Willow Wheat
Prescott Brewing Company

Not the worst wheat beer I've had. Unpleasant mouth feel. Little or no nose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Draft service into a weizen glass at Prescott Brewing Co.

A: Hazy, brassy golden color with one finger of diminishing white foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass.

S: Bread and fiant floral qualities give way to some juicy green herbaceousness.

T: Begins dry, with zesty citrus and mild clove spice. Acidity is mild into the middle where wheat is detectable. The finish is clean and short with no bitterness lingering.

M: Thin to medium viscosity, creamy on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: An ordinary pale wheat ale that is well-constructed but very safe. It has a pleasing texture but doesn't try to do anything inventive with its other qualities. This could serve as a worthwhile canvas for some spirited dry-hopping.

22oz brown bomber poured into a Weizen glass. First half poured without yeast, second half poured after swirling to incorporate the yeast.

First half appearance - Pours a light yellowish amber color with very little head. It dissipates quickly and very little rising bubbles are visible. Not your typical frothy wheat beer...dissapoints somewhat on that front.

Second half - Same, except now very cloudy.

First half smell - Hops...and lots of them, for a Hefe Weizen. Reminds me of a toned-down Ruination IPA (piney and peppery) with some sweet fruit smells in the background to set that off. I like the smell a lot.

Second half - adding the yeast seemed to cut the hop kick a bit in the smell.

First half taste - Hops again. Definite pine-tree and pepper tastes with a nice, sweet malt flavor to back that up with some light fruit tones. Also some mild grain flavors lingering in the background. Finishes light and slightly dry.

Second half - same with the taste...less hop flavor, more subtle malt fruitiness. Slight banana taste, which wasn't there before...closer to a typical Weizen now.

Mouthfeel is light and airy, with a little bit of carbonation...pleasent, and lends to the drinkability.

All in all, I think I liked the beer better without the yeast. It was interesting, an unusual interpretation of the style. Once the yeast in incorpated, though, it became a bit more...Blue Moon-ish. Still, a very nice beer, and very drinkable, just like everything else of theirs that I've had so far.