Summer Sandia
Texian Brewing Company

 

 

 

Pours and smells good. Look is average at best as their was virtually no lace. Taste was good although the watermelon tastes somewhat artificial and not natural! Over all it was decent beer but probably won't get this one again!

 

 

 

BOTTLE: Brown glass. White unbranded pry-off pressure cap.

Acquired: At an Austin, TX bottle shop. Cost was $7.59 USD.

Reviewed live at low altitude in Austin, TX. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Vintage: 2014.
ABV: <None listed.>
Style: American wheat ale (implied by the label).
Serving temp: Cold.
Serving vessel: Pilsner glass.
Expectations: Average (given the brewery).

No bubble show forms as it's poured.

HEAD: ~70% of the glass is filled with foam. Off-white in colour, with a soft complexion and an uneven lumpy but frothy consistency. Leaves no lacing as it recedes.

Retention: Nice. ~6 minutes.

BODY: Clear translucent copper with orange and gold hues. Not the hazy orange of a proper German hefeweizen, and not a beer that betrays its watermelon juice component by its mere appearance. Clean, with no visible yeast.

It looks fine, but isn't mind-blowing or notable.

AROMA: I definitely pick up on the watermelon juice, and it's so overt I'd easily find it even in a blind tasting. Munich malts, pilsner malts, and clean flaked wheat fill it out. Maybe some crystal malts? It does seem a bit spritzy. Hopping is minimal in presence and fruity in character. Yeast attenuation seems apt; it's neither too sweet nor too bitter.

Aromatic intensity: average.

This aroma suggests a gimmicky but pleasant beer with some interesting watermelon notes. I hope it's as refreshing as it smells. The watermelon doesn't seem truly authentic, but it's not evocative of artificial puree or extract either.

TASTE: Yup, it's got watermelon alright - or at least watermelon juice. I suspect a large manufacturer was the source; this doesn't seem genuine/authentic in terms of its fruity notes, but it's not the puree/extracty character that plagues so many poorly executed fruited beers. The wheat foundation is nicely leavened and the yeast attenuation apt, but the yeast brings little to the table flavour-wise. It's definitely an American wheat. Some Munich malts lend it a hint of breadiness.

Depth of flavour: Average.
Flavour duration: Average.
Flavour intensity: Average.
Flavour amplitude: Decent.

The watermelon is a nice gimmick, but it doesn't feel seamlessly integrated into the malt backbone, and the build isn't gestalt. This has plenty of cohesion, and I'd call it fairly balanced, but I don't see the advantage of the core recipe being a wheat beer over, say, a pilsner or Munich helles lager. As a refreshing watermelon brew, it's pleasant and enjoyable to drink, but there's nothing here in terms of intricacy, subtlety, or nuance to impress the discerning drinker.

TEXTURE: Refreshing. Smooth, wet, on the lighter side of medium-bodied, well-carbonated, and juicy.

Not oily, gushed, hot, boozy, astringent, harsh, rough, or scratchy.

This mouthfeel complements the taste nicely, but fails to elevate the beer. Luckily, it's not sticky or anything - which is always something to be feared when a brewer is attempting a watermelon beer. It's not too thick or syrupy, and has a nice overall presence on the palate. I like its softness.

Constructively, I'd prefer it even juicier and softer, with a more refreshing, light presence on the palate and a delicate fragility.

OVERALL: A nice little watermelon beer that would a fine release in 6 pack format. It just isn't justifiable to purchase this a second time at its $7.59 price point, but I'll enjoy finishing the bottle. Not a beer I'd go out of my way to recommend to friends, but interesting, sure. More middling work from Texian.

C+