Himmelberger Whitewater Wheat

Brewed by Himmelberger Brewing Company
Style: Wheat Ale
Billings, Montana USA

My local favorite by far. Nothing i’ve had in billings comes close. It smells and tastes of fresh grapefruits, lemons, and sweet wheatfields, the palate is very agreable if you tap a fresh keg watch out the first few pours will be unvelievably thick with a cloudy suspension of wheat. I just wish more bars intown offered it.

Sampled on draught at the Rex in downtown Billings Montana. Pours a cloudy aged banana yellow brew with a thick and slow dissolving white head that leaves behind a good lacing. Aroma of light wheat bread, some citrus and flowery hops with a touch of corlander. Taste is medium bodied, lightly carbonated with flavors of sweet multi-grain, citrus peel with a touch of orange and lime flavors. Finish is slightly chalky with a thick wheat and flowery hop aftertaste. No need to add any lemon wedge to the glass. This beer has plenty of flavor to go around.

On draught at Jake’s Stakehouse in Billings. Pours a dense dark gold with a lasting light white lace. Light-bodied, with a soft mouthfeel and wheaty flavor. Slightly fruity notes with slight lemon-grass character. A hint of citrous into the aftertaste. A nice summer brew.

Thick yellow in color with average white head. Hints of sour fruit on the nose. Notes of light lemon with a hint of thick wheat and sour fruit. Clean finish.

Draft at the Rex in Billings, MT. Cloudy yellow color with an average fizzy white head that mostly diminished with fair lacing. Moderate sour citrus wheat aroma. Light to medium body with a watery texture. Light sweet flavor with a light sweet short finish. Drinkable and solid for style.

Draught. Many times. Light golden’straw colored with a massive head of extremely fine bubbles that lasts for maybe five minutes or more before subsiding to a foamy layer around the edge of the glass. Sheets of Brussels lace along the glass each time I take a swallow. The nose is comlex for an American wheat because Himmelberger brews it more like a Belgian blonde in many respects. Nose is very malty/yeasty with a definite citrus nose and some spice (coriander). The mouthfeel is dense and solid for such a light beer. The flavor is crisp and sharp with good bittering and a malty smoothness. The lemon or lemongrass comes through clearly in the taste, as does some complexity to the yeast strain--maybe some banana and or clove character. The finish is balanced and clean. I’ve had this beer many times. Dennis Himmelberger is a friend, but don’t think that I’d jack up his ratings even so(he wouldn’t appreciate it). He brews with honor and fierce commitment to his craft--sometimes chewing out bar managers for serving this beer with a lemon slice (like it need that!). A great beer, but only available in Billings and surrounding areas because he doesn’t bottle.

I had this at Red Robin in Billings, Montana. It was pretty good stuff. It had a really smooth aftertaste for an unfiltered wheat beer. I will definitely drink this again next time I eat there.