Marin Star Brew Triple Wheat Ale

Brewed by Marin Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Larkspur, California USA

<i<Bottled. Cloudy golden. Grassy, spicy nose. Very sweet with notes of toffee and vodka-like burning alcohol. Evident wheat malt character and a pleasantly soft moutfheel. Salty finish. A strange but intriguing beer.

Name: Star Brew
Date: 05/04/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Vintage: 2621

opaque yellow, scant head, sweet hoppy aroma, light body, nice sweet malt flavor, sweetness takes over after a while

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 3/10; Flavor: 3/10; Palate: 4/10; Overall: 7/20
Rating: 2/5.0
Score: *+/4
-------- /> Name: Star Brew
Date: 01/27/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cask Eve, 2006
Vintage: 2810

hazy yellow, whispy white head, sweet carmel malt aroma with nice floral hops, light body, great hop flavor on a slightly sweet malt base, nice bitter finish, more of an IPA with no real wheat character

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 4/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Note to self: Read label when selecting beers. Just got back from a yuppie grocery store in the ’burbs that has decent beers, and space in the fridge was tight, so I needed to leave one of the cold beers out to consume immediately. I see this beer, and I see the word ’Wheat’ and think, ah, light summer beer, just what I need after a while in the summer heat. I completely ignored the word in front of it, ’Triple.’ Big mistake. This is not a summer beer, it’s one to remove the chill from your bones on a frosty evening. But enough complaining, because this is a damn fine beer. Big wine/fruity, malty & alcohol aroma, along with a bit of yeasty wheat. Flavor is big, fruity/wine & malty, also well-hopped. No hiding the alcohol though, and it stays with you down the swallow.

(Bottle, 2005 vintage) Pours a lightly cloudy golden body with a small white head. Aroma of lemon, pine, citrus, breadiness, and spices. Flavor of wheat, breadiness, clove, light citrus, and some other spices.

2002: Didn't quite know what to expect from a triple wheat ale. Pours a clear copper color with a thin white head. Aroma abounds with western hops and malty wheat undertones. Almost reminds me more of a double IPA. Body starts sweet before turning more hoppy bitter and dry with some alcohol evident in the finish. The wheat is noticeable throughout and provides a unique subtle flavor. Doesn't have the complexity of Bare Tree Weiss Wine, but a good flavorful beer nonetheless.

Bottle. Really good stuff. A hoppy, wheaty barleywine, loads of almost bready sort of malts and lots of spicy hops, lemony and piney. Pretty decent stuff.

Pours copper with a thin white head. Smells of sweet wheat, some cognac, some spice, citrus, tarte cherries. Tastes sweet and fruity with some peppery hints and a nice splash of earthiness on the finish.

Slightly murky golden light orange color. Sweet corn and juicy honey aromas. Malty with not so much of a noticable wheat character, hot with alcohol in the nose and flavor, with some subtle butter/diacetyl notes. Chewy and thick and somewhat hot - thick body with some chewy brown sugar flavors. Nutmeg, toast and honey finishes this one off. But I’m left disappointed - there’s nothing here that really comes togethor.