Wheat Wine
AC Golden Brewing Company

i felt a little guilty indulging in a holiday beer this time of year, but it was a generous gift from a close fried that came with a stipulation to drink immediately, so that i did! really cool recipe here from these guys, half of this aged in whiskey barrels, the other half frozen, and then blended together, released at holiday time last year i believe, and extremely limited. what a gem! its a little lighter than expected, a medium caramel tone, not quite clear, and sporting a nice khaki colored head, not overly viscous to me, sparkling pretty well in the glass. the aroma here is sweet caramel and vanilla from the barrels, warming alcohol, light spice, earthy wheat, baking bread, tons of honey, and a nice woody profile, rich and complex and wintery but still appealing on a late spring evening. the flavor reminds both me and my wife of cereal milk from golden grahams, really with that honey sweetness and creamy smoothness, the beer is rich without being outwardly sugary or overly dense to drink, but the complexity really comes out as it warms. unlit cigar, vanilla bean, belgian waffle batter, and a lightly english ferment before the alcohol and whiskey take the finish and run. its very balanced, nuanced, and unique, and stands as one of the best wheatwine types i can remember ever having. the flavor stays with me a long time, and this feels fancy and regal to me throughout. a really sensational beer, thankful for the opportunity to drink it and for the friend who sent it to me. ac golden stuff continues to impress, especially these process intensive beers, a great idea and fantastic execution!