Arbor Violin Monster - Style?

There is a real fuzzy dividing line between all styles, so generally you call it whatever the brewer calls it. I don't think I've seen an 'official' style designation for an American Dark Wheat Ale before, so this may be one of those catch-all categories that is convenient to use. Maybe the reason that the beer was not placed into a stout category was that there is no roasted malt flavor that comes through in this beer, or at least that's the way I remember it tasting. To me it was a spicy amber ale. However, the spices in the beer may be masking the roastiness.

 

I wasn't too sure what style they were going for with this one but found it to be an interesting, if a little hot, spiced ale. I have a bottle from last year that I am definitely piqued to open up. I think with a year on it this will be more mellow.

 

I always thought it was a 'winter warmer' ale, like 4elf

 

Any good? They just made a BA version of it and selling it under private label at my local store.

 

I glanced at this beer in my local store today, and I think it was called a Winter Ale on the label or the carrier.

It is a tasty beer, and as long as you're aware that it is a spiced beer and if you like that kind of beer, you'll like this one. I don't know if I'd like a BA version (assuming that you meant bourbon barrel aged) because I have had one spiced BBA beer that I didn't really like. To me, the spices clash with the bourbon flavor.

 

3 Sheeps in WI makes many very good America Dark Wheat Ales with various adjuncts. This story may help explain the style.

 

I saved a bottle for a year and opened it. It got worse. Tasted like a stick of Big Red gum. It was absolutely horrible.

 

Woah! Perhaps it will stay at the back of my fridge for a while yet....