Big Rock Grasshopper Wheat Ale | Big Rock Brewery
Brewed by:
Big Rock Brewery
Alberta, Canada
bigrockbeer.com
Style: Kristalweizen
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Light on the palate, yet packed with flavour and European hop aroma, with fruity or citrusy notes.
Added by kbub6f on 08-04-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 205 | Reviews: 98
3.58/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
355ml can. I only seem to drink this when I'm elsewhere in the province, usually Calgary (the Arts Hotel downtown comes specifically to mind), which I attribute to the 'When in Rome' phenomenon. This time, it's across the border in BC mountain country, and another can destined for that apres-ski hot tub sensibility.
The beer pours a crystal clear pale golden straw colour, with lots of loosely foamy off-white head, which leaves a low ring of minor shore-side lacing around the glass as it lazily sinks away.
It smells of decently prominent breakfast cereal grain, wheat and barley duly represented, with an ever so slight banana/cloves essence. Wheaty, full stop, and hardy in its bearing.
The taste is a pleasantly prominent grainy malt, of the same ilk as the aroma - bready and wheaty in a sturdy sort of manner, a softly sweet, tame floral hop crispness following gamely up, with a lingering, hollow spice perception, one somewhat redolent of spicy cloves.
There is just a tad too much carbonation, but to no great ill effect, the body an adequate medium-light weight, and smooth enough, I suppose. It finishes generally on the sweet side, the kids' breakfast cereal wheatiness holding sway.
A decent enough Americanized wheat ale, nothing all that complex, and worthy enough of multiple indulgences, given the right conditions when and/or if you find yourself adrift in Wild Rose country. And one other thing - I looove saying the name of this beer with an Aussie accent. I just do.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
355ml can. I only seem to drink this when I'm elsewhere in the province, usually Calgary (the Arts Hotel downtown comes specifically to mind), which I attribute to the 'When in Rome' phenomenon. This time, it's across the border in BC mountain country, and another can destined for that apres-ski hot tub sensibility.
The beer pours a crystal clear pale golden straw colour, with lots of loosely foamy off-white head, which leaves a low ring of minor shore-side lacing around the glass as it lazily sinks away.
It smells of decently prominent breakfast cereal grain, wheat and barley duly represented, with an ever so slight banana/cloves essence. Wheaty, full stop, and hardy in its bearing.
The taste is a pleasantly prominent grainy malt, of the same ilk as the aroma - bready and wheaty in a sturdy sort of manner, a softly sweet, tame floral hop crispness following gamely up, with a lingering, hollow spice perception, one somewhat redolent of spicy cloves.
There is just a tad too much carbonation, but to no great ill effect, the body an adequate medium-light weight, and smooth enough, I suppose. It finishes generally on the sweet side, the kids' breakfast cereal wheatiness holding sway.
A decent enough Americanized wheat ale, nothing all that complex, and worthy enough of multiple indulgences, given the right conditions when and/or if you find yourself adrift in Wild Rose country. And one other thing - I looove saying the name of this beer with an Aussie accent. I just do.
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1.25/5 rDev -59.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5
Bottle: Poured a fizzy golden color ale with a small head with no retention. Aroma is comprised of weak wheat. Taste is again quite weak on wheat with a gross watery aftertaste. There is also some sourness that I could detect that wasnt pleasant at all. Bad bad stuff.
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look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5
Bottle: Poured a fizzy golden color ale with a small head with no retention. Aroma is comprised of weak wheat. Taste is again quite weak on wheat with a gross watery aftertaste. There is also some sourness that I could detect that wasnt pleasant at all. Bad bad stuff.
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3.77/5 rDev +22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Kings Head in Winnipeg. I asked them if it was a pale ale or ipa (because of the hop in hopper) and they said it was that mixed with a wheat beer. Well they were kind of right... but from the first sip I knew this wasn't near a pale ale or ipa.
Poured into pint glass.
Color is a straw golden yellow. Little head, but good retention leaving slight lace.
Aroma is of honey and floral hops. Some cloves and dried fruit as well. Taste is cramel and fruity zest. The hops are pretty fruity as well.
Mouthfeel is kind of bitter, but it evens out quickly and goes down easy. Very slight dry aftertaste.
