Smuttynose Wheat Wine

Clear copper pour, mostly diminishing white head. Wonderfully rich aroma of tropical fruits, light alcohol, citrusy hops. The citrus nose is very complex, revealing notes of apricot nectar, peaches, tangerines, pineapple, kiwi and grapefruit with sugar on it. Cheesy malt aroma, cedar woodiness very prevalent. Palate is spritzy and mildly spicy. Far more hops in the flavor than the aroma would indicate. Bitterness is pleasing though a little over the top. The wheat taste is nice but doesn’t blend well at all with the looming hops; maybe this one needs a long slumber in the cellar. Dry finish of medium length. Not the quaffability I expect from Smuttynose.

Thanks to Andrew for sharing this one. Cloudy, golden to orangish color. Aroma was of citrus. Taste was slightly sweet. The wheat adds a smoothness. The beer was interesting but not overly complex. Slightly alcoholic and one dimensional.

Amber body with a smallish head, good lacing and retention though. Aroma is fruity with caramel. Light grapefruity hops. Some stickiness, but nothing overbearing either. Wheaty notes are there, but not obvious, brings out a vanilla character. Fairly sweet finish with some alcohol, but would have guessed 11%. Enjoyable, but I was hoping for better.

Ruby/copper, thin light tan head. Nose is a kind of unrefined barleywine. Malt, alcohol, muddled fruit. Alcohol in aroma isn’t particularly hot. Flavor is sweet caramel, overly bitter, very alcoholic.

Cold 22oz bottle: Pours a clear medium golden orange color with a small frothy ivory head. Rich smoky grains, earthy hops, alcohol, spice and fruit notes. Medium to full bodied, crisp and well carbonated. Ending is fairly bitter with notes of earth and flowers.

Bottle. Sampling right now, New Years Eve, 2006. Beer rating #800. Pours a coppery amber into my favorite tulip glass. Small frothing of an off-white head. Holding it up to the light, looks like it may be slightly cloudy. Aromas: honey, spices, copper, grape, and malt. Light going in, light going down, a huge aftertaste of roasted chocolates and coffee, with some fruity sweetness and a lingering spice (with hints of pepper). The more I sample, the more alcohol I can taste.

Hugely satisfying barleywine. Alcohol and hints of wheat on the nose, beautifully bitter taste with a bit of fire. Hops are evident, but the increased wheat addition allows this barleywine to be refreshing without a hops infusion. Classy stuff.

Sameple with Beerdrenched. Pours copper / orange with an off-white head. The aroma is very faint, but what is detectable has grapes, floral aspects, quite smooth with some sweetness. Medium / full body that is smooth and slick with light carbonation. The taste starts with some sweetness (but not overdone), smoothness of wheat and some alcohol definitely creeping through. The finish gets a lot fruitier and hot with alcohol. I wish I would have picked up another to see how this is same time next year, but this was sadly the only bottle I picked up.