Wheat Wine
Smuttynose Brewing Company

Wheat WineWheat Wine
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From:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Wheatwine
ABV:
10.7%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 11.95%
Reviews:
482
Ratings:
772
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 23, 2020
Added:
Apr 14, 2005
Wants:
  58
Gots:
  65
Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale is a unique hybridization of two well-known beer styles, combining the rich, voluptuous taste of a traditional barleywine with the subtle, tart flavors of an American wheat ale, topped off with a healthy dose of crisp, herbaceous hops.

2007 - 11.4%
2008 - 10.3%
2009 - 11.4%
2010 - 12.0%
2014 - 10.8%
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by GratefulBeerGuy:
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

4.73/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
10/13/07. Re Review 3/3/17. Reviewing a 2010 vintage. 7 years aged. New review is notated with an *.

This brew is a real delight to pour with it's vivid Crimson hued amber color with an abundance of slow moving bubbles which creates a two-finger thick and tight mocha-froth colored head that is very heady looking. The head is very sticky with intricate clumps of froth are stuck all over and the retention is very slow and remains pretty zippy throughout. * The pour, this time around gives off the same brilliant color with minimal head, quick bubbles, then gone.

The Aroma is extremely pungent with big thwaths of fruit like pineapple and ripe red grapes with a maple syrup and brown sugar, buttery malt just underneath. The nose complexity is very high with a big spicey, oak and cedar wood effect and a big whiskey-like heat tingle. Way down there's a whiff of jalapano peppers to round of this wild array of aroma's. highly enjoyable.* The nose has changed a lot over seven years of aging; a boozy, very sweet malt dominates. Cherries and cedar wood, brown sugar, still has spicy wheat, smells very much like a Belgian Quad from cask.

This brew is not for the timid...the bold wheat based malt comes on smooth and thick, sweet but herbal and then mutates to an insanely bold fruity hop flavor that feels citric but tastes more like sweet ripe red grapes, pineapple, banana & starfruit. The third element to this delicate , but bold balance is a big, spicy and very herbal earthiness with soft cedar wood smoke bitterness. The high ABV % plays a big role, which is fine because the flavors are soo big. But this 10.7 is no joke, it feels a bit like bourbon going down and is a real kick. * The 2007 vintage is 12 % abv. And man, you can sure feel it! Very boozy brew. The malt is much more dominant, heady and thick, brown sugar sweetness with mild cherries. The sour wheat malt is still good for a zippy kick, even after seven years. The fruit flavors from the hops have mellowed greatly, but the herbacious hop taste is still in full effect and really pulls this one into the stratosphere for complexity. There still is a smokey malt flavor with caramel and molasses but it has all melded together seemlessly over time. High complexity but much more sweet ,malty and boozey. Some bitter, earthy notes linger with a smoke and woody aftertaste. Herbal hops linger along with the spicy wheat malt.

The feel here is simply heady. Thick, full body smooth as hell with a big heat burn, a serious sipper. * After seven years of cellar time, the mouthfeel has become very relaxed, very full and malty slick. A minor spicy bite and high heat tingle that finishes pretty dry.

This is one of the most bad-ass brews you can find in NH period. Smuttynose was the first commercial brewery to release this style, and it is an honor to have reviewed WAY back in 2007. Seven years later, I get to review the strongest version released, and after seven years in the cellar. A truely remarkable brew. A New England classic.
Oct 13, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of pathman
Rated by pathman from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
05/22/20 bottle @ home (2010 release; cellared @ 53F since purchase)
May 23, 2020
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Consumed in the middle of August 2015, can't tell from the picture of it I took what year it was.

Pours a dark copper, burnt orange like color with 1/4" off white head. Aroma pops of wheat and alcohol to a much lighter degree. Underneath that a mild toffee note.

Taste was like a crisp caramel and toffee bar, the wheat usage kept this from a heavier mouth feel of caramel and toffee. Even though the carbonation was slightly lower it still did a good job at not seeming too heavy or sticky of a mouth feel. Hops seemed restrained to make it more of an old ale/English kind of wheatwine even though I think wheatwine is generally an American thing. What is the commercial tug job talking about, there is nothing tart going on here? Hint of dark fruit bitterness.

Neat to try, a notch below Boulevard's Harvest Dance.
May 15, 2020
Photo of Bluecrow
Reviewed by Bluecrow from New York

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is a cellared bottle from 2012. -deep rose-amber bottle pour with no discernible effervescence. The aroma includes caramel and toffee and leather notes. The flavor includes tobacco, toffee, raisins, grape must and a late woody influence. There is some alcohol heat eight years on. The finish is pleasant. Another draught is welcome enough. Pleased to have an opportunity for an aged version.
Jan 27, 2020
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Pours a hazy dark amber color with a slight tan head and lacing
A- Aroma has grain and malt hints
M-The taste follows the nose with a grain and malt flavor
M-A medium bodied moderately carbonated beer
O-A well done Wheatwine
Aug 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.58 by travelguy from Ohio

Dec 07, 2018
Photo of Brolo75
Reviewed by Brolo75 from California

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22 ounce bottle poured into a snifter, bottled in 2013

Pours a light amber color with an off white head that did not retain, beer is clear, decent amount of lacing and a head that turned into a soapy film. Lots of malt in this one, toffee and caramel, red licorice, touch of lemon and grass, hint of alcohol that lingers in the finish. Same as the nose, toffee, caramel, red licorice, slight lemon peel, and hay/grass note, some alcohol burn that lingers in the finish. Low carbonation with a sticky mouthfeel that clings to the palate.