Overall not to bad, it was neat getting to try a new beer. It wasn't too hoppy and it wasn't too malty. Very easy to drink.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Kings Head in Winnipeg. I asked them if it was a pale ale or ipa (because of the hop in hopper) and they said it was that mixed with a wheat beer. Well they were kind of right... but from the first sip I knew this wasn't near a pale ale or ipa.
Poured into pint glass.
Color is a straw golden yellow. Little head, but good retention leaving slight lace.
Aroma is of honey and floral hops. Some cloves and dried fruit as well. Taste is cramel and fruity zest. The hops are pretty fruity as well.
Mouthfeel is kind of bitter, but it evens out quickly and goes down easy. Very slight dry aftertaste.
Overall not to bad, it was neat getting to try a new beer. It wasn't too hoppy and it wasn't too malty. Very easy to drink.
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3.03/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Immaculate amber with a surprisingly small, off-white head. I gave this sucker a high-altitude pour and was able to fit all 341 ml into the glass with ease. As I type, the cap is down to a slim one finger and is fading fast. The glass is almost as spotless as the beer. Grasshopper is average in the looks department (and that's being kind).
I'm not sure what makes this beer a kristal weizen and not an American pale wheat ale. Whichever one it is--if it matters--there's no trace of yeast to my eyes or to my nose. The aroma is sweet and grain-like with a complete absence of accessory aromas that would make it the least bit interesting.
This is an APWA and it's a middle-of-the-road one at that. The flavor is more sweet than the nose and I'm betting that honey is an unadvertised ingredient. There's isn't enough malt for the beer to be as sweet as it is without some other source of sugar. When the brewery says that it's 'delicately hopped', they aren't kidding. In fact, I'm having a hard time appreciating any hop flavor at all.
There's a wee bit of bitterness on the back end, but try as I might, I can't even guess as to the country of origin of the hop bill. Given the name, I would have loved to have seen a hugely hopped wheat ale. 'Grasshopper' is wasted on a beer that's this lackluster. The finish is short and honeyish. Some citrus would be nice.
The mouthfeel is actually pretty decent. Whenever the flavor doesn't knock my socks off, I at least like to feel a little zip in the mouth with regards to carbonation. This one is more bubbly than I normally care for, but it's keeping me semi-interested. The fact that the carbonation is still kickin' in the final mouthful is a minor highlight as well.
Grasshopper (why the umlauts?) is a average North American Pale Wheat Ale whose biggest positive is its mouthfeel and its benign drinkability. I could toss back a few of these if there was nothing better on hand, but better beer shouldn't be that hard to come by. Even in Canada.
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look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Immaculate amber with a surprisingly small, off-white head. I gave this sucker a high-altitude pour and was able to fit all 341 ml into the glass with ease. As I type, the cap is down to a slim one finger and is fading fast. The glass is almost as spotless as the beer. Grasshopper is average in the looks department (and that's being kind).
I'm not sure what makes this beer a kristal weizen and not an American pale wheat ale. Whichever one it is--if it matters--there's no trace of yeast to my eyes or to my nose. The aroma is sweet and grain-like with a complete absence of accessory aromas that would make it the least bit interesting.
This is an APWA and it's a middle-of-the-road one at that. The flavor is more sweet than the nose and I'm betting that honey is an unadvertised ingredient. There's isn't enough malt for the beer to be as sweet as it is without some other source of sugar. When the brewery says that it's 'delicately hopped', they aren't kidding. In fact, I'm having a hard time appreciating any hop flavor at all.
There's a wee bit of bitterness on the back end, but try as I might, I can't even guess as to the country of origin of the hop bill. Given the name, I would have loved to have seen a hugely hopped wheat ale. 'Grasshopper' is wasted on a beer that's this lackluster. The finish is short and honeyish. Some citrus would be nice.
The mouthfeel is actually pretty decent. Whenever the flavor doesn't knock my socks off, I at least like to feel a little zip in the mouth with regards to carbonation. This one is more bubbly than I normally care for, but it's keeping me semi-interested. The fact that the carbonation is still kickin' in the final mouthful is a minor highlight as well.
Grasshopper (why the umlauts?) is a average North American Pale Wheat Ale whose biggest positive is its mouthfeel and its benign drinkability. I could toss back a few of these if there was nothing better on hand, but better beer shouldn't be that hard to come by. Even in Canada.
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3/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I CAN thank my lucky stars for good notes.
I got a rocky two fingers' worth of French Vanilla-colored head with great retention. Color was a beautiful golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a slight grainy sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium with a light sweetness on the tongue. Finish continued with a light sweetness. Lawnmower beer!
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I CAN thank my lucky stars for good notes.
I got a rocky two fingers' worth of French Vanilla-colored head with great retention. Color was a beautiful golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a slight grainy sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium with a light sweetness on the tongue. Finish continued with a light sweetness. Lawnmower beer!
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3/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had a chance to try a Big Rock Grasshopper at a conference in Calgary. The bottle was poured into a tall pilsner glass and did not generate much head. The color was more yellow than golden and the clarity was clear for a wheat beer, which surprised me a little. There was some cirtus notes to the nose, but not overpowering. The taste was good, well balance wheat beer nothing extravagent. The mouthfeel made for a perfect after lawn mowing beer.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had a chance to try a Big Rock Grasshopper at a conference in Calgary. The bottle was poured into a tall pilsner glass and did not generate much head. The color was more yellow than golden and the clarity was clear for a wheat beer, which surprised me a little. There was some cirtus notes to the nose, but not overpowering. The taste was good, well balance wheat beer nothing extravagent. The mouthfeel made for a perfect after lawn mowing beer.
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3.07/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: When the bartender says that they have a wheat beer flowing, I got all excited and ordered one right away. The beer came in a mug with a lemon wedge already there, the filtered appearance saddens me with the golden orange tone of the beer and fizzy thin white head, leaves behind some specks of lace. Aroma: A nice citrusy zing doesn't have any of the great yeast characteristics I have come to enjoy from the German hefeweizen, but it's not bad sharp sweetness decent. Taste: The flavor is a spritzy mix of sweetness and citrus tones but a bit bland, when I added the lemon to my beer (which I never do) it actually improved this one. Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with very fizzy carbonation, not bad but again I was looking for a fluffy textured hefe. Drinkability: I had a couple over the course of the weekend not my favorite but a solid wheat ale if that's what your into, I'm not.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Appearance: When the bartender says that they have a wheat beer flowing, I got all excited and ordered one right away. The beer came in a mug with a lemon wedge already there, the filtered appearance saddens me with the golden orange tone of the beer and fizzy thin white head, leaves behind some specks of lace. Aroma: A nice citrusy zing doesn't have any of the great yeast characteristics I have come to enjoy from the German hefeweizen, but it's not bad sharp sweetness decent. Taste: The flavor is a spritzy mix of sweetness and citrus tones but a bit bland, when I added the lemon to my beer (which I never do) it actually improved this one. Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with very fizzy carbonation, not bad but again I was looking for a fluffy textured hefe. Drinkability: I had a couple over the course of the weekend not my favorite but a solid wheat ale if that's what your into, I'm not.
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2.46/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Served in a pint glass.
A - Light to medium yellow, slightly murky. A small amount of white head with some light lacing.
S - An extremely weak nose. There are hints of grainy/bready malts and a touch of citrus.
T - As the nose suggested, the palate is somewhat light. Hints of bready malts and a touhc of citrus. There is a very light bitterness to compliment the very slight sweet maltiness.
M - Light body, moderate carbonatoin.
O - A farily uninspiring example of the style. Only worth ordering if my other options are Labatt or Molson.
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look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Served in a pint glass.
A - Light to medium yellow, slightly murky. A small amount of white head with some light lacing.
S - An extremely weak nose. There are hints of grainy/bready malts and a touch of citrus.
T - As the nose suggested, the palate is somewhat light. Hints of bready malts and a touhc of citrus. There is a very light bitterness to compliment the very slight sweet maltiness.
M - Light body, moderate carbonatoin.
O - A farily uninspiring example of the style. Only worth ordering if my other options are Labatt or Molson.
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3.36/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
A: Kristal clear, yellow hue. No head.
S: Like glacier clear water! (almost no smell).
