Middle Ages 11th Anniversary Double Wheat

Brewed by Middle Ages Brewing
Style: Wheat Ale
Syracuse, New York USA

This offering from Middle ages pours a burnt orange with a semi-cloudy body that has a georgous two-tier color to the brew that leaves a thick creamy off-white head. The nose is very hoppy, caramel, earthy grass, wheat, and bounds of citrus. The taste starts so bitter and strong with a citrus rind bitterness. This is one hopped up wheat beer making me guess whether this was a DIPA or a wheat beer so many characters of a DIPA but you can taste the wheat twang under the barrage of hops. The journey continues with a alcohal, caramel sweetness. The refreshing yet powerful bitterness of this brew is what makes this beer special I love the combination of strong hops with the usually boring American Wheat beer, great brew!

Leafy and floral hop aroma. Light amber in color. Very crisp and bitter flavor sits atop a solid malt base. Some effervesence and scant signs of abv. Well done.

22 oz bottle (Table & Vine, Northampton MA September 2006) served at cellar temperature in an Aventinus glass. I pour it a bit on the cold side, but the enormous stable head takes forever to subside, creamily dropping on the sides and leaving thick lace while remaining steady much longer in the middle....it tops a medium-amber faintly hazy/cloudy body.....the aroma at first surprisingly sharp and hoppy, lots of American citric hops though these soften quickly and lemony-banana cake takes over; it’s quite lovely and faint alcohol mellows and deepens it.....the mouth isn’t quite so entranced, as the alcohol is a bit much when combined with the soft banana-pudding esters, but it’s quite drinkable throughout, with light spicy hops and soft sourdough breadiness making this actually somewhat refreshing, if not "crisp" despite its gravity....somewhat oily mouthfeel belied by the strong carbonation, sweet and syrupy finish with orangy hops taking it to another, off-wheat realm. I’m really enjoying this I must say, but I almost always like this brewery more than most. Good job.

Unfiltered golden. Thick dirty-white head clings impressively and becomes somewhat rocky after settling. Stimulating aromas of floral and citric hops, Ringwood yeast and pineapple upside-down cake. Slightly chalky with hints of sulfur and bandage phenolics. Smells slightly grainy. Soft, pillowy carbonation deposits a slightly unpleasant foamy film on the palate. Slightly grainy but explosively dry and estery with a brisk sting of earthy Ringwood. