Wahoo Wheat Beer

Ballast Point Brewing Co.
San Diego, CA

Available: CA, AZ, PA, HI

Wahoo was one of the first beers brewed when Ballast Point opened back in 1996. It is spiced with orange peel, coriander and curacao.

ABV: 4.1
ABW: 3.3
Color: 4
Bitterness: 12
Original gravity: 1041

Let’s get the pedantry out of the way first: the label describes Wahoo as a “Belgian style wheat beer (hefeweizen),” but hefeweizen is a German style. This is a bière blanche or wit, broadly in the Hoegaarden style, flavored with coriander, orange peel and curaçao. It has a hazy gold color and spicy nose with coriander and peppery hops to the fore. Spicy and herbal notes dominate the palate with rich grain, tart fruit and gentle hop bitterness. The finish has sweet grain balanced by orange fruit, herbs, spices and light hops. A pleasant beer, but I find all the aromas and flavors rather muted—and I never thought I’d say “muted” about an American craft beer.
- Roger Protz

I roll the bottle to re-suspend the heavy yeast deposit, and the beer pours a murky dark yellow. The white head quickly drops to scattered islands of foam. The aroma is brightly spiced--oriander and oranges—backed by a wheaty, pasta-like backdrop. On the palate, the beer is brisk, dry-ish and fruity, with classic witbier flavors playing into a quick finish. If I was judging a competition, I’d say this beer is pretty dark for the Belgian wheat beer style. But fortunately I’m just drinking, so I don’t care. This is going to be awesome with my shrimp salad.
- Garrett Oliver

Roger Protz
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Garrett Oliver
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.

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