T: Initially very well balanced, finishing slightly bitter.
M: Light body, moderate carbonation.
D: It doesn't get any easier than this!
Great summer/after-exercise beer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
A: Kristal clear, yellow hue. No head.
S: Like glacier clear water! (almost no smell).
T: Initially very well balanced, finishing slightly bitter.
M: Light body, moderate carbonation.
D: It doesn't get any easier than this!
Great summer/after-exercise beer.
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2.63/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
A Kristal Weizen from a can...
Poured as any macro swill would - no head really, a crystal clear body, a yellow-lime tinted colour. Aroma not of wheat, but rather corn starch. A real cereal like smell to the malts. Unappealing and grosely out of character for a wheat beer. A adjunct filled mouthfeel, no texture less a slight syropy coating. Flavour starts on a sweet note, ringing out from the adjuncts. I don't taste any wheat at all. The flavours really don't last long, the only aspect of which that stands out is a real cereal grainyness. The flavour would slowly redeem some of itself as it warmed... but this drink as any macro lager does...
I'd rate this higher as a macro lager, cause it drinks ok. But for the style, and from the can.. this was worse than I would have expected...
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
A Kristal Weizen from a can...
Poured as any macro swill would - no head really, a crystal clear body, a yellow-lime tinted colour. Aroma not of wheat, but rather corn starch. A real cereal like smell to the malts. Unappealing and grosely out of character for a wheat beer. A adjunct filled mouthfeel, no texture less a slight syropy coating. Flavour starts on a sweet note, ringing out from the adjuncts. I don't taste any wheat at all. The flavours really don't last long, the only aspect of which that stands out is a real cereal grainyness. The flavour would slowly redeem some of itself as it warmed... but this drink as any macro lager does...
I'd rate this higher as a macro lager, cause it drinks ok. But for the style, and from the can.. this was worse than I would have expected...
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2.65/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
355ml can on a westjet flight
Appearance - Clear yellow/gold colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for onlt a few minutes.
Smell - Breads/grains, apples, light spices, banana
Taste & Mouth - The beer has an above average amount carbonation and I can taste breads/grains, light bananas, faint clove and some apples. It finishes with a slight sweet lightly spiced aftertaste.
Overall - Definitely nothing to go out of your way for, but when your other options are coors light or molson canadian, this is a decent option.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
355ml can on a westjet flight
Appearance - Clear yellow/gold colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for onlt a few minutes.
Smell - Breads/grains, apples, light spices, banana
Taste & Mouth - The beer has an above average amount carbonation and I can taste breads/grains, light bananas, faint clove and some apples. It finishes with a slight sweet lightly spiced aftertaste.
Overall - Definitely nothing to go out of your way for, but when your other options are coors light or molson canadian, this is a decent option.
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3/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Yellow pour with a 1/3" white head on it. Standard. Aroma was mild grain and citrus. Very mild.
Taste hit that average, unadventurous stride, played it safe, a summer bbq drinker, pairs with everything, hydrating, not big in any way. Carbonation pumped up.
Expensive for what it is.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Yellow pour with a 1/3" white head on it. Standard. Aroma was mild grain and citrus. Very mild.
Taste hit that average, unadventurous stride, played it safe, a summer bbq drinker, pairs with everything, hydrating, not big in any way. Carbonation pumped up.
Expensive for what it is.
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2.95/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
341ml bottle poured into 400ml dab glass sept28 2009
A clear golden yellow with a crazy amount of bubbles. It poured a thin head with no retention or lace
S grain and not much else
A little sweeter then the smell but not a whole lot going on here
M too much carbonation and as thick as water
D easy too drink like water is easy too drink
hard to avoid in Calgary, not that you need to avoid this beer, it's just nothing worth bragging about
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
341ml bottle poured into 400ml dab glass sept28 2009
A clear golden yellow with a crazy amount of bubbles. It poured a thin head with no retention or lace
S grain and not much else
A little sweeter then the smell but not a whole lot going on here
M too much carbonation and as thick as water
D easy too drink like water is easy too drink
hard to avoid in Calgary, not that you need to avoid this beer, it's just nothing worth bragging about
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2.06/5 rDev -32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
(Served in a pint dimple mug)
A- Yellow with slight orange hue very clear with a thin pure white head that lasted for a little bit
S- Thin clean aroma that smelled very crisp. I couldn't get any notes of hops, wheat or grain.
