East End Session #07 - Wheat Hop

On tap. Poured a medium yellow color with a small sized white head. Aromas of wheatiness, earthy and citrus. Tastes of pretty much the same. This one gave me some nice hop burps though. American wheats aren’t my farvorites but I found this one quite drinkable.

Draft at BMRAF 08. Poured hazy amber color with an average frothy white head that was mostly lasting with fair lacing. Moderate wheat citrus aroma. Light to medium body. Medium bitter flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration.

Draft at Capone’s. Very turbid, almost mud puddly medium tan pour with minimal off-white head. The aroma is hugely resiny and hoppy, with some wheaty malt and slight fruit wafts. The taste is very hoppy, balanced well by the wheat/malt, and some finishing citrus. I thought this was very good, but I understand the gripes of the purists as well.

On tap at Capone’s. Pours a lightly hazy golden yellow with a medium foamyh white head that left nice lacing. Aroma of fresh hops, citrus, some pine and sweet orange. Flavor of hops also with the pine/citrus things going on. Picked up some wheat tartness in the flavor, not so much in the aroma. This one is very hoppy, which I like but since it is a wheat beer is on the thin side. A bunch of hop bitterness as well.

Firkin version at Barley’s 6th Annual Mini RAF (04/26/08): This brew is a hazy orange-yellow color with a medium thin light beige head that diminishes steadily. Thin rings of lacing on the glass. Grapefruit and hops in the nose. Medium-bodied with a strong astringent hops flavor that overpowers any trace of malt. Some wheat and yeast is present as well. The finish retains the harsh bitterness and leaves a metallic hops aftertaste. Not sure what was going on with this beer but something was definitely not right.

Draught: Aroma of floral, grapefruity hops. As Nate said, "wheaty presence and a dusty bitterness" to the scent. Poured golden with a hint of amber in color. Big, foamy, rocky, off-white head lasted throughout. Great lacing. Medium to heavy bitter flavor. Tastes of hops and wheat. A hint of grapefruit as well. Light body. Watery, but slightly sticky, texture. Average carbonation. Short, hoppy/wheat finish. Overall, a bit thin and light, but plenty of hops.

On tap. Huge hops grapefruit aroma. Floral with wheaty presence and a dusty bitterness. Cloudy pale golden with huge pale frothy head. Fairly watery with medium carbonation. Taste is that of an American wheat, with citrusy tang, bit watery. What’s different is the huge amount of grapefruity and chalky bitterness. A big hopped American wheat. Big bitter finish with citrus pith tang.

On tap at the Bocktown. I’m not much one for hopped brews even tho wheat is one of my favorites so I not sure what to expect here. Pour is like a slightly hazy wheat beer. Aroma is floral hops, not wheatlike. Nice head that is creamy with mixed size bubbles. Interesting mild hop flavor. Not a real hard hop impact, the wheat seems to be combining with the hops to make it more palatable. The hops do override the friendly wheat flavors to an extent. Hop and wheat is an odd combination on my tongue. I’m not sure of it’s purpose. Is it to be something different or are we trying to attract pale ale lovers to wheat? Finish is mild to medium hop bitterness that hangs for a while after the last drink. This comes across somewhat like a mild pale ale.