Three Wheats To The Wind
Ethereal Brewing

 

 

Recruiting the aid of local homebrewers for experimentation of the seldom seen schizosaccharomyces japonicus yeast strain, an American pale wheat ale rises to the top under the support of red, white and flaked wheat.

Stronger than usual, the weizenbock-strength ale comes with a rich bready scent and a sweet starch candy character that's curiously of circus peanut candies. Light citrus and wine come through with a gentle must and a tropical tang. Doughy with bold overtones of cookie dough, sourdough and sweet dumpling, the beer's malt influence is front and center.

And as Three Wheats to the Wind suggests, the strong wheat beer rolls through a medley of fruit flavors starting with apple, pear and honeydew, and then on to pineapple, papaya and pawpaw. A jammy sweet taste is buffered by the citrusy zest of grapefruit and orange. Modestly bittered, the finish is decorated with gentle spruce, a white wine tanginess and a mild spicy taste of white pepper and vanilla.

Seemingly of a bittered pulled candy, the beer's finish is creamy and semisweet with a suggestion of poundcake with fruit cocktail. A medium length finish offers a brisk acidity and a stemmy hop bite for just enough balance to take the sweetness off of a cloying track and into a drinkable but rich tone.