Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet Hang Ten

Brewed by Clipper City Brewing Company
Style: Weizen Bock
Baltimore, Maryland USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Stein, Weizen

The Heavy Seas weizen doppelbock wheat beer "Hang Ten" just came in this week. I was told there wasn’t a lot to go around, so it was something I had to try. I’m a big fan of wheat beers, doppelbocks, and of course Heavy Seas. Upon pouring, the aromas are leaping from the glass at me. The pour reveals a very dark rusty colored beer, with a light fluffy head. The foam is a light beige tone, and not super thick, but very fluffy and pillowy. A little bit a swirling creates a ton of foam with such tiny bubbles I’m mildly amazed. Its sticking to the glass a little bit, creating some subtle lacing. With my nose in the glass the first thing I get is the alcohol. I’m not surprised, considering the label declares the "Hang Ten" at 10% abv. This might be three highest alcohol wheat beer I’ve ever had. After I get past the booze aromas, I’m getting some soft wheat aromas that reminds me of the Weihenstephan Hefeweis. I’m getting virtually no hops at all, with some heavy malty sweets. There’s definitely a bit of spice, but its tough to pick out any distinct aromas underneath the sweet wheaty malts. With my first sip, it tastes great, but I’m a little disappointed. It tastes much more like a good hefe than it does a doppelbock. There is some mild spice, but like the aromas, dominated by malty sweetness. The "Hang Ten" goes down super smooth, its as fluffy in the mouth as it was when I first poured. Seriously, it’s weird, it feels like cotton candy! Although I’m a little disappointed comparing this to other doppelbock brews, the "Hang Ten" quite enjoyable. I’m a huge fan of the "Vitus" from Weihenstephan, for its body, spice, and drinkability; but the Hang Ten is very tasty. Yes Chris, I used the word "tasty" in that sentence. So, is the Hang Ten an incredible version of a doppelbock? Maybe not. But I’m quite happy with my beer tonight. Try a bottle and tell me what you think.

Pours very dark brown from bottle with an inch of khaki foam. More maltiness on the nose then yeast. You could say the same about the taste. You can reall taste the 10% of this one. Finish is fairly big. Nice bedtime beer especially if you haven’t eaten all year.

UPDATED: AUG 15, 2011 Bottle. The pour was a cloudy medium chestnut brown with the head being rather large (3-4 fingers), a frothy light tan and fully diminishing with fair lacing. It had a sweet aroma to it that started with a toasted straw malt and a large dose of a sweet doughy yeast with notes of banana, dried fruit, caramel and a strong scent of alcohol. The taste was moderately sweet and malty with a nice caramel note at first then became a little sour with a very strong yeast flavor that had hints of some dried fruit and a heavy alcohol presence at the end. The flavor hung around for a good long time, which most definitely enhanced the drinking experience. Mouthfeel was just a smidgen below medium in body with the texture being thick and creamy and having a slightly dry finish and a mild carbonation. Overall an interesting mix of styles, but I got to say it works so well I will definitely be having it again.

Appearance: dark amber to mahogany, with reddish notes and a short off-white head. Aroma: bran muffin, molasses, brown sugar, bread pudding with bananas and toasted pecans. Taste: toasted granola bread with brown sugar, raisins, dates, banana, clove, black pepper. Finish: lingering sticky sweetness with a pleasing alcohol burn. Notes: Clearly a bad-ass American take on the German style. No real apparent effort to hide the alcohol, but it works with the flavors. Seems as if it should be a snifter sipper, but even with the heat it’s very quaffable. Still doesn’t hold a candle to Weihenstephaner’s Vitus--but what can?

Bomber from trade. Pours a murky chestnut brown with decent tan head. Aroma is sweet toffee with caramel malt and some fruit. Taste is lush and complex, figs, dates, plums, sweet malt. A tad thin in mouthfeel and yet slightly boozy and hot. Finish is caramel and booze. Very good.

Bottle. Pours a hazy amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity wheat malty spicy yeasty aroma. Sweetish wheat malty spicy bitter flavor with hints of caramel. Has a sweetish wheat malty spicy finish.

Pours nice and hazy with a meager but mysterious head. Smells like banana pudding with cloves and honey as a topping. The sweetness hangs in the air like cat hair in the sunlight. Dear lord, this beer tastes sweeter than it smells, with a wicked liquor finish that sears the brew’s name into your stomach. The taste can be described as an exacerbated replica of the nose, only hot as hell. Ol’ Burney would be a better name. (1/09)

22oz bottle. Pours a medium chestnut brown color with some light ruby highlights and a small off white soapy head. Aroma is malty sweet with some bready and yeasty notes, along with hints of banana, clove and a bit of caramel. Slightly boozy as it warms. Taste follows suit of the aroma with big sweetness upfront followed by some rich caramel, bready and yeasty flavors. Mild banana and clove flavors follow as it finishes mildly sweet with some earthy hops and slightly boozy. Though the alcohol is present it does not detract from the flavor. A smooth and rich full body, slightly syrupy and creamy with mild carbonation. Gets better as it warms.