Le Cheval Blanc Wu Long Weizen

Sorry- this was undrinkable and I am a Cheval Blanc enthusiast. It reminded me of those camping trips, when we’d sip oolong tea in tin cups, and then forget to throw out the tea leaves, and top them off with beer. What a delight. It never happened, but the experience wouldn’t be dissimilar.

Objectively speaking: Well-crafted beer with focused tea flavours. I would not drink two pints, but fine experiment.
I like: The basic beer seems like it would be a fresh and drinkable weizen. Intensely aromatic. Long herbal, oily, earthy, honeyed finish.
I dislike: As far as experimental brewing goes, there was not much to dislike about this one. Perhaps a bit too sweet rather than tart.

En fût. Verre de 8 oz à la brasserie. Arôme: Odeur de céréales avec une pointe de thé au miel. Apparence: La couleur est blonde. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de céréales légèrement fruitées. Courte durée de l’arrière gouût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement crémeuse. Faible effervescence en bouche. Arrière goût légèrement fruité. (Rating #1257)

Almost clear blonde body with a little white ring of foam. Nose of wheat and corn is not inspiring Body is light yet very oily, like a diluted motor-oil. Taste is hard to describe, not because of its complexity, because of its lack of intensity. Some green tea noticeable, basic noble-ish hops presence, distant honey, no apparent fruity flavours, I don’t know what else to say. I’m not sure what this is supposed to be. Not bad per say, just very boring. Wu must mean Very because that was one Very Long Weizen to go through, never thought I’d see the end of it.

On tap at Brewpub
Appearance : Filtered wheat? it seems so at least with handsome generous head.
Nose :Plain aroma of sweet malt with some grainy wheat like base.
Flavour/Palate : Fairly clean brew. Straight forward formula. Sweet malty character stretched over whole with lightly noticeable wheat character. Low acidicity / citrus fruit more on sweeter side.

My Bottom Line:
Gentle tea leaves surf the diluted honeyed grain in this clean and lackluster wheat beer for the masses.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam skirts the clear pale blond.
-This must have been a fun experiment for the brewer, but I’m afraid the end result isn’t nearly as exciting for the craft beer lover.
-I guess the "Weizen" name threw me off, as it made me expect the usual banana and clove yeast signature.
-This yeast brings a little fruity tang (and perhaps the wheat helps), but not much more.

On tap at the brewpub.

Enjoyed on-tap at the brewpub. Pale yellow and a crowning head. An odd one, with Taiwanese tea, bananna. Above average carbonation and a drying finish.

Bu sur place en fut (12 oz). Jaune blanchie vaseuse, mince collet. Arome de blé malté, peu fruité avec un soupson de thé vert. Goût de blé mélangé avec du thé vert pas trop présant, mais assez pour dérangé, donc peu épicé et peu fruité. C’est très doux!