Strong American Ale - Wheatwine

Strong American Ale
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Strong American Ale - Wheatwine

Name

Wheatwine

Category

Strong American Ale

This category includes modern American strong ales with a varying balance of malt and hops. The category is defined mostly by higher alcohol strength and a lack of roast.

Guidelines

Impression

A richly textured, high alcohol sipping beer with a significant grainy, bready flavor, and a sleek body. The emphasis is first on the bready, wheaty flavors with malt, hops, fruity yeast, and alcohol complexity.

Aroma

Hop aroma is mild and can represent just about any hop variety. Moderate to moderately-strong bready, wheaty malt character, often with additional malt complexity such as honey and caramel. A light, clean, alcohol aroma may be noted. Low to medium fruity notes may be apparent. Very low diacetyl optional. Banana-and-clove Weizen yeast character is inappropriate.

Appearance

Color ranging from gold to deep amber, often with garnet or ruby highlights. Low to medium off-white head. The head may have creamy texture, and good retention. Chill haze is allowable, but usually clears up as the beer gets warmer. High alcohol and viscosity may be visible as legs.

Flavor

Moderate to moderately-high bready wheat malt flavor, dominant in the flavor balance over any hop character. Low to moderate toasty, caramel, biscuity, or honey malt notes can add a welcome complexity, but are not required. Low to medium hop flavor, reflecting any variety. Moderate to moderately-high fruitiness, often with a dried-fruit character. Low to moderate bitterness, creating a malty to even balance. Should not be syrupy or under-attenuated.

Mouth Feel

Medium-full to full body. Chewy, often with a luscious, velvety texture. Low to moderate carbonation. Light to moderate smooth alcohol warmth optional.

Comments

Much of the color arises from a lengthy boil. Some commercial examples may be stronger than the Vital Statistics.

History

An American craft beer style that was first brewed at the Rubicon Brewing Company in 1988. Usually a winter seasonal, vintage, or one-off release.

Ingredients

Typically brewed with a combination of American two-row and American wheat. Style commonly uses 50% or more wheat malt. Restrained use of dark malts. Any variety of hops may be used. May be oak-aged.

Comparison

More than simply a wheat-based Barleywine, many versions have very expressive fruity and hoppy notes, while others develop complexity through oak aging. Less emphasis on the hops than American Barleywine. Has roots in American Wheat Beer rather than any German wheat style, so should not have any Weizen yeast character.

Statistics

Type Min Max
OG 1.080 1.120
FG 1.016 1.030
IBU 30 60
SRM 6 14
ABV 8.0 12.0

Commercial Examples

  • The Bruery White Oak
  • Castelain Winter Ale
  • Perennial Heart of Gold
  • Two Brothers Bare Tree

Tags

  • very-high-strength
  • amber-color
  • top-fermented
  • north-america
  • craft-style
  • strong-ale-family
  • wheat-beer-family
  • balanced
  • hoppy