Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer | 21st Amendment Brewery
Brewed by:
21st Amendment Brewery
California, United States | website
Style: Fruit / Vegetable Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 07-10-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 727 | Ratings: 2,695
3.57/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A interesting combination of wheat body and citrus flavors. I sampled at the tap room with a slice of watermelon. Like most wheat beers, the hop presence is mild and innocuous.
★ 176 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A interesting combination of wheat body and citrus flavors. I sampled at the tap room with a slice of watermelon. Like most wheat beers, the hop presence is mild and innocuous.
★ 176 characters
2.13/5 rDev -35.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
Hard to find the watermelon. Just tastes odd. And no crispness for a wheat beer of low alcohol. Not refreshing. Working to get it down. Here a lot of good things about the 21A but this beer casts serious doubt if it's the only thin from then you can get.
★ 254 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
Hard to find the watermelon. Just tastes odd. And no crispness for a wheat beer of low alcohol. Not refreshing. Working to get it down. Here a lot of good things about the 21A but this beer casts serious doubt if it's the only thin from then you can get.
★ 254 characters
3.59/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Ordered this to try it since I've read quite a bit about it. Was expecting it to taste like a wine cooler and was pleasantly surprised at the subtlety of the watermelon. I other than that, it's a typical non-offensive wheat beer, but I could definitely see drinking a few in the right setting: at the beach, at a picnic, etc.
★ 325 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Ordered this to try it since I've read quite a bit about it. Was expecting it to taste like a wine cooler and was pleasantly surprised at the subtlety of the watermelon. I other than that, it's a typical non-offensive wheat beer, but I could definitely see drinking a few in the right setting: at the beach, at a picnic, etc.
★ 325 characters
2.99/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Decent summer beer. Smells like a wheat. Very light but realistic watermelon after taste , not like watermelon candy. Not too wheat yeasty. Light on the tummy so drinking several is easy. Clean beer.
★ 199 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Decent summer beer. Smells like a wheat. Very light but realistic watermelon after taste , not like watermelon candy. Not too wheat yeasty. Light on the tummy so drinking several is easy. Clean beer.
★ 199 characters
2.94/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
The waitress told it was highly recommended.
Strange color, smell wasn't bad, feel was all wrong. Most importantly taste, not bad but only appeals to a limited crowd.
★ 167 characters
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
The waitress told it was highly recommended.
Strange color, smell wasn't bad, feel was all wrong. Most importantly taste, not bad but only appeals to a limited crowd.
★ 167 characters
3.86/5 rDev +17%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours golden yellow with big frothy head. Smells of watermelon jolly ranchers and wheat. Taste has slight watermelon, with sleely american wheat beer yaste. Medium bodied somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Overall a good summer beer with the waremelon flavor covering up the undesirable american wheat beer aspects.,
★ 312 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours golden yellow with big frothy head. Smells of watermelon jolly ranchers and wheat. Taste has slight watermelon, with sleely american wheat beer yaste. Medium bodied somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Overall a good summer beer with the waremelon flavor covering up the undesirable american wheat beer aspects.,
★ 312 characters
3.47/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
I'm giving this beer a 3.25 because it tastes horrible out of a can, but is incredible on tap. I live near the 21st Amendment brewery in San Francisco. It's a refreshing light beer, that goes great with onion rings and calamari. This beer is great for a laid back beer that is light on the alcohol, but has the full flavor of a wheat beer. Worth trying, but only on tap.
★ 370 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
I'm giving this beer a 3.25 because it tastes horrible out of a can, but is incredible on tap. I live near the 21st Amendment brewery in San Francisco. It's a refreshing light beer, that goes great with onion rings and calamari. This beer is great for a laid back beer that is light on the alcohol, but has the full flavor of a wheat beer. Worth trying, but only on tap.
★ 370 characters
3.78/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
First time I tasted this beer was at a brew festival packed to the gills with hop bombs, and my friend and I both spat and poured out our samples of this stuff. It just tasted wrong to us.
Fast forward to today. I recently had a Flat Tail cucumber habanero wheat that was oddly awesome, and I had 3 pints of it. I think I needed that experience to recalibrate my palate for Hell Or High Watermelon. Now that I understand what they were going for, I love it. The mild cucurbit finish blends perfectly with the wheat malt, especially on some of these 108° days we've been having this summer. I went from hate to love with this one.
★ 632 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
First time I tasted this beer was at a brew festival packed to the gills with hop bombs, and my friend and I both spat and poured out our samples of this stuff. It just tasted wrong to us.
Fast forward to today. I recently had a Flat Tail cucumber habanero wheat that was oddly awesome, and I had 3 pints of it. I think I needed that experience to recalibrate my palate for Hell Or High Watermelon. Now that I understand what they were going for, I love it. The mild cucurbit finish blends perfectly with the wheat malt, especially on some of these 108° days we've been having this summer. I went from hate to love with this one.
★ 632 characters
3.51/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Huge wheat up front followed by a subtle, yet flavorful watermelon kick. Not very sweet or fruity which lends to a refreshing and drinkable summer ale. It's ok.
★ 160 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Huge wheat up front followed by a subtle, yet flavorful watermelon kick. Not very sweet or fruity which lends to a refreshing and drinkable summer ale. It's ok.
★ 160 characters
2.25/5 rDev -31.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 2
Meh. I was not too impressed with this offering. It does taste slightly like watermelon, but more like the white part of the rind than the red watermelon-y part. I give them kudos for the idea, but its really quite a watery, thin, boring beverage.
★ 251 characters
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 2
Meh. I was not too impressed with this offering. It does taste slightly like watermelon, but more like the white part of the rind than the red watermelon-y part. I give them kudos for the idea, but its really quite a watery, thin, boring beverage.
★ 251 characters
3.4/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Hell or High Watermelon pours a greenish straw like color with a small but long lasting head. There is a spoiled fruit aroma. The taste has a creamy wheat backbone, with crisp malt flavors, and subtle hints of watermelon to finish. Nice body good feel. Overall its a nice lighter summer beer, with noticeable watermelon flavors.
★ 332 characters
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Hell or High Watermelon pours a greenish straw like color with a small but long lasting head. There is a spoiled fruit aroma. The taste has a creamy wheat backbone, with crisp malt flavors, and subtle hints of watermelon to finish. Nice body good feel. Overall its a nice lighter summer beer, with noticeable watermelon flavors.
★ 332 characters
3.44/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. can into a 3F pint glass. Pours a light straw color and settles clear light gold in the glass. Enourmous amount of carbonation bubbles. 1 finger of bubbly white foam initially that fizzed down into a lacing after about 30 seconds. Light nose consisting of sweet malt, straw, grass, and earthy tones. Medium-light weight and surprisingly creamy. A huge wave of artificial watermelon up front on the taste with a decent amount of wheat and bready malt. The sweetness gradually intensifies as it warms on the palate. A crisp finish is followed by a sweet aftertaste with lingering notes of wheat and malt.
Overall, decent. The watermelon flavors in this beer are a little too artifical for my liking. It almost tastes like the watermelon bubblegum that was around when I was a kid. It's on the sweet side, but not overwhelmingly so. Refreshing enough, and good for a hot summer day but I couldn't see myself drinking more than 1 or 2 of these in a sitting.
★ 961 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. can into a 3F pint glass. Pours a light straw color and settles clear light gold in the glass. Enourmous amount of carbonation bubbles. 1 finger of bubbly white foam initially that fizzed down into a lacing after about 30 seconds. Light nose consisting of sweet malt, straw, grass, and earthy tones. Medium-light weight and surprisingly creamy. A huge wave of artificial watermelon up front on the taste with a decent amount of wheat and bready malt. The sweetness gradually intensifies as it warms on the palate. A crisp finish is followed by a sweet aftertaste with lingering notes of wheat and malt.
Overall, decent. The watermelon flavors in this beer are a little too artifical for my liking. It almost tastes like the watermelon bubblegum that was around when I was a kid. It's on the sweet side, but not overwhelmingly so. Refreshing enough, and good for a hot summer day but I couldn't see myself drinking more than 1 or 2 of these in a sitting.
★ 961 characters
3.65/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Looks a little flimsy with it's weak and nearly transparent head.
Smells sweeter than a non-fruit wheat, but good.
Taste is sweet with a strong watermelon aftertaste.
Overall this is a great summer wheat. Maybe a little too sweet for my liking, but still certainly worth a try.
★ 281 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Looks a little flimsy with it's weak and nearly transparent head.
Smells sweeter than a non-fruit wheat, but good.
Taste is sweet with a strong watermelon aftertaste.
Overall this is a great summer wheat. Maybe a little too sweet for my liking, but still certainly worth a try.
★ 281 characters
3.33/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Can't say I've tried a watermelon brew before, love wheat beers though so giving this one a shot. Small head, poor retention. Good beer to try once.... Wouldn't wanna drink more than one or two of these in a sitting. Not my favorite by any means, but nice crisp refreshing taste and an interesting watermelon bite. Glad I tried it, but definitely not rushing back to the shelf for more.
