Big Rock Grasshopper Wheat Ale

Brewed by Big Rock Brewery
Style: Wheat Ale
Calgary, Canada

I’ve often wondered, when it comes to so-called american wheats why they even bother putting wheat in the name. They usually taste like Rogue’s Buckwheat Ale - ie. not a hint of wheat in sight. This product from Big Rock is little different. It’s a clear, bland ale-like brew.

On tap at The Bomber. "Popsicle sticks in fall" aroma. Garbagey. Flavour reminiscent of swiss cheese. Interesting. Medium to light body. Slightly dry. Mild hop aftertaste.

Bottle at the Stampede Casino. Clear yellow. Decently fresh aroma. Grains on the nose. Dry wheaty taste. Just a hint of citrus but could use WAY more. A little bland.

On tap @ Moxie’s: Small smooth head over a hazy golden-green body. Citrus and banana in the nose. Faint wheat taste with hints of bar-mix and sweet esters. Light-bodied and smooth on the way down...nothing special.

Canette de 355 ml. Nos yeux observent une bière de couleur dorée avec une mousse blanche fugace. Au nez on découvre des arômes de blé, de citron et de banane avec des effluves de miel. En bouche le corps est moyen avec une effervescence moyenne. On goûte des saveurs de blé et de houblon citronné.

On draft at Joe Baladinis (Toronto, ON)> Pours a hazy yellow color with thin white head. Aroma is sweet and floral with notes of grass, wheat, yeast, banana, clove, light citrus. Flavor is sweet and floral with notes of caramel, honey, funk, wheat, yeast, bread. Generally light body with a thin finish.

Pours a golden yellow with little head. Aroma is musty with some citrus notes (mainly lemon) some allspice, and very bready malt. Tastes lemony, with a mushroomy mid-palate. Also has some spice and a very bready taste. Palate is fine, but this beer is much better on tap. Just lacks the bright freshness of a good wheat beer.

341 mL Bottle. Clear gold body with a foamy-bubbly white head that settles to a wispy ring, no lacing (obviously this wheat ale has been filtered). Wheat stands out in the aroma along with grains and tangy hops. Wheat and sweet malt make up the flavor with a sweet grainy / tangy hop aftertaste and a butter biscuit linger. More like a macro than a micro.