Honey Spice Wheat Beer
Sharp's Brewery

Poured into a pint glass. Had a decent head. Lacing at first appeared good but faded very fast leaving no evidence at the end. Slightly cloudy but not too much.

Smell was a little confused. I think the honey threw me off in this beer. It was not bad but unfamiliar. Malts were very present, citrusy ntoes maybe from hops. A sweet finish to smell and a little to the taste. Was a pleasant enough beer. I was not a great fan of the aftertaste.

That said this beer was highly drinkable, and enjoyment did not go down as I was drinking. Although not my favorite beer ever, I would definately drink another right after.

Purchased at the Sainsbury's supermarket. Coming in a 330ml slim brown bottle, BB 27/06/09, served lightly chilled in a tulip-shaped wine glass.

Note: the label says this beer's been brewed and conditioned for over six months, triple fermented with two different strains of yeast, nurtured with local honey and flavoured with a mixture of spices. The ingredients include Golding and Bobeck hops, wheat, barley malts, honey and spices. BTW, only after mixed spices are added is this beer conditioned for over 6 months... Really intriguing.

A: dark orangey amber in colour, coming with very find carbonation, good clarity, topped with a creamy off-white froth slowly settling to a thin blanket. Very nice!
S: the integrated aroma is quite like a yeasty strong ale; the creamy and juicy pale malts, orange- and pineapple-jammy fruits, plus a touch of overripe-fruit edge of yeasts lead the way, but in a harmonious manner... Honey? Yes, but only just, as it's well blended in the main aroma. I guess the triple fermentation has quite neutralised the sharper/sweeter edge of honey. Spice? Maybe. Again it's well mixed, giving a faint suggestion of fennel that another Sharp's beer (Chalky's Bite) is brewed with.
T: the flavour suggests a cross b/w an estery (ripe melon) Belgian pale ale and an English pale ale with lots of absolutely delicious liquidy Maris Otter malts and milder orangey citrusness of Golding hops... the flavour is ever so smooth and well-integrated, that it's hard to dissect from the whole any particular edge of the special ingredients described on the label. In the aftertaste, the lightly spicy edge lurks underneath the moderately dry palate of citric-zesty hops and bitter root-herbs... Sip by sip, the finishing touch simply goes drier and drier...
M&D: the palate is impeccable - silky smooth and creamy, matching the harmonious flavour ever so... well. Perhaps the triple fermentation has worked to restrain the more lively flavour of honey and hops, but the end result is really a glass of harmony that shows no alcoholic touch at all! BTW, not until now have I suddenly remembered that this is supposed to be a "wheat" beer? Honestly, I can't feel that much of wheat in my glass, and thankfully so!

Appearance: orange-gold, good clarity, thick layer of tight-beaded foam, great head retention

Aroma: light blossom honey scent, brea, cooked meat

Flavor: light sweetness with a wheat beer acidity; hints of fermented honey, orange essence, sugar syrup and soap; mild bitterness dries it out a bit for a semi-dry finish

Mouthfeel: medium body, terse carbonation, fluffy texture, alcohol warming in the throat