Oliver's Golden Wheat Ale
Pratt Street Ale House

 

Notes from GEN Sutter's 28 August 2009 Cask Night. This version included Root Ginger but rather than add it as a separate beer, I am including its review under its standard brew type.

This had a foamy, rocky, off-tan head with decent retention, especially for coming off of a gravity pour. Nose had a light spiciness that I may not have immediately identified as ginger, perhaps attributing it to the yeast. It's a good thing that I am not so broke that I cannot pay attention. Color was a deep orangish-amber with NE-quality clarity. Mouthfeel was silky smooth with a mildly spicy bite, but here I could definitely identify the taste as ginger. This would be a phenomenal beer with Thai food! It was not wildly spicy, either, coming on the front end of a wave of malt sweetness. Sweet! Uh oh. But not to fear - it only acted as an offset to the spice. Finish was likewise spicy up front followed by a wash of sweetness. Mmm.

This is a pint of Oliver's Golden Wheat served at the Wharf Rat during the Netherlands-Cote d'Ivoire soccer match.

Appearance: The ale is a crisp, clean golden color. There is no sign of any impurities or sediment. There is a bit of head but is fades quickly.

Smell: Ginger is the dominant aroma, a soft cleansing aroma.

Taste: There is a pleasant hop bite here, almost like a European varietal in its crispness. The wheat is chewy and delicious and that damned ginger rears its head again, providing something to wipe off the palate (like with sushi).

Mouthfeel: The spritziness of the ale and the ginger sweetness are intriguing together. The hop bite is very refreshing.

Drinkability: While it is not my first choice, it is a solid warm weather beer.

This is a wheat beer that will have you asking, "where's the wheat?"

The color is a very clear gold, with a nice foamy white head. I think I might have enjoyed it better if it were unfilitered, but it still looks nice. The nose is citrus wheat and yeast. The taste is where the wheat is lacking. I couldn't detect it at all. Instead, it was hops with sweet ginger. Not an awful taste, mind you, just not what you'd expect from a wheat beer. It's a tad on the boring side. The carbonation is good, with a decent mouth feel. Drinkable, but drinks more like a macrobrew than other pale wheat ales.

One of the newer offerings at wharf rat. Pours of an ultra clear golden tinted rouge, with light off white head--though I believe that it is unfiltered. Great lacing.
Aromas of wheat and light fruit.
Smooth and simple, with light fruit and wheat tinges. This one was subtle and tasty, even winning over a woman who enjoys ultra. Great smooth mouthfeel that finished quite clean, worth several.