Wheatwine - Under Appreciated or Terrible?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by CloudStrife, Jan 30, 2013.

?

Wheatwine or Barleywine?

  1. Wheatwine

    24.2%
  2. Barleywine

    75.8%
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  1. CloudStrife

    CloudStrife Savant (1,219) Nov 20, 2008 New York

    Have tried a few wheatwines recently and been quite happy with the results. Looking back through the different wheatwines on this site I can recollect trying four. Pilgrims Dole, Triticus, Smuttynose and right now Graupel.

    I was surprised to see that there are only 33 in the top 50... The description has "A somewhat recent and over-looked American strong ale" So what are your thoughts? Would you like to see more breweries experimenting with Wheatwines or would their time be better spent with a more traditional Barleywine?

    Starting it off, I am all for more breweries trying this style. It would be great to try a bourbon barrel aged variant as well.
     
  2. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    One of my favorite Washington brewed beers is Old Sol Wheatwine by Big Time Brewing. I love the style.
     
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  3. CloudStrife

    CloudStrife Savant (1,219) Nov 20, 2008 New York

    Looks like a mighty fine wheatwine... Seattle is where my roots are at so next time I'm home I will be on the hunt for some... Big Time.
     
  4. Jnorton00

    Jnorton00 Maven (1,338) Apr 13, 2007 Massachusetts

    Very under appreciated!!
     
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  5. Goosey

    Goosey Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2012 Missouri

    Bourbon barrel pilgrims dole was excellent, as well as perennial heart of gold. Harvest dance was very satisfying also. I say the more styles of beer in production, the better. They also age well.
     
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  6. WagonCircler

    WagonCircler Zealot (623) May 15, 2011 New York

    I'm surprised that Ithaca 13 is not on your list.

    Its old, but still tastes pretty good today.
     
  7. FosterJM

    FosterJM Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2009 California

    To the OP:

    Go drink a Harvest Dance from Boulvard or a White Chocolate from the Bruery. Bad ass Wheatwines.

    Cheers!
     
  8. FosterJM

    FosterJM Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2009 California

    That was a tasty beer.

    Cheers!
     
  9. zachary80

    zachary80 Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2009 Indiana

    I certainly don't see why the question has to be one or the other. Founders Nemesis (listed here as the 2009) was a delicious wheatwine. Other than that, the only one I'm sure I have had was Pilgrim's Dole (which I gave a 3.7). I've had countless better barleywines, but there are also far more on the market. I'd like to know why this is, whether it is had to brew a great example of, or just due to a lack of demand.
     
  10. CloudStrife

    CloudStrife Savant (1,219) Nov 20, 2008 New York

    Good call, certainly is not one I have tried but would love to, Ithaca can hold down a brew. Got me thinking of numbers and another wheatwine I've had is Weyerbacher XIV. Have had the pleasure of two of them in the last few months. Great with some age!
     
  11. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I've had the Smuttynose, Harvest Dance from Boulevard, and 13 Hour Wheat from FT Collins. I thought they were decent to good but I'll take a good Barleywine style ale over any of them every time.
     
  12. CloudStrife

    CloudStrife Savant (1,219) Nov 20, 2008 New York

    I should of phrased the question: What would you want to see your favorite brewery try a new version of?

    But that was ending a sentence in a preposition. :-0
     
  13. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I love 'em but haven't found one that tops a top-notch barleywine.
     
  14. 4kbrianb

    4kbrianb Initiate (0) Jan 2, 2013 California

    can't say I have actually ever tried a wheatwine... but thanks to you guys... it is on my beer bucket list for the month of February.
     
  15. samoblue

    samoblue Crusader (428) Apr 26, 2006 California

    Ryewine 4 life.
     
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  16. Jerome1929

    Jerome1929 Zealot (533) Sep 11, 2008 Michigan

    I haven't had many but Short's Anniversary Ale is my favorite.
     
  17. CloudStrife

    CloudStrife Savant (1,219) Nov 20, 2008 New York

    I can agree with that wholeheartedly but its a difficult comparison. This site lists 531 barleywines to 87 wheatwines. It is inevitable that there are better barleywines.
     
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  18. zachary80

    zachary80 Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2009 Indiana

    In that case, I'd love to see more wheatwines, at least as seasonal/special releases.

    Also, in response to that 'rule' which I hate: "Not only is the preposition acceptable at the end, sometimes it is more effective in that spot than anywhere else" - http://books.google.com/books?id=sj5_wr6zIEcC&lpg=PA112&ots=msb1sgR9kK&dq=Not only is the preposition acceptable at the end, sometimes it is more effective in that spot than anywhere else&pg=PA112#v=onepage&q=Not only is the preposition acceptable at the end, sometimes it is more effective in that spot than anywhere else&f=false


    Forgot this was a wheatwine - personally I found it least appealing of the three, but the blood orange also really separates it from the crowd
     
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  19. Wisconsin

    Wisconsin Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2008 Wisconsin

    I've only had one and liked it. Wish I could find more of them.
     
  20. SeaOfShells

    SeaOfShells Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2011 California

    If only it were that easy.
     
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