Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Wheat Beer & Ale Tasting - July 2012

• ironarrow42

  

  Member
   

  July 25, 2012

  Worktruck Wheat Beer
  Crown Valley Brewing, Ste. Genevieve, MO
  German style hefeweizen, 5.3% ABV
  
  Served in a German wheat beer glass. Pours a nice, cloudy golden-amber topped with a finger's width of near-white foam. The head subsides in just a few minutes.
  
  Appetizing aroma authentic for the style - yeast, clove, some banana and fruity esters. Flavorful brew, with banana, clove, a hint of smoky ham, a general fruitiness and a tanginess that plays over the tongue. A fresh, grainy/crackery pilsner malt base shows through towards the end.
  
  Medium-light body, very drinkable, refreshing and quite more-ish. Dries a bit into the finish with a gentle bitterness. Carbonation seems a tad on the low side for the style, but it's a very enjoyable version.
  
  This is why I love heffies, especially in the summer!

  Worktruck Wheat Beer Crown Valley Brewing, Ste. Genevieve, MO German style hefeweizen, 5.3% ABV Served in a German wheat beer glass. Pours a nice, cloudy golden-amber topped with a finger's width of near-white foam. The head subsides in just a few minutes. Appetizing aroma authentic for the style - yeast, clove, some banana and fruity esters. Flavorful brew, with banana, clove, a hint of smoky ham, a general fruitiness and a tanginess that plays over the tongue. A fresh, grainy/crackery pilsner malt base shows through towards the end. Medium-light body, very drinkable, refreshing and quite more-ish. Dries a bit into the finish with a gentle bitterness. Carbonation seems a tad on the low side for the style, but it's a very enjoyable version. This is why I love heffies, especially in the summer!
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  July 26, 2012

  Full Sail Brewer's Share Chris's Summer Delight Berliner Weiss
  Full Sail Brewing Company, Hood River, OR
  Berliner Weiss, 4.0% ABV, 9 IBU
  
  The Brewer's Share Chris's Summer Delight Berliner Weiss from Full Sail Brewing Company in Hood River, Oregon pours out a brassy orange in color with just a little haze and is topped with a fizzy, one finger, snow white head that reduces down all the way after a few minutes. On the nose, aromas of lemon, grass, wheat and a mild funk. In the mouth, this is tart from the get go and finishes almost puckeringly tart. Flavors of lemon, wheat, light funk and the faintest hint of biscuit. Light bodied. Fine, seltzer like carbonation. No lacing on the glass. Crisp, very clean mouthfeel. The finish is medium in length and fairly dry with good, tart sourness.
  
  Talk about a beer for a hot day! Light, tart, refreshing and thirst quenching. I really like this craft beer and being in the sub $4.50 price point makes it hard not to want to pick up a few bottles. My only regret is not having any woodruff or raspberry syrup on hand to try it with. Buy some. If you like tart/sour beers that will rock a hot summer day this is for you. Recommended.

  Full Sail Brewer's Share Chris's Summer Delight Berliner Weiss Full Sail Brewing Company, Hood River, OR Berliner Weiss, 4.0% ABV, 9 IBU The Brewer's Share Chris's Summer Delight Berliner Weiss from Full Sail Brewing Company in Hood River, Oregon pours out a brassy orange in color with just a little haze and is topped with a fizzy, one finger, snow white head that reduces down all the way after a few minutes. On the nose, aromas of lemon, grass, wheat and a mild funk. In the mouth, this is tart from the get go and finishes almost puckeringly tart. Flavors of lemon, wheat, light funk and the faintest hint of biscuit. Light bodied. Fine, seltzer like carbonation. No lacing on the glass. Crisp, very clean mouthfeel. The finish is medium in length and fairly dry with good, tart sourness. Talk about a beer for a hot day! Light, tart, refreshing and thirst quenching. I really like this craft beer and being in the sub $4.50 price point makes it hard not to want to pick up a few bottles. My only regret is not having any woodruff or raspberry syrup on hand to try it with. Buy some. If you like tart/sour beers that will rock a hot summer day this is for you. Recommended.
• ironarrow42

  

  Member
   

  July 27, 2012

  Hawthorn Hill Hefeweizen
  The Dayton Beer Co., Dayton, OH
  German-style hefeweizen, 5.4% ABV, 13 IBUs
  
  "Think Dayton, Drink Dayton" is their motto, and I can't argue with that! Tasted on premises in their cozy tasting room as part of a sampler flight.
  
