The first time I had Snake River Brewing's Hike it Out Hefeweizen it was waiting for me in our AirBNB in Alpine, Wyoming, about an hour away from our destination of Grand Teton National Park. Any place that gifts you a beer upon arrival is OK in my book. And wouldn't you know, I love hefeweizens too--probably not a shocker if you've kept up with this beer blog. So, I was more than happy to crack this guy as a pre-dinner beer, before heading to the Bull Moose Lodge in town for dinner--but that's a story for another time.
It was a classic, .8% ABV Hef in a can, but before I could make any final judgments, I would have to take it to the next level and have it on tap. Turns out, the town of Jackson near where we were camping is the home of Snake River Brewing, and a stop would be in order. Turns out due to wildfire smoke, we'd spend a lot more of this trip drinking in breweries as opposed to enjoying the Tetons.
The town of Jackson Hole.
Snake River Brewing is tucked a couple blocks off the busy main square in Jackson, where you'll find at least a few less tourists. With a full, sit down restaurant, ample indoor and outdoor space, it's a great spot to sit down simply for a beer, or to have dinner.
Snake River Brewing Co.
So, we grabbed a seat outside to enjoy the sunshi--smoky, err, wildfire-laden air, where I ordered the hefeweizen on draft. Getting the full view, I have to say, I was a little surprised: I expect most hefeweizen's to be a cloudy, rich golden color with a frothy head. This still poured a golden yellow, but was fairly light, with a thin head. The good news is, the flavor was all there: classic notes of banana, spices, and wheat. It tasted like a full-bodied hefeweizen, it just didn't quite look like it--but clearly looks can be deceiving. I enjoyed it, but I really only ordered it so I could compare both the can and draft; it was almost 90 degrees out with a thick layer of smoke/smog in the air: not what I consider hefeweizen weather.
Hike it Out Hefeweizen
The first time we visited Jackson and Grand Teton National Park, a late June blizzard obstructed our view of the mountains for the entirety of our stay. The second time, wildfire smoke settled in the valley the day we arrived, only partially clearing about six days later--we ended up pulling out early anyways. Still, someday I'll get to see those mountains unobstructed, and definitely make a pit stop at Snake River Brewing Co. for more of their delicious beer, including the Hike it Out Hefeweizen. I give it 8/10 dreams crushed by wildfires.
View of the Tetons on our last day, heavily dehazed in photoshop.
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