RateBeer

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

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
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?  
 topherh (899), Kearney, Missouri, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/57/103/512/20
Jan 21, 2009  
Batch 7155 Poured dark brown with reddish amber edges. Bananas, bubble gum, ripe fruit, and light spices in the nose. Flavor is bananas, clove , honey, and a bit of funk.


 coyotehunter (546), , Michigan, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/105/54/104/513/20
Dec 2, 2008  
A special thanks to MrBunn for this one. Batch 7155.This beer didnt impress me the first time, and again it didnt the second. I found myself hoping for something better, but I think this one has aged past its prime, and at the time of production may have been better. Its ok, kinda sweet and malty...but a little thin. lasting wheat finish.


 fordest (1954), Santee/San Diego, California, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Oct 8, 2008  
12 oz bottle. Dark fruit aromas and flavors. Some banana in there for interest. Touches of wheat twang on the finish. Not to bad


 stefanje (939), (Santee) San Diego, California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/515/20
Oct 5, 2008  
12 oz bottle courtesy of fordest. Poured a cloudy dark yellow. Aroma was light with biscuit and fruits. The flavor showed mangoes, apricots and slightly banana tasting wheat. The mouthfeel was full and malty. The finish was long with a bit of lingering spices. Overall: A very good beer, I was expecting and hefe or wit, so this was quite a surprise.


 padrefan98 (788), (San Diego) Santee, California, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/514/20
Oct 5, 2008  
Bottle shared by fordest at his house. A Barley wine? Hmm. I wasn’t expecting that. Pretty good. Honey and clove detected.


 kmweaver (2440), Sebastopol, California, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/512/20
Sep 23, 2008  
12oz bottle. Pours a clear, bright orange color; off-white head with fine-bubbled lacing. Overripe light fruits, honey, and light spicing in the aroma; slightly overripe with plenty of honeyed sweetness; light wheat. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: sweet honey, very light spicing, and mildly husky wheat; overly sweet, under-carbonated, and lots of sticky sweetness; seems a bit past its prime at this point; sweet, honey-laden wheat beer. Some dried caramel and sweet sugar. Lengthy finish: cardboard maltiness, honey, and sweet sugar; most definitely ends on the sweet side.


 pineypower (1090), Pine Barrens, New Jersey, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/514/20
Sep 14, 2008  
Pours a dark amber/light copper on the pour. Heavy carbonation with a small fading lacing head. Aroma is of alcohol, yeast, spice and apple. Taste has notes of apple, yeast, clove, honey and a slight dryness on the finish. Interesting....


 MartinT (5050), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/514/20
Aug 28, 2008  
My Bottom Line:
Honeyed cereals and fruity hoppiness conjure up an orange coulis in this balanced and personable Wheat Wine.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam tops the nearly clear golden amber.
-Alcohol heat is felt at every sip.
-Hoppiness is well integrated, yet does not offer clear-cut flavors. Could be a sign of its age though.
-The finish is mostly sweet, bringing back the salient honey character that had been announced as early as the first whiff.
-The body was slick and not necessarily fun to play around with. I expect more from a Bell’s mouthfeel.

Bottle; thx Jason!



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC