Early's Hoppy Wheat Ale
Highland Brewing
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- American Pale Wheat Ale
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 5.28%
- Reviews:
- 13
- Ratings:
- From:
- Highland Brewing
- North Carolina, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 0
- Gots
- 15
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Notes:
A light bodied ale with a golden haze. Hopped up with Amarillo and Mosaic hops from the Pacific Northwest, this beer bursts with bright tropical and piney notes over wheat malts. An easy, lower gravity beer that appeals to wheat beer fans and hop heads alike.
Early's Mountain is located in the Newfound Mountains, overlooking the historic Sandy Mush farming community, where SAHC has protected over 10,000 acres. Located in the French Broad River watershed, it contains headwater tributaries of North Turkey Creek.
Early's Mountain is located in the Newfound Mountains, overlooking the historic Sandy Mush farming community, where SAHC has protected over 10,000 acres. Located in the French Broad River watershed, it contains headwater tributaries of North Turkey Creek.
Reviews: 13
| Ratings: 50
4.04/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours out an ambery gold color, hazy, with a substantial, last head of dense foam.
S: Lots of pine-resin aroma, maybe a very faint hint of wheat.
T: Not as hoppy as I expected from the nose, but there are plenty of pine-hoppy flavors here, together with noticeable wheat flavor, and only moderately high bitterness. Clean yeast profile, with only a hint of esters.
M: Good carbonation levels make for a nice spritzy mouthfeel.
O: Well-balanced, good beer.
458 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours out an ambery gold color, hazy, with a substantial, last head of dense foam.
S: Lots of pine-resin aroma, maybe a very faint hint of wheat.
T: Not as hoppy as I expected from the nose, but there are plenty of pine-hoppy flavors here, together with noticeable wheat flavor, and only moderately high bitterness. Clean yeast profile, with only a hint of esters.
M: Good carbonation levels make for a nice spritzy mouthfeel.
O: Well-balanced, good beer.
458 characters
3.93/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into pint glass. It pours a cloudy, golden color with orange hues, and one finger of egg-white head and lacing. It smells of biscuit, lemon peel, and floral hops. The taste is grapefruit-forward with wheat cracker, lemon, pepper, and dry hops. It finishes with a slight bitterness. It is light, clean, and refreshing. With a low ABV of 5%, this is a great summertime beer; perfect for apres lawn cutting or other outdoor activities. Overall, it is a well-brewed Pale Wheat Ale that is worth a try (or two).
528 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle into pint glass. It pours a cloudy, golden color with orange hues, and one finger of egg-white head and lacing. It smells of biscuit, lemon peel, and floral hops. The taste is grapefruit-forward with wheat cracker, lemon, pepper, and dry hops. It finishes with a slight bitterness. It is light, clean, and refreshing. With a low ABV of 5%, this is a great summertime beer; perfect for apres lawn cutting or other outdoor activities. Overall, it is a well-brewed Pale Wheat Ale that is worth a try (or two).
528 characters
4.17/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is how a pale wheat ale should be - and that says a lot because this isn't my usual style at ALL. Appearance is a beautiful hazy yellow-orange with probably the best looking head I've seen in a while (white, thick, foamy, and long lasting). Lacing is also noteable and very long lasting. Smells strongly of hops, floral, and some slight citrus notes. Tastes like it smells - hops, floral, and citrus, but has a decent presence of wheat following the initial taste, which I like because I am a big fan of wheat beers. Not too hoppy with the right amount of wheat to put in the pale wheat ale class. Enjoyed by a pool during the summer reading a book and I couldn't be any happier. I'm a wheat beer guy developing my palate for happy beers and this is pure gold. I highly recommend this beer!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is how a pale wheat ale should be - and that says a lot because this isn't my usual style at ALL. Appearance is a beautiful hazy yellow-orange with probably the best looking head I've seen in a while (white, thick, foamy, and long lasting). Lacing is also noteable and very long lasting. Smells strongly of hops, floral, and some slight citrus notes. Tastes like it smells - hops, floral, and citrus, but has a decent presence of wheat following the initial taste, which I like because I am a big fan of wheat beers. Not too hoppy with the right amount of wheat to put in the pale wheat ale class. Enjoyed by a pool during the summer reading a book and I couldn't be any happier. I'm a wheat beer guy developing my palate for happy beers and this is pure gold. I highly recommend this beer!