With almost five years on this beer there is not much left. I would like to try a fresh bottle but this was the only one I could find. I will definitely pick up a fresh bottle if I come across one.
Jan 19, 2018
Photo of GeoWitt
Reviewed by GeoWitt from Canada (NS)

4.3/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Got this as a pint-size growler fill at Pinehurst Wine Shoppe in Baltimore, and poured into a tulip glass. An incredible bargain from the distributor, who I guess was looking forward to getting rid of the 2014 stock. A beautiful golden color, with aromatic yeast and grain aromas. A little alcohol forward, which isn't too surprising, but a bit of a thin feel on the tongue. However, the concentrated hop and grain flavors with the subtle but noticeable wheat character, made me rate this highly.
Sep 18, 2017
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Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.74/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a tulip, the appearance was a semi-dark amber color with a finger's worth of quickly dieing head. Not much lace, somewhat stringy and sliding to what was there.
The aroma had some raisins, sweet wheat, light caramel, light toast, light honey and boozy sugary notes.
The flavor was mainly sweet through the prior mentioned aromas subsiding a sweet leaning aftertaste through all of those noted aromas.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sipping quality about it. Carbonation seemed to have died off a bit and some cloying qualities want to invade over my tongue. ABV still felt close to par.
Overall, 2014 bottle and well, I didn't mind this for me. But I'm guessing this probably would have been better fresher.
Jul 09, 2017
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Vintage 2009 bomber poured into a wine glass appears mahogany in color with a finger of khaki head that fades quick leaving spotty lace.

Aroma is malty and raison-like. Minimal oxidation with a hint of caramel and booze.

Taste is toasty malt, slightly herbal bitter with plenty of raisony alcohol. Almost sherry-like with its oxidation.

Medium in body with modest carbonation. A pretty decent and still quite boozy wheatwine.
May 16, 2017
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4.54/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From Cervezalandia. In Teku glass. 65cl. Watching Los Soprano 5x03 + playing Broken Sword 5. Barleywine-like, with lots of raisins and a smoother,silkier body probably thanks to the wheat.Noticeable non USAish hops. Alcohol present too, but nice, providing a warming feeling. To drink slowly
Nov 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.62 by Nat1975 from Indiana

Nov 14, 2016
Photo of Gajo74
Reviewed by Gajo74 from New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had it on tap at Top Hops Beer Shop, NYC. My first wheat wine review!
Pours a light copper with an amber hue. A moderately large sudsy head soon recedes into a frothy cap and collar with sticky lacing.
In the aroma; sweet honey and lightly burnt caramel, buttery, raisin, sugary and alcohol.
Medium to full body with a moderately thick coating of honey and caramel malt sweetness. Lots of peppery alcohol. The herbal and piny hops become more pronounced, as the finish and linger become increasingly drier with a moderate to biting bitterness.
The alcohol warming is significant, yet, it is drinkable. I enjoyed it.
Sep 11, 2016
Photo of vfgccp
Rated by vfgccp from New York

4.01/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
2012 bottle drank August of 2016.
Aug 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.64 by Ame127 from Florida

Jun 04, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.09/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
For two reasons, I'm glad that BA created a new category for those barleywines that blend in wheat.

First, wheat is much smoother than American barleywines tend to be. That comes from the wheat and it is harder for brewers to work with. So to help reward their innovation, a new category seems a good idea.

Second, American barleywines tend to be too hop-forward and go with too few foods. And I like higher alcohol styles that focus on blending the malts and, now, using wheat.

I hope I find this again this spring. I'll buy two. One to try with dessert. The other for 2017.

A "1001" beer and deservedly so.
Feb 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by thedifferencemaker from Ohio

Feb 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.91 by hop_junkie from New Hampshire

Jan 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by RBorsato from Virginia

Jan 09, 2016
Photo of MacMalt
Reviewed by MacMalt from New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
My first experience with a wheat wine. Poured into pint glass. The color is a hazy orange-amber with a one-finger milk-white head and thick lacing. It has a nice aroma of malt, butterscotch and dry, dark fruit. It tastes of malt, caramel, and raisin or fig. It starts out with the sweetness typical of a barley wine but the sweetness gives way to a hoppy bitterness and a strong alcohol burn at the finish. In fact, it seemed more hoppy and bitter as it warmed in the glass. It is a medium-bodied, somewhat syrupy ale and the 10.70% ABV is very noticeable. Overall, I enjoyed this wheat wine and would drink it again. Smuttynose is a quality brewer.
Dec 12, 2015
Wheat Wine from Smuttynose Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 772 ratings