  The beer is a very pale golden color, cloudy, with a fairly short-lived white head. Aroma is true to style, with some clove, banana, and yeasty notes. Light body with moderate carbonation.
  
  Solid heffie flavors - great balance of clove, banana, some bubblegum and vanilla with fresh, grainy malt underneath. Refreshing and thirst-quenching, well-suited to a hot and muggy summer day. In spite of the head not lasting very long, there are some partial rings left on the glass. (Also, a quick swirl resurrects the foam on top, lending a creaminess to the texture.)
  
  Although they've been around since 2010, I only recently found about this local Gem City brewery. This has now become one of my favorites of theirs.

  Hawthorn Hill Hefeweizen The Dayton Beer Co., Dayton, OH German-style hefeweizen, 5.4% ABV, 13 IBUs "Think Dayton, Drink Dayton" is their motto, and I can't argue with that! Tasted on premises in their cozy tasting room as part of a sampler flight. The beer is a very pale golden color, cloudy, with a fairly short-lived white head. Aroma is true to style, with some clove, banana, and yeasty notes. Light body with moderate carbonation. Solid heffie flavors - great balance of clove, banana, some bubblegum and vanilla with fresh, grainy malt underneath. Refreshing and thirst-quenching, well-suited to a hot and muggy summer day. In spite of the head not lasting very long, there are some partial rings left on the glass. (Also, a quick swirl resurrects the foam on top, lending a creaminess to the texture.) Although they've been around since 2010, I only recently found about this local Gem City brewery. This has now become one of my favorites of theirs.
• ironarrow42

  

  Member
   

  July 27, 2012

  Weizenbock (I didn't write down the name, sorry)
  The Dayton Beer Co., Dayton, OH
  German-style weizenbock, 6.5% ABV
  
  Nice, deep brown/mahogany hue, cloudy, with a pale tan head. Aroma similar to the hefeweizen but with some Munich malt/caramel coming through. Medium body with a slightly lower carbonation level; definitely more substantial on the palate. Holds the head longer than the heffie.
  
  The Bavarian yeast-generated clove and banana are more subdued than in the hefeweizen, with some caramelly and toasty Munich malt character mixed in. Low bitterness, no hop flavor evident. Low sweetness; the malty character has a dry edge to it, keeping the overall profile in balance.
  
  Nicley crafted brew.

  Weizenbock (I didn't write down the name, sorry) The Dayton Beer Co., Dayton, OH German-style weizenbock, 6.5% ABV Nice, deep brown/mahogany hue, cloudy, with a pale tan head. Aroma similar to the hefeweizen but with some Munich malt/caramel coming through. Medium body with a slightly lower carbonation level; definitely more substantial on the palate. Holds the head longer than the heffie. The Bavarian yeast-generated clove and banana are more subdued than in the hefeweizen, with some caramelly and toasty Munich malt character mixed in. Low bitterness, no hop flavor evident. Low sweetness; the malty character has a dry edge to it, keeping the overall profile in balance. Nicley crafted brew.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  July 29, 2012

  Cold Storage "Florida Avenue Blueberry"
  Cold Storage Craft Brewery - Tampa, Florida USA
  Wheat Ale (ABV 4.5) (IBU 10)
  
  [Best served in a Weizen glass]
  
  Rating: 2.8/5.0
  
  The pour was a clear pale yellow with a huge (3-4 finger) white frothy head that receded rather quickly (doing so in the first minute), down to a thin cap with fair spotty lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a grain malt, a light earthy yeast and a mild grassy hop with a big note of blueberry.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet with a mild blueberry presence throughout and possessed a nice mild wheat presence towards the end. Flavor was short lived with a light taste of blueberry that faded steadily towards the finish.
  
  Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a mild carbonation.
  
  Overall a very light and refreshing Wheat Ale that is quite drinkable and easy going down. Although there is nothing that really stands out in this beer, it is a great summer session brew...
  
  http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

  Cold Storage "Florida Avenue Blueberry" Cold Storage Craft Brewery - Tampa, Florida USA Wheat Ale (ABV 4.5) (IBU 10) [Best served in a Weizen glass] Rating: 2.8/5.0 The pour was a clear pale yellow with a huge (3-4 finger) white frothy head that receded rather quickly (doing so in the first minute), down to a thin cap with fair spotty lacing. The aroma was of a grain malt, a light earthy yeast and a mild grassy hop with a big note of blueberry. The taste was lightly sweet with a mild blueberry presence throughout and possessed a nice mild wheat presence towards the end. Flavor was short lived with a light taste of blueberry that faded steadily towards the finish. Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a mild carbonation. Overall a very light and refreshing Wheat Ale that is quite drinkable and easy going down. Although there is nothing that really stands out in this beer, it is a great summer session brew... http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  July 29, 2012

  Lost Coast "Tangerine Wheat"
  Lost Coast Brewery - Eureka, California USA
  Wheat Ale (ABV 5%)
  
  [Best served in a Weizen glass]
  
  Rating: 3.0/5.0
  
  The pour was a cloudy medium golden amber with a huge (3-4 finger) white fizzy head that diminished rapidly, leaving behind a thin film which did create some fair spotty lacing.
  
  The aroma was all about the tangerine with a slight scent of a grain malt and a sweaty yeast.
  
  The taste was sweet and fruity throughout with a nice wheat presence towards the end. The flavor lasted an average time following the swallow with a sweet citrus taste left to linger.
  
  Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a very mild carbonation.
  
  Overall a very fruity tasting brew with a thin watery feel, would be great when you feel overheated and want to chug a few...
  
  http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
  

  Lost Coast "Tangerine Wheat" Lost Coast Brewery - Eureka, California USA Wheat Ale (ABV 5%) [Best served in a Weizen glass] Rating: 3.0/5.0 The pour was a cloudy medium golden amber with a huge (3-4 finger) white fizzy head that diminished rapidly, leaving behind a thin film which did create some fair spotty lacing. The aroma was all about the tangerine with a slight scent of a grain malt and a sweaty yeast. The taste was sweet and fruity throughout with a nice wheat presence towards the end. The flavor lasted an average time following the swallow with a sweet citrus taste left to linger. Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a very mild carbonation. Overall a very fruity tasting brew with a thin watery feel, would be great when you feel overheated and want to chug a few... http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews
• ironarrow42

  

  Member
   

  August 5, 2012

  Ommegang Witte
  Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
  wheat ale with traditional spices, 5.1% ABV
  
  Poured into a chunky Ommegang Witte tumbler, the beer was a very pale straw hue, hazy, with a pure-white head. Aromas of yeast, spices, and tart fruit emanated from the glass.
  
  Upon tasting, there was a sharp bite up front with a mild tartness and fine carbonation. Light body. Sour orange up front with a yeasty note and a mildly sweet component, leading into lemon peel notes. Then I got coriander, yeast, and light crackery malt into the finish. Pleasant aftertaste fades away gently.
  
  Very refreshing, easy-drinking session brew, perfect for hot weather.

  Ommegang Witte Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY wheat ale with traditional spices, 5.1% ABV Poured into a chunky Ommegang Witte tumbler, the beer was a very pale straw hue, hazy, with a pure-white head. Aromas of yeast, spices, and tart fruit emanated from the glass. Upon tasting, there was a sharp bite up front with a mild tartness and fine carbonation. Light body. Sour orange up front with a yeasty note and a mildly sweet component, leading into lemon peel notes. Then I got coriander, yeast, and light crackery malt into the finish. Pleasant aftertaste fades away gently. Very refreshing, easy-drinking session brew, perfect for hot weather.