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Wizard Wolf
Bellwoods Brewery
- From:
- Bellwoods Brewery
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #579 - ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,298 - Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 7.77%
- Reviews:
- 29
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 17, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 11, 2013
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 13
At the time of its inception, this was a very unique beer for Bellwoods to brew. Though we were earning a reputation for making a lot of high ABV, full-flavoured brews, we still couldn’t deny the appeal of something easy drinking and sessionable. Not really wanting to go the route of the lager, and inspired by the hop-forward low alcohol pale ales emerging from the states, we devised the Wizard Wolf. Weighing in at 4.8% this deceivingly flavourful session ale is easy to drink, and doesn’t knock you off your feet after just one.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jeffo:
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands
3.51/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.51/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Got a couple of these from the brewery on a fly-by visit. Wish I could have hung out longer and had a few brews at the garage. Next time.
From a 500ml bottle into a snifter
APPEARANCE: Pours a one finger, looser, foamy white head with good retention. Cloudy orange in color with medium levels of carbonation. Head fades to a faint, splotchy wisp that remains the whole way and leaves some nice lacing down the glass. Loose hear, but it left some nice looking lacing.
SMELL: Pale malts, honeydew melon, pine and grapefruit with some light melon citrus aromas. Really nice stuff.
TASTE: Some pale malts, grainy bread, a touch of malty sweetness, then some floral bitterness at the swallow. Big but dry finish of floral bitterness and touch of grainy bread flavors. Little sweetness; mostly a bitter hop finish with grainy flavors.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy enough on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes dry. Some bitterness lingers.
OVERALL: The nose on this one is great, but unfortunately the flavors don't follow suit. This one is a little too grainy for my tastes, as well as being bitter for the sake of being bitter; didn't get as much flavor out of the hops as the nose had suggested. Still a good low ABV session beer here, but not something I'd have to jump at again.
Oct 13, 2013From a 500ml bottle into a snifter
APPEARANCE: Pours a one finger, looser, foamy white head with good retention. Cloudy orange in color with medium levels of carbonation. Head fades to a faint, splotchy wisp that remains the whole way and leaves some nice lacing down the glass. Loose hear, but it left some nice looking lacing.
SMELL: Pale malts, honeydew melon, pine and grapefruit with some light melon citrus aromas. Really nice stuff.
TASTE: Some pale malts, grainy bread, a touch of malty sweetness, then some floral bitterness at the swallow. Big but dry finish of floral bitterness and touch of grainy bread flavors. Little sweetness; mostly a bitter hop finish with grainy flavors.
PALATE: Medium body and medium levels of carbonation. Creamy enough on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes dry. Some bitterness lingers.
OVERALL: The nose on this one is great, but unfortunately the flavors don't follow suit. This one is a little too grainy for my tastes, as well as being bitter for the sake of being bitter; didn't get as much flavor out of the hops as the nose had suggested. Still a good low ABV session beer here, but not something I'd have to jump at again.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.89/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.89/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
473 mL can from the LCBO; dated May 18 2022 and served barely chilled.
Pours a turbid mimosa yellow, generating one finger of tight, foamy white head that lasts for less than two minutes. A thin collar is left encircling an islet of creamy suds, with little in the way of lacing - looks like citrus juice to me, which kind of goes along with the aroma. Lemon, grapefruit and orange, with hints of floral, grassy hops and perhaps a touch of mango. It's nice, but nothing out of the ordinary for a hazy pale ale.
It's actually a well-balanced, highly sessionable pale ale... I'm just not being 'wowed' in any way whatsoever. There's a respectable backdrop of oat-y, bready pale malts, with apricot, orange and mellow melon sweetness also coming through. Hints of grapefruit and pithiness towards the finish, which is mildly floral and grassy, but not particularly bitter; fruity aftertaste of stone fruit and melon that trends dry. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation that softly brushes against the surface of the tongue; feels smooth and very soft, with superb drinkability.
Final Grade: 3.89, a B+. Wizard Wolf is quite possibly the most underwhelming Bellwoods beers I've tried thus far, but that's not to say it doesn't have a few strong suits. I loved the mouthfeel, and it's absolutely sessionable - I could drink this all night without complaint. As a pale ale, I don't think it's as good as Jutsu, and the flavour profile (while enjoyable), is not exactly novel - at least, not here and now in 2022. 9 years ago, it might've been the bees knees, but the market has evolved. Given its premium price point, I don't see myself returning regularly... but if I happen upon a fresh serving, this review might get an update.
Aug 17, 2022Pours a turbid mimosa yellow, generating one finger of tight, foamy white head that lasts for less than two minutes. A thin collar is left encircling an islet of creamy suds, with little in the way of lacing - looks like citrus juice to me, which kind of goes along with the aroma. Lemon, grapefruit and orange, with hints of floral, grassy hops and perhaps a touch of mango. It's nice, but nothing out of the ordinary for a hazy pale ale.
It's actually a well-balanced, highly sessionable pale ale... I'm just not being 'wowed' in any way whatsoever. There's a respectable backdrop of oat-y, bready pale malts, with apricot, orange and mellow melon sweetness also coming through. Hints of grapefruit and pithiness towards the finish, which is mildly floral and grassy, but not particularly bitter; fruity aftertaste of stone fruit and melon that trends dry. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation that softly brushes against the surface of the tongue; feels smooth and very soft, with superb drinkability.
Final Grade: 3.89, a B+. Wizard Wolf is quite possibly the most underwhelming Bellwoods beers I've tried thus far, but that's not to say it doesn't have a few strong suits. I loved the mouthfeel, and it's absolutely sessionable - I could drink this all night without complaint. As a pale ale, I don't think it's as good as Jutsu, and the flavour profile (while enjoyable), is not exactly novel - at least, not here and now in 2022. 9 years ago, it might've been the bees knees, but the market has evolved. Given its premium price point, I don't see myself returning regularly... but if I happen upon a fresh serving, this review might get an update.
Reviewed by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
3.4/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.4/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours grapefruit juice colour with a small head atop. Bitter and hoppy on the nose. The taste is hoppy for sure, a bit of citrus, a bit of garden weeds and a weird plastic-like taste. Bubbly mouthfeel
June 26 2022
Jun 26, 2022June 26 2022
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
At the brewery poured a 2 finger head into glass lots of tropical fruit flavors kinda like the jutsu beer but less bitter and easy to drink.a lighter version of the jutsu beer.
Cheers
Jun 13, 2022Cheers
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
473 ml can from the LCBO for $4.50 CDN. Served cold into a tulip. Canned May 19, 2022
Appearance - Hazy, yellowy gold colored brew with a milkiness to it. A finger plus of dense and frothy white head and good staying power. Looks like a juice bomb.
Smell - Light grassy notes, hints of lemon and a bit weedy. Understated.
Taste - Light and citrusy, a little lemon a little orange, some grassy and backed up with grainy flavors. Quite tasty and just a little kic of sweetness at the end.
Mouthfeel - Medium-light bodied, somewhat fizzy but right and goes down super easy. Very drinkable.
Overall - As a standalone pale ale, it's a little light, for a session thirst quencher and a brew to be consumed multiple times in a sitting, Wizard Wolf achieves just that. Easy drinking and refreshing.
May 28, 2022Appearance - Hazy, yellowy gold colored brew with a milkiness to it. A finger plus of dense and frothy white head and good staying power. Looks like a juice bomb.
Smell - Light grassy notes, hints of lemon and a bit weedy. Understated.
Taste - Light and citrusy, a little lemon a little orange, some grassy and backed up with grainy flavors. Quite tasty and just a little kic of sweetness at the end.
Mouthfeel - Medium-light bodied, somewhat fizzy but right and goes down super easy. Very drinkable.
Overall - As a standalone pale ale, it's a little light, for a session thirst quencher and a brew to be consumed multiple times in a sitting, Wizard Wolf achieves just that. Easy drinking and refreshing.
Reviewed by JunctionCat from Canada (ON)
3.85/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
My go-to here, well balanced deep hop notes with a body that is there but stays out of the way so you can enjoy the hop layers. Aroma is subtle but clear. Too bitter for the table next to me, so it must be good.
Sep 03, 2018Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
a new school pale, and a decent one, but this was the least special of the beers ive had from bellwoods so far this week, its just another on trend pale, and could basically have been made by anyone. i like it being lower in abv and still having some body and all this hop character, but the balance is a little off in favor of the hop bitterness and intensity, especially in the finish, and this felt heavy on the palate after all of the delicate stuff we had in here. its hazy but not gross looking, and smells majorly dry hopped but without any real distinctive complexion to me, its familiar and fresh, and there is a crispness about the whole thing, but a little more cleaning up i think would improve this. its vegetal and bitey at the end, and that contrasts a lot with the apparent drinkability until that point. overall a tasty pale ale, and it clearly has its fans, but i have prefered the dark and wild stuff from bellwoods so far, which has all be absolutely awesome. some of the best beers in toronto actually...
Feb 08, 2018Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Really hazy yellow color with off-white head. Aroma has nice vanilla sweetness with citrusy hops and some dank notes. Taste is hoppy with citrus notes, grapefruit rind, quite bitter and dry. Light body with medium carbonation. Overall it's a really nice combination of old school hops and haze.
Nov 19, 2017Rated by spinrsx from Canada (ON)
3.96/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle from the brewery for around $6
Nov 06, 2017Reviewed by Jesterr44 from Canada (ON)
4.07/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This was quit an enjoyable session IPA. I'm not typically a "session" drinker because I prefer the fuller taste of IPAs & DIPAs, but right away the smell of this one after opening the bottle was impressive. A ton of grapefruit and lemon dominate the aroma. Poured, it is a beautiful nice cloudy light straw colour, but the head is smaller, more active, and dissipates more quickly than I'd expect. Lacing is non-existent. Taste follows the aroma with a solid hit of grapefruit dominating up front with milder pine, flower & bready malt notes as the sip fades. Well balanced, virtually no astringent bitterness as the sip ends. Mouthfeel is just a touch more watery than I'd like and the carbonation a little "lighter' / more active than I'd prefer. All in all, quite a nice Session IPA with enough flavour to be enjoyable for a hop head.
Jul 14, 2017
Wizard Wolf from Bellwoods Brewery
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
118 ratings
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