I disagree. I also home brew a considerable range of beer styles, so a phillistine of any sort on that front I'm not.

You didn't really answer my point about southern germany, home of hefe's, and the places I was were decidedly not flashy wine bars, but solid local drinking holes, because I was with southern german friends. So I remain unconvinced.

The Sangria comparison is a very poor one, because as you correctly point out, it's a way of turning lesser quality wine into a pleasing summer drink - ie seriously altering or masking the original taste. However if you want to make a truly spectacular sangria, using a nice rose and omitting the lemonade and any other cheap fizzy is an entirely different experience.

It's quite possible to compliment and highlight the taste of various beverages by adding another flavour which enhances the original qualities. Lemon does that for a good heffe, and does nothing to disguise the taste of a poor one, in fact it simply makes it more acid.

I enjoy drinking hefe both ways, depending on the particular characteristics. I personally find people who are fundamentalist in their views on how certain things should be drunk rather silly, as they miss the fact that humans are endlessly creative with our food and drink, and half the delight is finding new ways to enjoy excellent products.

"This can't possibly get more disturbing!" - Willow