Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Wheat Beers

The Hazy Heroes of Summer

Flavored Specialty Ale

Turning wheat beer into a cocktail has precedent in Europe, where alcoholic cordials or fruit syrups can be used to help beer slide down more easily. Flavored wheat ales are an increasingly popular specialty category, covering a number of flavoring options that brewers have adopted, particularly in the United States, the home of “throw-the-rule-book-away” hybrid beer styles. The two most significant additives are fruit and honey, usually employed separately. Raspberry is a common choice of fruit to flavor these styles and the best examples have faithful fruit essence and avoid any sweet cloying character. Honey can add richness to the palate and give a hint of sweetness. Herbs and spices are also encountered, but the possibilities are endless.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

93 Blue Ridge Blueberry Wheat, Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery (NC). 4.6% ABV (7/10)
Slightly hazy pale amber color. Bright aromas of warm honeyed granola in blueberry custard follow through on a silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with great toasty depth and balance. Finishes with a long, whole grain wheat baguette, herb butter, and blueberry sorbet dissolve. A delicious and artfully crafted fruity flavored brew that would be a fantastic brunch beer.

92 Coney Island Albino Python Lager, Shmaltz Brewing Company (NY). 6% ABV (7/11)
Old gold color. Bold aromas of honeyed citrus and ginger, lemongrass custard, spice cake and spearmint blossoms with a supple, frothy dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a minty and savory roasted root vegetable, coriander, lemon pepper-accented finish. A tasty, lively and somewhat wacky wit to pair with spicy Asian cuisine.

91 Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.5% ABV (7/11)
Bright golden amber color. Bright aromas of black raspberry and huckleberry jams and candies with a hint of wafer cookie. Round and dry-yet-fruity with a medium-to-full body and a toasty berry piecrust, nut and delicate floral spice finish. Tasty.

90 Agave Wheat Ale, Breckenridge Brewery (CO). 4.2% ABV (6/09)
Cloudy golden orange color with a mild head. Aromas of cream of wheat, honey cream, and citrus jelly follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with great balance and a singing harmonious pastry-like finish. Delicious.

90 Grozet Gooseberry & Wheat Ale, Williams Bros. Brewing (Scotland). 5% ABV (3/10)
Bright golden yellow color. Aromas of gooseberry jam on crumpet and delicate lemongrass, juniper, and lime leaf follow through on a silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with excellent depth, smoothness and attractive herbal and floral honey notes. Finishes with a spry, smooth yellow plum and grassy earth-accented fade. Very elegant, polished, and flavored with an expert touch.

90 Éphémére Casis, Unibroue (Canada). 5.5% ABV (7/11)
Pale rosy orange amber color. Aromas of spicy mincemeat, blackberry chutney, and dried flowers are wine-like with a tangy dry-yet-fruity medium body and a zesty wafer, bamboo shoot and sautéed chive-accented finish. An interesting, rather vinous, food beer to pair with salmon teriyaki, duck rillettes or marinated pork loins.

90 Track Town Honey Orange Wheat, Eugene City Brewery (OR). 5% ABV (7/11)
Murky golden amber color. Bright aromas of honeyed orange cake, lemon soda, and ginger tea with a frothy, silky dry-yet-fruity medium body and a gentle wheat wafer, roasted golden beet, and arugula-accented finish. A tasty, fruity and savory beer for the table.

89 Samuel Adams Longshot Cranberry Wit, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.5% ABV (7/09)
Hazy amber color with a lingering fine mousse. Bold aromas of cinnamon apple oatmeal and chocolate covered cranberries follow through on a round, satiny entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body with very good depth and lively balance. Finishes with a fruity, honeyed granola, tangy cranberry sauce and buttered toast.

89 Éphémére Apple, Unibroue (Canada). 5.5% ABV (7/11)
Lightly hazy golden color. Bright aromas of honeyed, freshly sliced green apples and strawberries and mint herbal tea with a crisp, fruity medium body and a long, refreshingly tangy apple-mint jam and wafer cookie accented finish. A delicious way to beat the summer heat.

89 LA 31 Boucanee Ale, Bayou Teche Brewing (LA). 5.74% ABV (7/11)
Light copper color. Bold smoky aromas and flavors of grilled game bird, nuts and veggies with a supple dryish medium-to-full body and a hint of smoked oyster and chestnut brittle on the gentle white cigar ash-accented finish. Different: Try cooking with as well as drinking.

