Five-Hole Winter Wheat
Maumee Bay Brewing Company

 

 

 

Picked up a bottle of this in a sampler 6 pack when I visited the brewery last weekend. This beer has an AVB of 5/3%. Poured into one of my weizen glasses, this beer pours a somewhat cloudy/hazy dark amber/copper color with some deep ruby highlights when held up to the light. Lots of stream of little bubbles continuously rise to the beer's surface. Also has a slightly off white head about 2/3 of an inch thick when first poured that settles to a good solid 1/4 inch thick about 5 minutes after being poured that sticks around to the last sip. Good lacing. Aromas of toasted caramel malts, hints of dark fruits such as plum and dates that gives way to some bready nuttiness, and a hint of wheat. The taste is pretty much the same, with toasted, dark malt caramel sweetness upfront that gives way to the aforementioned plum and date notes along with a bready, biscuit nuttiness. Followed with a hint of spiced wheat and a bit of chocolate. Rounded out with a pretty slight herbal, floral hop note. Has a slightly crisp, but mostly very smooth and frothy, creamy, light to medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is certainly less crisp and the body is lighter than what I am used to from this beer. A pretty good beer overall nonetheless. An enjoyable beer all around.

Eric

 

 

Cloudy brown with an inviting cap of off-white foam.
Aroma-Dark toasted malt note
Taste-Toasted malt, subtle milk chocolate, spicy wheat note. Nicely balanced subtle flavor, drinks like a light-bodied porter. A nice match with a bowl of chili or a loaded Tony Packo's dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MBBC's been doing a lot of themed beers lately, and mixing up their lineup with newly brewed beers this past year while keeping only a few regulars on tap. This one was brewed to celebrate the Walleye, Toledo's minor league hockey team.

It's a murky, somewhat opaque red-brown in color, pretty standard as I understand the style. Clouded, I assume it's unfiltered. A tan head is thinnish, not large, but has staying power and leaves creamy lacing in spots.
The nose gives me notes of dates and figs, a nip of alcohol, light caramel and toffee sweetness to go along with the fruits, and a bready/biscuity element. A light earthiness aids in balance. Hop bitterness is low, but present in more floral and leafy notes.
From the profile, I'm wondering as I sip this if English hops or malts are used here along with American. It has a slightly spicy, earthier taste, but what really gets me is the strong tea-like character. It's not as sweet as the aroma, opting instead for earthier and the herbal notes. Hops come through a bit more and the finish is dry.
I found the body to be a bit too thin and light, and the herbal dryness in the finish can't be sustained so well by it.