T- Light pale malt taste with a very light hop bitterness, no beady or fruity hints at all. Very clean finish.
M- Thin body with a light carbonation fuzziness and no tart aftertaste.
D- Very light beer that did show any fruitiness or any wheat flavor. I felt this was a kristal weizen that was trying to appeal to an American adjunct lager drinking market.
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look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
(Served in a pint dimple mug)
A- Yellow with slight orange hue very clear with a thin pure white head that lasted for a little bit
S- Thin clean aroma that smelled very crisp. I couldn't get any notes of hops, wheat or grain.
T- Light pale malt taste with a very light hop bitterness, no beady or fruity hints at all. Very clean finish.
M- Thin body with a light carbonation fuzziness and no tart aftertaste.
D- Very light beer that did show any fruitiness or any wheat flavor. I felt this was a kristal weizen that was trying to appeal to an American adjunct lager drinking market.
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2.93/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Clear, pale golden with a thin white head. Mild sweet aroma. Grainy sweetness dominates, but there is a thin bitterness hiding underneath. Noticeable wheat flavour. Quite smooth with a medium/light body. The finish dries the mouth somewhat and some bitterness lingers on the palate. Not particularly complex and the balance seems to be a little off.
341mL brown bottle, freshness date stamped on 6-pack box.
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look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Clear, pale golden with a thin white head. Mild sweet aroma. Grainy sweetness dominates, but there is a thin bitterness hiding underneath. Noticeable wheat flavour. Quite smooth with a medium/light body. The finish dries the mouth somewhat and some bitterness lingers on the palate. Not particularly complex and the balance seems to be a little off.
341mL brown bottle, freshness date stamped on 6-pack box.
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3/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A new look at an old beer, haven't had this one since back in the 90s. Typical yellow pour, thin white ring of head above the beer, dissipates quickly. Aroma, lacking a whole lot in that department, what is there is very faint citrus and wheat/grain notes.
Taste, very middle of the road, still a plenty light body. Wheat, no hops, some lemon or orange rind maybe to it. Very easy to drink beer, one of those summer or friend beers to have around. Can't say there is anything wrong with this beer, it just is. Carbonation seems high to give it an even lighter body I would guess. Some fruity metallic notes on the undercurrent if you look for it.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A new look at an old beer, haven't had this one since back in the 90s. Typical yellow pour, thin white ring of head above the beer, dissipates quickly. Aroma, lacking a whole lot in that department, what is there is very faint citrus and wheat/grain notes.
Taste, very middle of the road, still a plenty light body. Wheat, no hops, some lemon or orange rind maybe to it. Very easy to drink beer, one of those summer or friend beers to have around. Can't say there is anything wrong with this beer, it just is. Carbonation seems high to give it an even lighter body I would guess. Some fruity metallic notes on the undercurrent if you look for it.
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2.3/5 rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Light gold color on the pour, modest bright white head that is frothy in its texture as it dissolves a thin sheet of lace makes attempts at sealing off the glass. Nose is lightly sweet, crisp and clean a hint of grapefruit, start somewhat sweet, top cadaverous. Finish spitefully acidic, hops lean and the aftertaste droughty, all in all a somewhat bland beer.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Light gold color on the pour, modest bright white head that is frothy in its texture as it dissolves a thin sheet of lace makes attempts at sealing off the glass. Nose is lightly sweet, crisp and clean a hint of grapefruit, start somewhat sweet, top cadaverous. Finish spitefully acidic, hops lean and the aftertaste droughty, all in all a somewhat bland beer.
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Big Rock Grasshopper Wheat Ale from Big Rock Brewery
3.07
out of 5
based on 205 ratings.
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Many years since I had this beer and it tasted far better and balanced. Could not get a smell but could have been the glass. Refreshing summer ale offering. Thanks Osborne Freehouse. Grainy and malty sweet. Crisp like a wheat but not much wheat. Thin-medium mouthfeel.
Another 1.75 years and I had this in fresh bottle. Less metallic, easy drinking.
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