Beach Break Apricot Wheat
3rd Wave Brewing Company

 

Got in a trade with spelingchampeon. 12 ounce can into pint glass, no can dating. Pours moderately hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of juicy/lightly tart/tangy apricots, fruit skin, peach, pear, melon, red apple, citrus zest, light pepper/clove, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of apricots, fruity/light spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of juicy/lightly tart/tangy apricots, fruit skin, peach, pear, melon, red apple, citrus zest, light pepper/clove, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light herbal/grassy bitterness, yeast spiciness, and fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart/tangy apricots, fruit skin, peach, pear, melon, red apple, citrus zest, light pepper/clove, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of apricots, fruity/light spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness and fruit tang/tartness balance; with zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/sticky, and lightly tangy/acidic balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.8%. Overall this is a delicious fruited American pale wheat ale. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of apricots, fruity/light spicy yeast, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink. Very flavorful and never watery for the ABV. Really well balanced between authentic fruit flavors, American wheat yeast, and pale/wheat malts. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.

 

Lots of great apricot aroma and flavor with a solid wheat beer malt backbone. Of the four 3rd Wave beers I sampled this was easily the best and I picked up a sixer.

Poured into pint glass.
L: Lemon colored with slight golden yellow hues. Slightly hazy. 1.5 finger head when poured. Slight lacing around the glass after beer is allowed to settle.

S: I hope you like the smell of Apricot, because this is the dominating aroma. You might get a hint of peach or citrus. I personally came for the apricot so this is nice without any surprises.

T: Big note of apricot upfront, followed by toasty notes of biscuit some roasted malt. No nasty aftertaste of strong bitterness.

F: subtle carbonation. smooth but not flat. Just right for this style beer.

O: A nice refreshing beer that isn't too sweet or too bitter. The apricot provides a nice flavor that dominates, but is ok for this style. I would drink another with no hesitation.