Castle Hill Windward Weiss
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Didn't know this was Coastal Extreme. Probably would have been skeptical if I had.

Dark hay color, darker than most hefs. Dense head and good clingy retention.

Cloves and sweet banana syrup aroma. Sweeter than most of the style. Tates sweeter than than most hefs with less fresh banana and more banana foster caramelization. Gentle clove.

Made for some nice rehearsal dinner seaside sippin'. I'm usually underwhelmed by Newport Storm but maybe Castle Hill is their sophisticated luxury line of beers.

 

A free 4 oz sample after a few prying questions was all it took to sell a table of 3 on 2 beers each at Hemenway's in downcity Providence. $4.50 each for an amazingly refreshing unfiltered german Weiss poured into a glass labled with its namesake. Bright, cloudy straw colored body topped with a thin bubbly head, each wearing a wedge of sweet navel orange like a tiara - not a fan of tiaras, but this works. Crisp, piquant, quenching and just the right amount of sweetness. Great to see such an accomplished and worthy beer made by our local. Liva la storm

A bit of a departure for Newport Storm/Coastal Extreme, brewed as the flagship beer for Castle Hill Inn in Newport, RI. Only available on draught. I've had this on tap at The Mooring, 22 Portside, Smokehouse Café, and most recently at Pour Judgment.

A: Gorgeous. Textbook hefeweizen. Bright, hazy, swirling golden brilliance, under a modest layer of fluffy white head. Cloudy and welcoming. I want to bathe in it. Served in a branded Windward Weiss weizen glass. Usually served with a slice of lemon.

S: Bright citrus, very clean, fruity aroma. Banana and some faint grain.

T: Summer in a glass. Again, "bright" is an adjective I keep coming back to regarding most aspects of this beer. Spicy, tart, fruity. Notes of banana tend to dominate the flavor, but the spiciness keeps everything in check. Very well-balanced and refreshing.

M: Light/medium body - this is a thirst-quencher for sure. Very lively on the tongue.

D: This is a guzzler. These things just slide down your throat in the summer, very refreshing and flavorful.

One of the most impressive hefeweizens I've encountered. Some great flavors in remarkable balance - fruity, spicy, and crisp - just a very, very solid hefeweizen. If you're in Newport, keep an eye out for that signature Castle Hill Lighthouse tap handle.

On tap @ Pour Judgment. Served with lemon? No thanks. Pulled that out right quick.

A- A nice hazy yellow pour. Not much of a head but wasn't the best pour either.

S- Bready clove banana goodness. Nice aroma on this one.

T- Some earthy, husk flavors that really go well with the clove and banana notes. Substantially more depth of flavor than I was expecting.

M- Heavy for the style, but I like it a lot.

D- High. I could throw back a bunch of these. Would love to see this in bottles at some point, quite a tasty beer.

Served on tap at Pour Judgement in Newport, RI with it's unique lighthouse tap-marker.

Poured a hazy yellow color with a perfect two-finger head. Did have the appearence it was lightly filtered. Subdued aromas of banana and clove. This is definitley a thirst quencher and easy on the palate and popular judging by the number I saw served. I would almost classify this as Kristalweizen or maybe a American Pale Wheat Ale Ale, as it appears somewhat light for a true hefe. If you are looking for something refreshing on a summer day, this is your beer.

Served on-tap at 22 Bowen in Newport, RI.

A: Poured a bright, cloudy yellow color with a darkened orange center and a creamy, two-finger head of ivory foam. Retention was good and carbonation seemed ample.

S: Smells of citrus fruits, banana and some funky wheat malt spices.

T: A good wheat malt flavor up front with citrus fruits, banana and a bit of clove in there. Some grainy malt flavor around mid-palate with a chewy, yeasty grit in check. Finishes dry and smooth with some lingering fruitiness.

M: Light-medium bodied, a little chewy and grainy, but overall pretty nice.

D: A good, hot weather hefe with enough authentic character to order a few with a meal or down on an outside patio. It could be a little less thin and granular in some areas regarding taste, but it was a surprisingly good brew.

Had this on tap at the Boat House in Tiverton, RI. It is also on tap at Castle Hill in Newport, it's namesake, and a couple other places around town. Poured a wonderful hazy yellowish orange color with a perfect two-finger head. Mellow aromas of banana, clove, and some wet grain. This is a super refreshing and tasty weiss beer with the usual suspects of banana and clove dominating the palate. Perfect for a warm summer afternoon in Newport.

From the website:
It is an all-natural, all-grain brew comprised mainly of malted wheat and pale 2-row malted barley. There is a significant amount of Cara malt included to add residual complexity and results in a golden color. An authentic German Hefeweizen yeast strain was chosen to create Windward Weiss and it contributes mild banana tones and clove aromas characteristic in this style of beer. Three hops were chosen: Magnum hops for bittering, Tettenang hops for a mild spice flavor, and Cascade hops for a mild citrus finish. 100% unfiltered, this brew will remain cloudy to the glass, allowing the special yeast to round out the brew.

Had this one on draft at Pour Judgement in Newport, RI. Served in a Weihenstephan Weizen glass. Poured a hazy orange-gold with a half inch loose white cap that quickly recedes into a broken skim. Nose is milder than a German Hefe (I use Weihenstephan as my baseline); however, all the elements are there - banana, clove and the merest suggestion of yeast. Taste consistent with nose - if I didn't know it was from Coastal Extreme, I'd have thought it was a true German; truly delicious and refreshing. Mouthfeel is light-bodied without being watery, with a pleasant and consistent background carbonation. Probably one of the best domestic Hefe's I've ever had. Coastal Extreme should really consider adding this one to their summer line-up. Quite refreshing and enjoyable I have to say.