Barstow
Mile Wide Beer Co.

 

 

Keeping the pale wheat ale style relevant in today's market is a tough challenge, but the brewers at Mile Wide see promise in the structure of the beer, but give it an updated taste, texture and balance with the use of an imaginative hop regime and a tightly woven malt foundation.

Crisply citrusy and pleasantly spicy, the influence of American hops adorn the snappy wheat underpinnings of Barstow as the nose is bright with herbal, grain and faint sprucy character. Moderately hazy, the beer's pale golden color carries a feathery wisp of seafoam. Gently sweet to start, a hint of honeysuckle comes with lighter aspects of honey, freshly baked bread and a delicate cereal sweetness.

Decidedly hoppy on the middle palate, the wheaten undercurrent steadily dissipates and allows the brisk citrus to shine. Lemon, orange and white grapefruit pull ahead of the wheat and barley and bring a spicy grassy nuance of parsley. Moderate bitterness carries a slight spruce and berry twinge to keep the taste refreshing and reinvigorating.

Medium light on the palate, the session trend drier over time and often gives the ale a tease of blond ale or light pale ale. Retaining a slim creaminess, the taste and texture of whole wheat bread is never far off as hints of yeast and fresh kilned grains stew softly on a medium length after palate.