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Bells Wheat Love Ale

 (RETIRED)
Percentile
92
overall
Formerly brewed at Bells Brewery
Style: Barley Wine

Kalamazoo, Michigan USA

bottling
unknown

on tap
unknown

distribution
unknown

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
2703.62/5.03.6/5.0Special8%63.8Snifter
Commercial Description:
Bell’s Wheat Project (2005) is an experimental foray into the development of complex flavors in beer. The Project comprises five new ales, four in series and one specialty strong product. The first four, Wheat 2, Wheat 4, Wheat 6 and Wheat eight are all made using 55% Wheat (either wholly or mostly malted) and 45% Barley malt. The barley malt makeup is exactly the same in each of the four and consists of three different malts. The total amount of grain in each of the four is also exactly the same, so each of them should have a virtually identical original gravity. The type and amount of hops in each of the four is exactly the same. And the processing through the brewhouse and fermentation is also exactly the same. The changing factors between the ales are the composition of the 55% of wheat used and the type and number of yeast strains used. In Wheat 2 the 55% of wheat is made up of two different kinds of wheat malt, and this ale is made with two different yeasts. Wheat 4 is made with four different wheats and four yeasts. Wheat six and eight made with six and eight wheats and yeasts respectively. The final product, Bell’s Wheat Love Ale, is made with the eight yeasts of Wheat eight and is a strong, but relatively light colored, “wheatwine.” 2. Basic Content List for the Wheat Series Wheat Two Wheats: White, Dark Yeast: Bell’s house ale strain, WLP410 Belgian Wit II Wheat Four Wheats: White, Victory, Toasted sprouts, Torrefied Yeast: WLP550 Belgian, WLP570 Golden, Wheat Two blend Wheat Six Wheats: White, Dark, Toasted sprouts, Torrefied, Red, Caramel Yeast: WLP500 Trappist, WLP530 Abbey, Wheat Four blend Wheat Eight Wheats: White, Dark, Victory, Toasted sprouts, Torrefied, Red, Caramel, Chocolate Yeast: WLP4000 Belgian Wit I, WLP565 Saison, Wheat Six blend
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Saarlander (1577), Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/516/20
Apr 9, 2006  
Wow! a great brew, alcohol is well subdued..lots of spice, clove, with some banana, citrus. An incredible flavor, and the alc. content creeps up on you! be warned. A great beer!


 5000 (2409), Hardened Liver, Washington, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/515/20
Apr 8, 2006  
Bottle: Hazy orange, moderate frothy off-white head, spotty lacing, no noticeable carbonation.   Bright wheat aroma, seems tart, slight powered sugar tinge as well as citrus rind.   Bright wheat on the tongue, slight alcohol, very warming.   Moderate body, thick mouthfeel.   Seems like a robust Wheat Wine, but unfortunately the alcohol seems to show through a bit too much.   Hot finish, sharp citrus rind, very warming.   Like an American Wheat but spiked with jet fuel.   Lots went into this one, but still seems not all that complicated.   Still fairly decent, clean at least.   Thanks Cap’n for the bottle!


 vyvvy (2034), Hazelwood, Missouri, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/104/514/20
Apr 4, 2006  
Pours a nice brownish golden color with lots of carbonation. Lots of banana esters and wheat malt on the aroma. Taste is of banana , wheat, alcohol and a bit of astringency. Very full mouthfeel. With the ABV I would have expected this to be more complex that 2-8, but it doesn’t seem that way. A nice wheatwine though, and a nice beer. All of the Bell’s wheats have been enjoyable and this is a pleasant finale to the project.


 Firemoose15 (540), Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Apr 2, 2006  
Bottle. Aroma, wheat and orange peel. Poured a hazen orangish amber hue with a thin white head. Flavor was tasty somewhat citric wheat and yeastinest. Palate was creamy but finish was dry.


 MilkmanDan (1940), Eagan, Minnesota, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/513/20
Apr 1, 2006  
Really pretty stuff, glowing translucent dusty orange. Nose has oodles of clove, very redolent and floral. Light spiciness, a bit of fruit. Initial impression upon sipping is the thickness of the palate, rich and a mite overly syrupy, very thick stuff. Clove flavors strong and the Belgian yeast is very noticeable. Bit dry and somewhat chemical at the end.


 eboats (887), Omaha, Nebraska, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/516/20
Mar 29, 2006  
Thanks to Crizay for providing this one. Poured a cloudy orange color that reminded me of a mango. Aroma was mandarin oranges. Flavor was sweet yeast and spices. Smooth malts complete the body. Not like most barley wines I have had.


 Hollywoodt (174), Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/104/513/20
Mar 22, 2006  
Batch # 7155. Poured a hazy light amber. Aroma was kind of citrus and yeasty. Flavor was wheat and malt with some of the citrus. Pretty good.


 sneagrams3 (1747), St. Louis, Missouri, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/518/20
Mar 18, 2006  
12 oz bottle (7155) The last of the project. Hazy golden orange hue. White head. Initial aroma is strong bananas and citrus and grassy. Sweet rich and smooth. Bananas, citrus, bitter, alcohol, slight burn, syrup, rich and smooth. Slight caramel and sweet bread.



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