Widmer Brothers W08 Crimson Wheat

Brewed by Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Style: Wheat Ale
Portland, Oregon USA

Draft at the brewery tap. A nut brown beer with a thin orange head. The aroma is sweet malty with primary notes of caramel, but also a light touch of wheat. The flavor is sweet malty again with primary notes of caramel, but also lighter notes of wheat, nuts, and hay, leading to a bitter finish.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with cbkschubert (thanks!). Poured a medium reddish/amber color with a small sized off whtie head. Aromas of some wheat, toasted malts and light spices. Tastes of wheat, caramel, and light spices.

(Bottle, courtesy of Swalden_28) Pours a clear amber body with a spare off-white head. Aroma of caramel, nuts, toasted grain, light citrus, and wheat. Flavor of sweet caramel malt, wheat, and mild citric hops.

Bottle. Dark rusty brown colored body, clear. Nose is pale and transparent maple-centered... some nutty hops, chewy caramel and cedar flavored malt... not terribly impressive, very subdued and quiet nose, when it could be more assertive. Flavor is cracked grains, some scotch-like malts, maple, rum, tobacco, etc... but not really interesting at all. A light bit of roast seems out of place, and as far as the wheat character is concerned, I guess I missed it entirely.

Bottle: Uh, crimson color, nice head and lacing. Nose of thick chewy malts, nice husk and caramel. Some musk and wheat. The flavor is malty, nice hops, husky though. Finishes hoppy, acidic, no transcendence.

Draught @ WABF 2008. Pours a slightly hazy dark amber color with an off-white head. Nalty wheaty caramel aroma. Sweetish wheat malty flavor with some rosated hints and some hints of caramel. Sweetish wheat malty caramel finish.

Bottle. Head is initially small, frothy, off-white to light brown, mostly diminishing. Body is dark amber. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (toasted grain, cookie, caramel), lightly to moderately hoppy (apricot, grapefruit, resin), with light notes of black tea and orange peel. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Pretty tasty, surprisingly enough. Not that exciting, but it’s got a pleasant aroma and good balance.

Bottle. A lightly spiced caramel aroma. Reddish amber color with a ring and a smear for head (white). Thin to medium body with light, fizzy carbonation. Lightly roasted caramel with light, spicy hop. Actually tastes pretty good. Finishes out with lightly hoppy, lightly bitter, lightly caramel, lightly everything. Sort of refreshing, and probably very good for summertime.