Founders Fest Wheat

This was a decent wheat beer, but didn’t have the usual flavor expected from the style. There wasn’t any banana or clove or coriander. This is basically just a plain ol’ light ale. It poured a semi-cloudy golden color with a big and soft white head. The head left an enourmous amount of lacing around the glass. The aroma and flavors were basically bland, though. I wasn’t impressed at all with this beer.

On tap @ Brixie’s. Pours hazy gold with a white head. Aroma of citrus hops and lemongrass. Hops dominated the flavor and it was an incredibly hoppy wheat. Bottle this stuff!

On tap at Founders Fest 2009. Golden body with medium white head. Aroma is grapey hops, citrus, wheat, sweeter, nice. Off-dry citrus flavor, grapey, hops, caramel, wheat, really tasty and refreshing. Medium body with active carbonation. Delicious.

On tap at the Bavarian Lodge, Lisle, IL. Poured a hazy gold tone with a white, foamy head and clingy ribbons of lacing. The nose was strong, with notes of spicy floral and citrus. Smooth malt was more evident in the flavor with some tangerine notes, and a solid, lingering, hop bitterness. Medium bodied with a fresh, crisp mouthfeel. Nice balance all around.

Tap at Capone’s. Floral/citrusy hops and lemony wheat. Slight banana yeast in the back. Honey sweet finish.
I’ve realized that the only way I’ll give any wheat beer a decent score it when they’re all hopped up. Especially when the hops cover the banana.

Pours hazy dark straw with off-white clingy head. Nose is wheaty malt, lemongrassy hops, tangerine, grapefruit. Tastes malty, floral, with some bubblegum (that was a big advertised trait of this one), heavy hops, tangerine, pineapple, florals. One of the hoppiest, if not the hoppiest wheat beer I have ever quaffed. Outstanding, and another winner from Founders.

Draught at Capone’s: Aroma of wheat, citrus, grains, slight fruit, lychee, and hops. Poured pale yellow/gold in color with a medium to large-sized, dense, off-white head that lasted throughout. Slightly sparkling. Excellent lacing. Flavor was lightly sweet and lightly bitter. Tastes of hops, grapefruit, lemongrass, malts, and wheat. Light to medium body. Dry texture. Average carbonation. Hops and lemongrass finish is dry. Better than FFF’s Gumballhead.

Tap at Capones. Pours a lightly hazy golden orange with a small creamy white head that left some lacing. Aroma of handful of fresh American hops. Lots of orange and tropical fruit notes. Very light wheat notes and bready malt coming through. Flavor was also all American hops. Orange, grapefruit, flowers and tropical fruits. Hop bitterness is moderate. Enough malt to balance and give nice mouthfeel...but this beer is all about the hops.