795 characters
3.95/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle filled 20 April 2016 and served in a snifter.
A: cloud golden apricot body with a decent but mostly short-lived white head which leaves little lacing.
Aroma: more hops than wheat; the hops give off mainly tropical fruity and piney notes.
Flavor: fruity hops, with lemon and other tropical fruits, to the point of juicy. In fact, after a few sips I had a look at the label to see if there were any fruit additions (no). Some faint hints of pepper along with a more subtle wheat base. Mild bitterness increases in the aftertaste.
Feel: light-medium; semi-dry finish.
Overall: pleasantly surprised to discover one of the best hoppy wheat ales I've had.
675 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle filled 20 April 2016 and served in a snifter.
A: cloud golden apricot body with a decent but mostly short-lived white head which leaves little lacing.
Aroma: more hops than wheat; the hops give off mainly tropical fruity and piney notes.
Flavor: fruity hops, with lemon and other tropical fruits, to the point of juicy. In fact, after a few sips I had a look at the label to see if there were any fruit additions (no). Some faint hints of pepper along with a more subtle wheat base. Mild bitterness increases in the aftertaste.
Feel: light-medium; semi-dry finish.
Overall: pleasantly surprised to discover one of the best hoppy wheat ales I've had.
675 characters
3.99/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours - Cloudy yellowish with nice white head, head is gone after a minute or so but decent lacing.
Smell - Lemon, orange, wheat little bit of pineapple and nice resin.
Taste - Same as the smell only bolder, the pineapple and citrus really stand out. Nice hop flavor as well, with just a hint of grapefruit.
Feel - Medium body, very well carbonated little dry.
Overall - I was surprised at how much I liked this really impressed with the flavor.
449 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours - Cloudy yellowish with nice white head, head is gone after a minute or so but decent lacing.
Smell - Lemon, orange, wheat little bit of pineapple and nice resin.
Taste - Same as the smell only bolder, the pineapple and citrus really stand out. Nice hop flavor as well, with just a hint of grapefruit.
Feel - Medium body, very well carbonated little dry.
Overall - I was surprised at how much I liked this really impressed with the flavor.
449 characters
3.98/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle from 3/27/16 poured into a Guiness style pint glass. One finger head that moves to half finger lace fairly quickly. The lace retains well and lasts for the entire glass. A hazy yellowish orange, that clears up some as the beer settles, with a lot of tiny bubbles moving to the surface. The aroma is a solid mix of grapefruit/orange citrus and biscuit/wheat notes. The taste is more dominated by pine and bread/wheat, with a moderately bitter finish. The feel is crisp, but not overly so, and the carbonation lands squarely in the mid range. I am always impressed with the overly quality of Highland's brews, and this one is no different. A very enjoyable summer brew and session-able for the pale wheat fans.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle from 3/27/16 poured into a Guiness style pint glass. One finger head that moves to half finger lace fairly quickly. The lace retains well and lasts for the entire glass. A hazy yellowish orange, that clears up some as the beer settles, with a lot of tiny bubbles moving to the surface. The aroma is a solid mix of grapefruit/orange citrus and biscuit/wheat notes. The taste is more dominated by pine and bread/wheat, with a moderately bitter finish. The feel is crisp, but not overly so, and the carbonation lands squarely in the mid range. I am always impressed with the overly quality of Highland's brews, and this one is no different. A very enjoyable summer brew and session-able for the pale wheat fans.
731 characters
3.98/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: Pours a pale golden amber in color with moderate to heavy amounts of fine active visible carbonation and faint honey orange highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy foamy white head that reduces to a large patch of a slightly creamy medium thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit, tropical/pineapple, pine/resin, dank, and herbal hops over the top of wheat malts.
