Passionfruit Wheat
Waterloo Brewing

Tallboy from TBS, one of three new beers included in their latest Signature Series mixed pack. Coded Feb 12 2023 and served slightly chilled.

Whoa! The instant I cracked this can open, the room began to smell like passion fruit. It pours a turbid, muddy bruised apricot-yellow colour, with just over a finger of smooth, foamy white head situated atop. It lasts for several minutes, soon whittled down to a creamy-looking collar and filmy cap; a spotty coat of lace and some fruit pulp scuzz cling to the glass. The passion fruit aromas are sweet & juicy, but also musky and a little stinky, like a gym bag. Any underlying 'beer' aromas are totally obscured by the fruit.

Flavours of grainy wheat and bready malts are immediately overrun by passion fruit: it tastes juicy at first, then a little tart/sour, followed by more of a sweet muskiness on the finish. The aftertaste is persistent, and reminds me of B.O. - it's my least favourite aspect of this beer, but it's not a dealbreaker. Nearing full-bodied, with low carbonation that gently rolls across the tongue; the mouthfeel is soft and pillowy, making for a very drinkable wheat ale.

Final Grade: 3.74, a respectable B grade. I've had many beers that list passion fruit (or its flavouring) as an ingredient, but typically there's another fruit or two tossed into the mix - rarely have I experienced a beer that just goes balls to the wall with pure passion fruit in the manner that Waterloo's Passionfruit Wheat does. It's charming in some ways, and a little off-putting in others - the musky aftertaste was not for me, but the beer itself tastes fine, and I still can't get over that pungent aroma. I enjoyed trying this beer, but I don't really see myself buying it as a single.

April 15 2023