The TicketyBrew Company Rose Wheat Beer Wheat Ale at 4.7% ABV (Craft Beer Advent Calendar #4, 330 ml, best before 31-Jul-2017, acquired 25-Sep-2016, reviewed 4-Dec-2016)
Appearance: nearly opaque cloudy straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: rose water, citrus, wheat malt, hint of ginger. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, light bitter. (7/10) Palate: light body, lively carbonation, clean drying and tart finish. (4/5)
Day 4 of the advent calendar brings a seriously oddball little beer in the form of a rose-flavoured Weissbier/Berliner Weiss (but, bear in mind that for me, “odd” isn’t necessarily a pejorative). Certainly this is the first time I had a beer that smelled and tasted like Turkish Delight, but I can’t say it’s disappointing. Matter of fact, the more I think about it, the more it occurs to me that this isn’t wildly dissimilar from a Berliner Weiss “mit schuss”, albeit more floral than the typical herbal character of Woodruff. The rose character is a little overwhelming, though, and I think I’d like it more if it were just a tad less emphatic – but it’s pretty fine as it is. (And, by the by, this could be a crystal-clear straw if that’s your thing, but I tend to follow the German Beer Institute’s recommendation – and that of the brewer – by swirling the bottle and dumping in the lees.) (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