T: Upfront there is a light to moderate flavor of wheat malts with a hint of sweetness. That is followed by slightly stronger than moderate flavors of citrus/grapefruit, tropical/pineapple, pine/resin/dank, and herbal hops which imparts a light to moderate amount of bitterness which does not linger.
M: Light to medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Crisp initially which softens into an almost creaminess in the finish.
O: Easy to drink and refreshing, definitely sessionable. A really nice beer for the NC spring, when it is just starting to get hot. Really nice hop flavors and aromas on the base of a wheat ale. Definitely worth grabbing.
1,180 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: Pours a pale golden amber in color with moderate to heavy amounts of fine active visible carbonation and faint honey orange highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy foamy white head that reduces to a large patch of a slightly creamy medium thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit, tropical/pineapple, pine/resin, dank, and herbal hops over the top of wheat malts.
T: Upfront there is a light to moderate flavor of wheat malts with a hint of sweetness. That is followed by slightly stronger than moderate flavors of citrus/grapefruit, tropical/pineapple, pine/resin/dank, and herbal hops which imparts a light to moderate amount of bitterness which does not linger.
M: Light to medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Crisp initially which softens into an almost creaminess in the finish.
O: Easy to drink and refreshing, definitely sessionable. A really nice beer for the NC spring, when it is just starting to get hot. Really nice hop flavors and aromas on the base of a wheat ale. Definitely worth grabbing.
1,180 characters
3.91/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Aroma is floral and malty sweet, with a dank hop backbone and pronounced sharp citrus, mainly grapefruit, at the finish. Tropical notes surface late.
Flavor is fairly citrusy, as well, though less sour than the aroma indicated. Biscuity malt and wheat form the backbone, carrying into a very dry, lightly bitter, piney end.
324 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Aroma is floral and malty sweet, with a dank hop backbone and pronounced sharp citrus, mainly grapefruit, at the finish. Tropical notes surface late.
Flavor is fairly citrusy, as well, though less sour than the aroma indicated. Biscuity malt and wheat form the backbone, carrying into a very dry, lightly bitter, piney end.
324 characters
4.08/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
part of a six pack picked up at The Casual Pint in Knoxville, TN. dating sez filled 3/23/16
hazy golden yellow body with a generous white head which leaves very nice lacing.
Smell is inviting with a slight mustiness and a good burst of hops.
Taste is very enjoyable, a fair amount going on here. Hops are piney and strong, wheatiness is earthy and full, slight hint of lemon and pepper as well.
Feel is slightly below medium, and little astringent.
Overall, glad I was in town to pick up this Spring offering.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
part of a six pack picked up at The Casual Pint in Knoxville, TN. dating sez filled 3/23/16
hazy golden yellow body with a generous white head which leaves very nice lacing.
Smell is inviting with a slight mustiness and a good burst of hops.
Taste is very enjoyable, a fair amount going on here. Hops are piney and strong, wheatiness is earthy and full, slight hint of lemon and pepper as well.
Feel is slightly below medium, and little astringent.
Overall, glad I was in town to pick up this Spring offering.
518 characters
3.63/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The season of wheat beer is in full swing. As the weather heats up, so does the demand for thirst quenching beers, light in body, and extra hoppy for a little snap on the palate. Blending the world of pale and and wheat beer gives Highland fans what they need this summer.
Early's Hoppy Wheat is a charmingly cloudy light amber, goldenrod ale. Its arid and wisping white froth casts an array of hop-forward aromas. Citrus, grassy and light tropic scents meld into the griany, bready and caramelized malty complement. Its taste is simply sweet with hints of sugar cookie, grain and faint caramel playing delicately on the early palate.
Trending dry and hoppy, the bready impressions of wheat and the light caramel sweetness soon dissipates and the crisp grain character of the base flavor acts in support to the growing hops. White grapefruit, orange peel, dried pineapple all add a lightly juicy, fruity flavor to the middle palate before trailing grassy and piney with gentle wafts of cannabis to close.
Medium-light on the body, the beer's wheat character continues to add creaminess that's propped up witH soft carbonation. A light grain-derived astringency lurks behind the piney bitterness and causes a sharp bite along with those exotic herb and tropical flavors.
