Hamptonweisse
Blue Lobster Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Jeff for the growler! This beer was the whole reason for the Blue Lobster trade in the first place - the description sounds amazing. Hamptonweisse pours with a pale pear colored body, fully opaque with an unfiltered haze that engulfs any type of light trying to shine through, even given the relatively vapid hue. A frail, fizzy white head escapes quickly and leaves the top of the beer bare.

What an enigmatic aroma on this one... lots of notable must, heavy citrus zest, lemon peels and lemon flesh, a brash hint of kiwi, and a mild apricot aroma that builds in character and juiciness with time (or temperature, perhaps). So much to wrap your head around, and each whiff is somehow seemingly different from the last... how can that be?

There's apparent lactic sourness, and possibly some biting acidity, from the smell alone. The weird funk and must plays well in balancing everything out, and keeping this beer from just being some generic fruit juice (although I have to say, the fruity combination of this beer smells great, and would probably make a damn good juice, too).

Bam! A swift smack of lactic tartness up front, wall-to-wall, right to the dome. Apricots are heavier, which is good to see, and they seem to contribute more sweetness than tartness in terms of relative flavor. Don't worry though, sour-heads, there's more than enough biting tartness and souring to go around in Hampotonweisse. Get your butt cheeks ready out of the gate.

Kiwis jettison into the middle of things along with a funk that's even more nebulous on the palate. Woodsy must, cheesy popcorn, and mild, mildew-y sweat socks. Is that descriptive enough for you? Sounds awful, but it's not. It gives me that "out of round" sense of balance and fullness that beers like this need... and it's one of the most distinguishable and unique funks I've smelled, so that's also a plus.

The weird-ass funk carries into the end, with some Sprite-like lemon-lime acidity and finishing sour notes, ironic how the mouth feel of this beer is almost exactly like Sprite, too. Very thin and wafting with a spritzy, effervescent, and bitingly crisp mouth feel. Lightly acidic, more lactic, pretty grainy, super fruity, pleasantly sour, and all other sorts of love-you-longtime descriptors.

Very glad to have a chance to try this one. Just reading about a Kiwi-Apricot Berliner makes my slacks tighter, smelling and tasting it was total tent pitchin' mode. Maybe not quite as orgasmic as my mind was shaping it up to be based on the description, and actually a little different than I expected, but awesome nonetheless. Hopefully they make more of this stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pour is straw gold with a vinous hue. Loose retreating head with wisps on the cap.

Aromas of white grapefruit, dried apricot, melon rind and kiwi. Apple cider tartness.

Definite lactic sourness, firm but not overbearing. Insofar as fruitiness, basically picking up more on apricot. Light grainy malt notes.

Body is thin and the effervescence tickles the mouth. Crisp, dry and sour on the finish. Find it to be very refreshing.

Nice interpretation on style with the fruit. I enjoyed very much. Nice to have tried.