★ 386 characters
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Can't say I've tried a watermelon brew before, love wheat beers though so giving this one a shot. Small head, poor retention. Good beer to try once.... Wouldn't wanna drink more than one or two of these in a sitting. Not my favorite by any means, but nice crisp refreshing taste and an interesting watermelon bite. Glad I tried it, but definitely not rushing back to the shelf for more.
★ 386 characters
3.56/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Beer pours from the can into a Duvel glass a clear, bright yellow color with a 1 1/2" foamy white head that soon shrinks to a layer on the top of the liquid, leaving some circles, legs and patches of lacing. Sipping leaves small patches of lacing, but fairly soon the head is basically only a thin island on the surface that seems only to persist because of the effects of the nucleation points in the glass. Toward the end of the beer all the foam is gone.
The aromas include some noticable wheat with a bit of watermelon in the background.
The flavors are much as predicted from the nose except that in the flavors the watermelon is in charge and accompanied by some some light wheat and malt flavor. No detectable signs of hops.
The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium, crisp and initially has a good level of carbonation. The finish is pretty much the same as the rest of the taste with the watermelon persisting to the end when a bit of light bitterness emerges as the mouth feel turns dry but the carbonation is basically gone before the beer.
Overall this is ok for a one time experience but there are other beers I'd find more refreshing on a hot day and would prefer instead. So while this beer is not a disappointment, it's not something I'll buy again or trongly recommend to others.
★ 1,310 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Beer pours from the can into a Duvel glass a clear, bright yellow color with a 1 1/2" foamy white head that soon shrinks to a layer on the top of the liquid, leaving some circles, legs and patches of lacing. Sipping leaves small patches of lacing, but fairly soon the head is basically only a thin island on the surface that seems only to persist because of the effects of the nucleation points in the glass. Toward the end of the beer all the foam is gone.
The aromas include some noticable wheat with a bit of watermelon in the background.
The flavors are much as predicted from the nose except that in the flavors the watermelon is in charge and accompanied by some some light wheat and malt flavor. No detectable signs of hops.
The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium, crisp and initially has a good level of carbonation. The finish is pretty much the same as the rest of the taste with the watermelon persisting to the end when a bit of light bitterness emerges as the mouth feel turns dry but the carbonation is basically gone before the beer.
Overall this is ok for a one time experience but there are other beers I'd find more refreshing on a hot day and would prefer instead. So while this beer is not a disappointment, it's not something I'll buy again or trongly recommend to others.
★ 1,310 characters
4.21/5 rDev +27.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
How is this at a 76/100? How many watermelon beers are there? This is a fantastic brew for a hot summer day. So much melon flavor and nice wheaty mouthfeel.
★ 156 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
How is this at a 76/100? How many watermelon beers are there? This is a fantastic brew for a hot summer day. So much melon flavor and nice wheaty mouthfeel.
★ 156 characters
3.79/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Straight from the can. You defiantly get that watermelon taste with a wheaty back end. Light taste and refreshing the watermelon defiantly helps. Not bad!
★ 154 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Straight from the can. You defiantly get that watermelon taste with a wheaty back end. Light taste and refreshing the watermelon defiantly helps. Not bad!
★ 154 characters
3.75/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a pale cloudy straw with a barely present fizzy white head. The aroma is light with both yeasty esters and watermelon. The taste is a nice crisp watermelon flavor, not sugary but refreshingly sweet. A nice light body with a little bit of carbonation. A great summer beer.
★ 277 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a pale cloudy straw with a barely present fizzy white head. The aroma is light with both yeasty esters and watermelon. The taste is a nice crisp watermelon flavor, not sugary but refreshingly sweet. A nice light body with a little bit of carbonation. A great summer beer.
★ 277 characters
3.87/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Very light , nice watermelon after taste. Great hot day beer. After 2 though the what was great turned into an ok beer. Very wheat like but the initial watermelon taste becomes a bit bad of an aftertaste.
★ 204 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Very light , nice watermelon after taste. Great hot day beer. After 2 though the what was great turned into an ok beer. Very wheat like but the initial watermelon taste becomes a bit bad of an aftertaste.
★ 204 characters
3.29/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
From the can marked enjoy by 8/31/2015. Sampled on July 3, 2015.
It pours into a tall Pilsener glass a light pale yellow color with a quick lasting fizzy white head.