88 Rype Ale, Uinta Brewing Co. (UT). 4% ABV (7/09)
Bright golden color with a dutiful white head. Bright aromas of orange and lemon marmalade on rye toast follow through on a crisp, round entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with floral dried orange blossom, tangy crabapple, and bath talc notes. Finishes with a delicate, ephemeral citrus fade. Interesting and refreshing.

88 Slow Eddie Jalapeno Beer, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 3.5% ABV (6/09)
Aromas of jalapeno dominate and follow through on a round, brisk entry to a dry light-to-medium body with pepper oil and vinegar notes and a brisk, giardiniera and pepper jelly-like fade. A drinkable, very approachable food friendly pepper beer.

88 Strawberry Wheat, John Harvard’s Brew House, Framingham (MA). 4.5% ABV (7/10)
Pale golden amber color. Aromas of strawberry bubblegum and meringue follow through on a round, supple entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium with drying citrus rind, shredded wheat cracker, and dried apricot notes on the crisp, nicely astringent finish. A tasty and balanced fruit flavored wheat beer.

88 Schakolad Wiezen, Blue Tractor Brewery (MI). 5.4% ABV (7/10)
Dark brown ruby meniscus. Aromas of chocolate Mexican coffee follow through on a round, crisp entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with good depth and a tangy apple and cherry skin and smoky cacao nib-accented fade. A nice zesty chocolate beer.

88 SweetWater Blue, Sweetwater Brewing Co. (GA). 4.7% ABV (7/11)
Bright golden yellow color. Aromas and flavors of toasted polenta, white flowers, dried blueberry and cedar shavings with a silky dryish medium body and a floral berry Pez and dusty potpourri-accented finish. Interesting and feminine.

86 LA 31 Grenade Ale, Bayou Teche Brewing (LA). 5.74% ABV (7/11)
Lustrous golden amber color. Interesting aromas of soy toasted rice cake, baked rhubarb and papaya with a silky dryish medium body and hints of tart passion fruit and guava on the snappy mustard greens-accented finish. Interesting, understated tropical flavors; try with paella or gumbo.

85 Wailua Wheat Ale, Kona Brewing Co. (OR). 5.2% ABV (6/09)
Golden color. Bold aromas of passion fruit follow through on a round, silky entry to a fruity medium body with good balanced and a nice dose of wet grain and wheat bread on the zippy finish.

85 Somer Orange Honey Ale, Rogue Ales (OR). 5.6% ABV (7/11)
Hazy old gold color. Attractive mellow aromas of orange poppy muffin, fruit salad, beeswax, and honeyed cereal with a supple dryish medium body and a grain, grass and sautéed water chestnut-accented finish.

84 Oregon Trail Raspberry Wheat Ale, High Noon Saloon & Brewery (KS). 5% ABV (9/10)
Cloudy golden orange color. Mild raspberry cream and wheat bread aromas and flavors with a dryish light body and a astringent earthy hop finish.

84 Raspberry Wheat Ale, Granville Island Brewing Co. (Canada) 2010 Limited Release. 5% ABV (9/10)
Pink red color. Tart raspberry aromas and flavors with wet grain, Meyer lemon peel, pomegranate, cherry pit, and mineral notes on the brisk mineral water-accented finish.

84 Oregon Trail Raspberry Wheat Ale, High Noon Saloon & Brewery (KS). 5% ABV (9/10)
Cloudy golden orange color. Mild raspberry cream and wheat bread aromas and flavors with a dryish light body and a astringent earthy hop finish.

84 Raspberry Wheat Ale, Granville Island Brewing Co. (Canada) 2010 Limited Release. 5% ABV (9/10)
Pink red color. Tart raspberry aromas and flavors with wet grain, Meyer lemon peel, pomegranate, cherry pit, and mineral notes on the brisk mineral water-accented finish.

84 Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.3% ABV (7/11)
Slightly hazy golden color. Bright maraschino cherry and buttered cream of wheat aromas with a supple fruity-yet-dry medium body and a long marzipan and peppered cucumber sandwich-accented finish.

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