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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?  
 JoeM500 (1876), Chicago (little italy), Illinois, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/517/20
Oct 6, 2007  
Side by side comparison with bottles of Two, Four, Six, Eight and Love. New Years Day 2006, I believe. *TWO pours light orange with minimal, but noticeable haze in the bottle. Sweet nose does have a bit of spice showing through as it warms. Body is light. Dry and spicy at the finish of the bottle. Not as creamy as Oberon, lighter body. Light spices remind of a lighter witbier. Quite average, though. *FOUR is much drier and straigh grainier wheat flavor than the two. Re-writing this review, it is what GI 312 is like today. Straw and grass with tiny hints of sweet bread and cookie barely coming through...teasing. *SIX is a bit darker and more malt flavors are present in the nose and especially in the flavor. Sweet and mapley with the grassy dryness at the end quickly fading. *EIGHT is dark and cloudy, nutty aroma. Flavor is really weak, as is the body. Some tiny roasted flavors, but this one seems the weakest of the bunch, despite it’s color. *LOVE - I thought the order would go lighter to darkest, finishing with LOVE, but this is just as light as TWO. Nose is compoletely different, with alcohol upfront and some banana bread. Body is nice and rich, malty, some spices drying at the finish. The aftertaste, dry from apparent alcohol is also spicy and wonderful. The clear winner of the series for me!


 swoopjones (1897), Buffalo, New York, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/515/20
Sep 5, 2007  
bottle. would have never thought this was a barleywine. golden in color. almost saison like with the Belgian yeast. Pretty tasty,cloves, some banana


 wheninhell (486), louisville, Kentucky, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/104/514/20
Sep 4, 2007  
not the first time i have had this. im surprised that i havent rated it yet. clear orange amber with a white head that settles into a thin film. banana bubble gum clove aroma with some light caramel. bittersweet caramel bubble gum cotton candy flavor with some light basil notes. finish sweet bubble gum basil light bitter caramel dry finish. full body. moderate carbonation. decent but a bit too sweet and the beer just seems to be a bit out of whack.


 kp (8400), Woodstock, Georgia, USA
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/57/103/511/20
Sep 1, 2007  
Date: 01/27/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cask Eve, 2006

dark yellow, whispy head, lightly tart wheat aroma, nice slightly sweet banana flavor, light bitterness

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4


 bp (455), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/57/103/511/20
Jul 31, 2007  
Bottle: Pours a cloudy orange, aroma of banana, thin/little head, taste is slighty bitter and dry. Probably worth picking up again.


 YourDarkLord (1800), Urbana, Illinois, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Jul 6, 2007  
Having noted previously that wheat beers do not appeal to me, I did enjoy the wheat series from Bells. This cloudy orange brew with a thin white head gave off the aroma of caramel, tropical fruit, overly ripe banana, clove/corriander. Wheat and yeast noted in the taste. Medium body, gentle carbonation. Enjoyable.


 TheKegergator (241), California, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/105/518/20
Jul 2, 2007  
Pours a hazy medium amber that has a head that fades rather quick. Smell is sweet, banana? Taste is great, fruity sweet with a nice bitter finish. Awesome brew. So far 2/2 on the wheatewnes. Thanks a ton tangfoot.


iwrk4dickjones (22), Michigan, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/510/105/518/20
Jun 27, 2007  
It has a dirty appearence, with flecks of brownish-white stuff floating around in its cloudy golden body. The smell is sweet and wheaty, akin to Fruity Pebbles. The flavor is dynamite; rich but thoroughly drinkable from start to finish.



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