Big Rock Grasshopper Wheat Ale

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

So, here I am in lovely Newfoundland, where I can only get beer from one of the two island micros, but can get Big Rock beer from Alberta. Why not Creemore from Ontario? Enough of that. The beer: pours a paler kind of gold than a Molson, slightly amber, but plain. A thin head appears and then leaves town for good. This thing has macro all over it. Smells like someone cut grass a week ago (very very slight), broke a tiny jar of honey on it, and then swept it up with a weak lemon cleaner. All in all, the aroma is extremely faint, but pleasant. Mouthfeel is crisp and light. Has a good carbonation. Well defined in this area, actually. I taste some light hops, some malt, a sour mash of citrus, a bitter end and a long lasting sour lemony aftertaste. Nothing is offensive, but nothing is really all that present. This beer is an excellent example of what my German friends call ’Good North American beer’--it tastes like water, so it can’t taste bad. But in all seriousness, it’s refreshing and I kind of like it despite all my criticism, so it’s not a failure.

An excellent summer drink. Fresh out of an icy cooler or served in a frosty mug. This is an example of how wheat ales should be. A touch of fruit out of the start with a bold/crisp finish.

A beer that made an appearance at my annual hockey pool. This beer had an aroma that reminded more of rye than wheat. It was a nice golden colour when poured. It is smooth to the tongue and is smooth tasting. I would certainly recommend this beer to somebody wanting to try a decent wheat beer without paying through the nose.

Great grainy aroma. Clear yellow gold. Good label. Mellow, slightly tart, crackery brew with light sweetness. Medium body. Not great, not bad.

neutral smell with deep yellow colour. Head is thin, as is palate with mild hops and some, but little bitterness. Flavour is of mild wheat...not much else. Good for when you are looking for a lighter brew without going macro. A light/pale wheat ale is a good description as someone mentioned.

341 ml bottle. pours golden with small white head. doesnt have any wheaty haze that i was expecting. slight hoppy aromas but no wheaty sweetness. flavours are a crisp, clean golden ale with some hops but no wheat. a nice refreshing ale, my only question is wheres the wheat?

Draft in Waterton Lakes: Golden hue with a nice head (looked good in the dimpled mug). Light and clean tasting and feeling. Fairly refreshing. Light malted caramel with subtle honey. Very light bitterness. Nothing too special, but surely drinkable.

wheaty (heh heh)