Great Dane Ramblin Vine Wheat Wine

Brewed by Great Dane Pub & Brewery
Style: Barley Wine
Madison, Wisconsin USA

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

I had this at the downtown location the night before the Great Taste event. Dark amber pour with a sweet toffee, raisin, and caramel aroma. Some sweet fruit flavors, but combine with some vinous qualities. A really nice beer, my favorite from Great Dane.

6/21/2008. 10.5% ABV. Snifter downtown location. Hazy reddish with a ring of light tan head. Lots of caramel and citrus up front, not much else til it warmed. Then I got wheat, alcohol, hints of bubblegum/cotton candy closer to room temp. Flavor has tons of citrusy hop rinds--bitter orange and grapefruit specifically--with lots of syrupy caramel and sweet wheat both big flavors fighting for dominance, thought it seems like the bitterness and hops win. Bitterness peaked at a 6 in the dry finish and lingers, also hot alcohol. Burps citrus. Full body with light prickly carbonation. Pretty good, though not phenomenal. These guys must not be feeling the hop shortage.

UPDATED: JAN 16, 2010 9th October 2008. GABF. Clear brown beer. Sweet malty wheat. Tastes like it’s bourbon barrel aged. Whiskey and wood flavours. Dry finish. Strong flavour. Nice.

On tap at the downtown brewpub 8/8/08: Pours a transparent dark copper mahogany with a spotty-lacing white creamy head. Aroma of sweet caramely malted wheat with some light fruity esters and candy notes. Body starts fairly full and caramely wheaty sweet with a decent balance of light fruits and a slightly peppery warming finish. Pretty good wheat wine, but could use a little time to age.

(Draught) Pours a cloudy deep amber body with small off-white head. Aroma of caramel, raisins, plums, bread, sherry, and herbs. Flavor of caramel and toasted malts, dark fruit, some vinous, and toffee.

Snifter at the Doty St. location. Amber color with a lid of off-white tiny bubbles. Malty aromas; with caramel, light ripe fruit and hints of herbal hops. Fruits include, raisins, dates, plums and apricots. Oloroso sherry flavors. Fruits with a underlying sweet wheat flavor. A english style barley wine with a touch more hops. Hints of warmth and alcohol. A very nice sipping brew.

Date: 08/08/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

Appearance: cloudy dark amber, fine beige head,
Aroma: sweet and fruity malt aroma,
Flavor: rich sweet malt flavor, touch of candy sweetness, nice fruity character, just a hint of bitterness grows as it warms, light bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

Tap. Pours to a coppery amber body with a creamy thin white head. The aroma is sweet and syrupy with some spicy hops and dark wheat. The flavor is sweet and cereally. Wheat and spicy hops. The palate is a little rough and has some bitter and lingering sweetness.

Approximately 10 oz. pour, on tap at the downtown Madison brewpub. Consumed on 8-8-2008. Pours a maroon-like dark amber with an orange hue and a small amount of beige head. Sweet, fruity, floral aroma features pitted fruit (especially peach), sherry, and yellow raisin scents. Strangley, it also gives off a white rice-like smell, but not in a bad way. Very sweet, fruity taste reminds me of a fruity red wine. Candy, raisin, cherry, and sherry flavors. Delicious and improves on multiple sips. Medium to full body. Smooth and crisp in the palate. Refreshing in a way that one does not tend to expect from a wheat wine. I’m thoroughly impressed. Ramblin’ Vine is probably the best Great Dane beer that I’ve tried.

On tap at Great Dane - Downtown. Poured deep amber with a tall, creamy cap of beige head. The aroma was very hoppy with juicy pears and pineapple over toasted caramel and dark fruit.. peppery alcohol hit right on the back, accenting some tart wheat. The flavor had warm caramel and toffee at the core along with juicy dark fruits.. spicy and astringent on the edges with a tacky finish. Heavier-bodied and toasty on the palate with hot spicage at and through the finish.. just felt OK.