for being a gracious host and taking time out of his busy schedule to show us around and let us try the brews.
    If you are ever in Nashville, TN make sure you stop by Frugal MacDoogal's and pick up a six pack or two of Yazoo's love in a bottle. The Yazoo taproom opens @ 4 pm during the week and 2 pm on Saturdays and tours are available on Saturdays as well. You can find these great folks at 910 Division Street and here is their website  www.yazoobrew.com.  Definitely check them out.
  We got to sample Hop Project #37 which was brewed with Sorachi Ace hops. This brew had a subtle bite of hops, (a love nip really) and then settles on your tongue smooth as gold. This being a Hop Project brew, it may end up being a once in a lifetime experience, and I will miss not having more of it in my life.
   Next we tried the Onward Stout and the the Rye Porter, both of which are surprising in their subtle blends of sweetness and bitter. The rich chocolate tones of the stout soothed me while the Rye Porter was deliciously light.
  The Pale Ale cleanses your palate very nicely so that the flavors of what you have been drinking will not interfere with what you will be drinking.
   I must say that the absolute stand-out star for me was the Yazoo Hefweizen. Through the magic of chemistry and years of experience brewing, a light, crisp ale smelling of bananas and citrus has been created. There are no bananas or citrus in this brew. The mind boggling, heart thumping flavor is achieved through delicate balances of the hops. A very loud BRAVO!  to Yazoo for this beer that made a great day even better. Enjoy the pictures below, but even better, get yourself to Nashville and give these folks a visit. And remember to do your part to support craft brewers.
  Zach gives Yazoo Brewing Company a 5 out of 5.

I too enjoyed the brewery immensely. Neil made us feel like we were v.i.p.'s and gave us a real feel for what the craft breweries are going thru against the giant conglomerates of the beer world. We are determined even more to make others appreciate the love, heart and soul that goes into the beers like Yazoo puts in their bottles. I also enjoyed the samples we tried and was amazed by the goodness of each and every one. I would like to do an in depth review of these for your reading pleasures but until then I can say The Dos Perros impressed me, Again. and the Sly Rye Porter was truly another stand out. Please give thought to giving these guys your patronage the next time you purchase a REAL beer! Matt says 5 of 5