Yep, I pick up a few slices of watermelon in the aroma with a more subdued wheat malt character. Some thin spice.
Light body.
Again, like the aroma, watermelon is vibrant in the flavor with a slightly fade wheat note and a mild bitterness to finish. A good one to have on the beach.
★ 454 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
From the can marked enjoy by 8/31/2015. Sampled on July 3, 2015.
It pours into a tall Pilsener glass a light pale yellow color with a quick lasting fizzy white head.
Yep, I pick up a few slices of watermelon in the aroma with a more subdued wheat malt character. Some thin spice.
Light body.
Again, like the aroma, watermelon is vibrant in the flavor with a slightly fade wheat note and a mild bitterness to finish. A good one to have on the beach.
★ 454 characters
3.41/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
a: a light straw color. a hint of pale orange. fizzy white foam on top
s: lemongrass, wheat, coriander, saltwater toffee, watermelon. interesting
t: watermelon juice right away. refreshing. sweet caramel, lemongrass, wheat, grainy, sweet tea
m: lighter side of medium. high carbonation. pretty fizzy
o: its refreshing, but i'm not sure watermelon is my top choice of flavor to put in beer. its not "bad" it just seems that the flavors don't quite harmonize together in here
★ 485 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
a: a light straw color. a hint of pale orange. fizzy white foam on top
s: lemongrass, wheat, coriander, saltwater toffee, watermelon. interesting
t: watermelon juice right away. refreshing. sweet caramel, lemongrass, wheat, grainy, sweet tea
m: lighter side of medium. high carbonation. pretty fizzy
o: its refreshing, but i'm not sure watermelon is my top choice of flavor to put in beer. its not "bad" it just seems that the flavors don't quite harmonize together in here
★ 485 characters
3.2/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75
This beer is more of a "Hey look, I'm drinking watermelon beer" type of beer. The taste of this beer definitely is as described with it's malty start in tasting and its eventual watermelon rind aftertaste. Other than that this beer really lacks in other respects especially with smell. Little to no aroma comes from this beer and the feel of this beer is very watery and lacks any real substance. Other than the interesting watermelon aspect and how refreshing it is, this beer doesn't have much going for it.
★ 509 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75
This beer is more of a "Hey look, I'm drinking watermelon beer" type of beer. The taste of this beer definitely is as described with it's malty start in tasting and its eventual watermelon rind aftertaste. Other than that this beer really lacks in other respects especially with smell. Little to no aroma comes from this beer and the feel of this beer is very watery and lacks any real substance. Other than the interesting watermelon aspect and how refreshing it is, this beer doesn't have much going for it.
★ 509 characters
3.06/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Can from the infamous GCG
Hazy murky straw color with a frothy tightly bubbled white head. Earthy wheat with hints of watermelon rind. The flavor feels more like cantaloupe with a bready spicy almost rancid light candied flavor to it. I find this completely bland and can't see a reason to ever put this to my lips again.
★ 321 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Can from the infamous GCG
Hazy murky straw color with a frothy tightly bubbled white head. Earthy wheat with hints of watermelon rind. The flavor feels more like cantaloupe with a bready spicy almost rancid light candied flavor to it. I find this completely bland and can't see a reason to ever put this to my lips again.
★ 321 characters
3.92/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Wow, for me, this is done right! Great beer, I'll be buying more as an easy drinker for summer. Edit: After some more tasting, I'm lowering the taste from 4.5 to 4.25. I'm still loving the watermelon, but a bit artificial tasting. Smell is watermelon jolly rancher (which probably sounds terrible to some people). No hint of watermelon in the look. Light yellow with not much brightness.
★ 388 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Wow, for me, this is done right! Great beer, I'll be buying more as an easy drinker for summer. Edit: After some more tasting, I'm lowering the taste from 4.5 to 4.25. I'm still loving the watermelon, but a bit artificial tasting. Smell is watermelon jolly rancher (which probably sounds terrible to some people). No hint of watermelon in the look. Light yellow with not much brightness.
★ 388 characters
Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer from 21st Amendment Brewery
3.3
out of 5
based on 2,695 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Can poured into a BarrelHouse Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours hazy light golden straw with a frothy off white head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little lacing.
S: Wheat, a bit yeasty, light spice, and a little watermelon.
T: Watermelon jumps right out but isn't artificial or cloyingly sweet, plenty of wheat, some yeasty goodness, light citrus, light spice,
M: On the lighter side of medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: Really nice refreshing change of pace summer beer. I just wish a little more watermelon came out in the nose.
★ 551 characters