1,272 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The season of wheat beer is in full swing. As the weather heats up, so does the demand for thirst quenching beers, light in body, and extra hoppy for a little snap on the palate. Blending the world of pale and and wheat beer gives Highland fans what they need this summer.
Early's Hoppy Wheat is a charmingly cloudy light amber, goldenrod ale. Its arid and wisping white froth casts an array of hop-forward aromas. Citrus, grassy and light tropic scents meld into the griany, bready and caramelized malty complement. Its taste is simply sweet with hints of sugar cookie, grain and faint caramel playing delicately on the early palate.
Trending dry and hoppy, the bready impressions of wheat and the light caramel sweetness soon dissipates and the crisp grain character of the base flavor acts in support to the growing hops. White grapefruit, orange peel, dried pineapple all add a lightly juicy, fruity flavor to the middle palate before trailing grassy and piney with gentle wafts of cannabis to close.
Medium-light on the body, the beer's wheat character continues to add creaminess that's propped up witH soft carbonation. A light grain-derived astringency lurks behind the piney bitterness and causes a sharp bite along with those exotic herb and tropical flavors.
1,272 characters
4.18/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a light yellow, medium carbonation but awesome lacing and head, from the yeast I'd imagine. Smell is dank and resiny citrusy hops. The mosaic seems to dominate but I pick up some of the amarillo's floral properties too. Flavor is just "hoppy", some dankness and resin and little body. Little bitterness and and the beer does end up balanced. Probably one of the better American wheat beers I've had which I'd credit to having the hops dialed in just right without them overwhelming the beer. Good to see highlands really going outside the box and giving us plenty of well executed but different beers to check out.
620 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a light yellow, medium carbonation but awesome lacing and head, from the yeast I'd imagine. Smell is dank and resiny citrusy hops. The mosaic seems to dominate but I pick up some of the amarillo's floral properties too. Flavor is just "hoppy", some dankness and resin and little body. Little bitterness and and the beer does end up balanced. Probably one of the better American wheat beers I've had which I'd credit to having the hops dialed in just right without them overwhelming the beer. Good to see highlands really going outside the box and giving us plenty of well executed but different beers to check out.
620 characters
4.21/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Double Barley can-shaped glass. Base of bottle says Filled 03/23/16.
A- Pours a slightly hazy medium golden color with a 1/2 inch white head that retains well before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a full sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves small clots behind.
S- Moderately dank hop aroma with lots of citrus and pine plus some mild grainy malt.
T- Zesty hop flavor with medium bitterness and some soft wheat malt characteristic. So crushable yet still keeps you wanting more due to the intensity of flavor.
M- Somewhat sharp from the hops with medium carbonation and a lightish body.
O- A great springtime sessionable hoppy beer from the brewery that has breathed new life into its catalog of beers.
764 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Double Barley can-shaped glass. Base of bottle says Filled 03/23/16.
A- Pours a slightly hazy medium golden color with a 1/2 inch white head that retains well before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a full sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves small clots behind.
S- Moderately dank hop aroma with lots of citrus and pine plus some mild grainy malt.
T- Zesty hop flavor with medium bitterness and some soft wheat malt characteristic. So crushable yet still keeps you wanting more due to the intensity of flavor.
M- Somewhat sharp from the hops with medium carbonation and a lightish body.
O- A great springtime sessionable hoppy beer from the brewery that has breathed new life into its catalog of beers.
764 characters
3.96/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Somewhat hazy yellow color with a small amount of creamy foam on top. Light, hoppy aromas...grapefruit, marijuana, leafy herbs, and pine resin. Flavor is hoppy and slightly watery, but satisfyingly tasty. Citrusy bitterness, black pepper, sap. Light and crisp. An enjoyable session beer.
292 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Somewhat hazy yellow color with a small amount of creamy foam on top. Light, hoppy aromas...grapefruit, marijuana, leafy herbs, and pine resin. Flavor is hoppy and slightly watery, but satisfyingly tasty. Citrusy bitterness, black pepper, sap. Light and crisp. An enjoyable session beer.
292 characters
Early's Hoppy Wheat Ale from Highland Brewing
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
50 ratings
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