Wilbert Wondersniff Double American Wheat
Haymarket Beer Co. Pub & Brewery

 

 

(Served in a stemmed goblet)

A- This beer pours a slightly dense clear copper colored body with a snow white head that sticks to the glass with each sip. There is a few random bubbles that pop up the side of the glass but most are hidden.

S- The aroma is soft and clean with some light green hops notes and a bread crust hint coming thru as the beer opens a bit. It is pretty cold when it was served.

T- The soft sweetness of honey malt blends into a green hop flavor that finishes with a nice crisp bitterness that lingers a moment.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a tight fizz finish and no real alcohol heat.

O- The malt flavor is very soft with a little sweetness but the hops flavor and nice hops bitterness finish the beer nicely. I didn’t get much depth of flavor but nice hops presents.

Served in a tumbler at the brewpub.

I might name my future dog thusly... Anyway, this stuff pours a lightly-hazy straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose comprises grapefruit rind, pine sap, light wheat, light clove, and greens. The taste brings in more of the same, along with some light cedar and light coriander. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, this is a slightly strange, but still pretty enjoyable brew, no matter how you categorize it.

On-tap at Haymarket. Served in a 4oz taster glass.

A - A finger of off-white foam settles to a thin cap, leaving behind glass-coating lacework. Transparent bronze body.

S - The Cascade hop and Crystal malt combo dominates the aroma, with some grainy wheat in the periphery. Citrus notes as well as some bready malts. I was initially unsure of what style to expect here, but this is very much a 'big' APWA rather than a Wheatwine.

T - The taste is more wheat-forward, with low sweetness and only a kiss of vanilla pale malt. There's a bit of citrus flavor as well before yielding to surprisingly high bitterness for the style.

M - Medium body that is surprisingly creamy and smooth for a wheat ale. Medium-low carbonation, with a mildly sticky finish and no alcohol presence.

D - Odd beer, but delivers largely what you'd expect from a 'Double' American Wheat. I also appreciate that the Crystal malt didn't overwhelm the rest of the flavors. Still, the bitterness is out of balance and gives this a bitter bread kind of vibe that doesn't totally work for me. Worth trying, but probably not something I'd order again.