Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Wheat Beers

The Hazy Heroes of Summer

Wheat Ale

As the name would suggest, these are ales that use a proportion of wheat in the mash to add a protein haze. Wheat ales inspired by the German weizen tradition were popular before Prohibition in the United States and are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. This generic category encapsulates the diverse interpretation of the classic German weizen styles brewed in America and elsewhere. A host of variables ranging from the wheat/malt ratio, hopping and filtration/non filtration all contribute to wide variations on the theme. Generally, U.S. examples feature a more marked hop accent than classic German weizen styles and are often dryer.

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

92 Summer Moon, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 4.5% ABV (6/09)
Dark mahogany red. Dark roasted chestnut, balsamic, and raisin puree aromas follow through on a round entry to a dryish medium body with burnt sugar and dried sour cherry notes. Finishes with tart, tangy roasted cherry-like fade. Reminiscent of a Belgian sour ale—very tasty.

90 Edelweiss, Hofbräu Kaltenhausen (Austria). 5.5% ABV (7/10)
Lightly hazy golden yellow color. Aromas of scallion corn pudding and banana custard have a delicate spiciness and follow through on a silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with polished depth and balance. Finishes with a long, zesty, banana nut muffin, parsley and wafer fade. Delicious.

90 Washita Wheat Ale, Mustang Brewing Co. (OK). 5.5% ABV (7/11)
Aromas of orange marmalade on rye toast, smores, and cream of wheat with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a peach custard, melon sorbet and radish sprouts-accented finish. Very tasty and a super quaffer.

90 Point Horizon Wheat Ale, Stevens Point Brewery (WI). 5.06% ABV (7/11)
Slightly hazy golden color. Aromas of toasted baguette, firm cheeses, and faint fig jam with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a long, savory roasted golden beet and romaine lettuce-accented finish. A delicious, balanced food beer.

89 Samuel Adams Summer Ale, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.28% ABV (7/11)
Slightly hazy golden amber color. Aromas of lemon-vanilla cookie, dried lavender, pink peppercorn, and banana taffy with a supple, dryish medium-to-full body and a tangy citrus chiffon and dusty sweet potato-accented finish. A nicely-flavored wheat beer.

88 Sch’Wheat, SweetWater Brewing Co. (GA). 4.7% ABV (7/11)
Minutely hazy golden color. Bright aromas of toasted, buttery orange and peach custard danishes with a frothy dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, tangy parsley lemon pepper and star fruit-accented finish. Very tasty and refreshing.

87 Summer Wheat Ale, Roscoe’s Hop House (USA). 4.5% ABV (7/11)
Golden yellow color. Toasty buttered baguette aromas with a dryish medium body and a crisp, kiwi and microgreens-accented finish. Clean and refreshing.

87 Point Nude Beach Summer Wheat Ale, Stevens Point Brewery (WI). 5.17% ABV (7/11)
Slightly hazy old gold color. Aromas of dried tangerine, peach danish and warm porridge with a silky dry-yet-fruity medium body and a dried grapefruit, turnip, lettuce, lavender water and thyme-accented finish. An interesting sipper or food beer.

86 Weissbier, Moosbacher (Germany). 5% ABV (7/10)
Slightly hazy old gold color. Aromas of toasted polenta, banana soufflé, and geyser water follow through on a round, silky entry to a dryish medium body with good depth and a crisp honeyed citrus rind, wafer, and grassy earth hop fade. Very refreshing, bring on the white sausages.

86 Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.35% ABV (7/11)
Slightly hazy old gold color. Aromas of warm tapioca, mint tea and dried citrus with a supple, dryish medium body and dose of roasted root vegetable, nuts and herbs on the finish.

85 Moe’s Backroom Wheat Beer, Tap Room 21 (USA). 4.5% ABV (7/11)
Hazy golden color. Aromas of canned peaches, dried apples, and toasted corn bread with a crisp, dryish medium body and a star fruit and mesclun lettuce-accented finish. A solid summer quaffer.

82 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Goose Island Beer Co. (IL). 4.36% ABV (7/11)
Minutely hazy golden yellow color. Aromas and flavors of toasted lemon cake, nut toast and roasted root vegetables with a soft, dryish light-to-medium body and a crisp, jicama, bamboo shoot, nutskin and grass earth-accented finish.

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