CLOUDMASTER
Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales

Had this in Denver in early June as part of the 1st trip to the see Stones that year (concert got postponed, so first trip was all about beer and baseball).

Right away it hits a unique, not done before aspect that I'm not aware of existing anywhere else. I think 50% wheat might be the highest I've ever seen, but in general, 30% or lower tends to make up the percentage for 99% of the wheat beers out there. In fact I think I recall hearing from homebrewers that you can't even make a beer with all wheat before, something proteins and enzymes and molecular compositions your primitive intellect wouldn't understand (great, a horse blanket, one of the unintended ironies of Army of Darkness dialogue crossing over into the beer world).

Pours a dull beige and amber color, ample cloudiness (cloudmaster!) from the wheat I imagine, with a thin 1/4" white head on it that breaks down pretty quickly. Aroma is of sour wheat, takes on more of a wine like component than I would have expected.

Taste is relatively easy going, mild foudre like woody notes, breathy sourness and humidity mouth feels. White wine, lemon, wheat, wood, acidity is about a 6 on the 10pt scale, sourness is about 5.5. Doesn't bog down the palate with thick massiveness. At $22 a bottle (500ml I believe) I can't recommend this given the price, but if you get a chance to try it on tap like I did, I fully endorse that.

 

 

 

 

this is cool because its 100% wheat, which we dont see all that much, but i reckon its more interesting from a process standpoint than it is delicious as a beer to drink. i mean, its very good, most of the black project beers are these days, but it tastes really young to me, thin in feel for having so much wheat, and a bit acidic, and with the kinds of taproom lineups these guys have been posting lately, this is nowhere near the top of the list for me personally when i am in here having beers. i know some of it just got bottled, and i suspect many of them will be aged, and this may develop really well over time, it seems sort of built for that, but for now, it tastes a little juvenile to me, less exciting than some many of they others in terms of the yeast complexion. lemony and sort of candied mid palate, with white grape and new oak elements, faint vanilla and white vinegar as well. its not bland, and its not boring, but it just doesnt seem quite up to the level of their best work, and that its all wheat seems more of a novelty than a desirable flavor component, the malt here is so mild, its almost unremarkable. overall though a cool wild beer from one of the hottest breweries in town right now. i hope to try this from the bottle to compare...