SBC 3 Anniversary Ale
Service Brewing Company

Appearance - The beer poured a ruby red copper color with a white head.

Smell - The beer smelled like vanilla and fruit cocktail.

Taste - The beer had a vanilla presence with weird fruitiness. The beer was not boozy, but had a big body. Oak comes as it warms. The wheat seems bitter in front, but dry and oily in back.

Mouthfeel - The feel is chewy, yet not too thick.

Overall - This is a weird beer. Wheat, vanilla, and fruit work together.

 

750mL bottle from Total Wine (Kennesaw, GA). 9.99. Bottled 07/2017. Served in a Service Brewing snifter. Enjoyed 12/7/17.

Pours a semi cloudy, golden amber with just over two fingers of ecrue head. That foam recedes to a consistent thin film, spreading to a full ring which imparts several scattered spots of lace.

Plenty of welcoming malts in the nose. Sweet, grainy wheat, cracker, faint vanilla and just a hint of honeyed toast.

Hearty, sweet, grainy wheat malt greets the palate immediately and, as it should, remains at the forefront throughout. Semisweet caramel, crusty toast, a somehow bitterish vanilla note, earthy honey, fruit skins and a warming dollop of booze. Some nice classic wheatwine flavors bolstered by the subtle additions of honey and vanilla.

Velvety full body with pleasantly restrained carbonation. The grainy aftertaste features notes of wheat toast with honey cream spread.

My first beer from Service Brewing is a great take on my favorite style. Honey is such a common addition to wheatwines that I almost miss it when its gone but this vanilla bean is an inspired choice that adds a smooth sweetness that really balances all the grain. I'm glad I picked this up and will likely grab a couple more for future enjoyment.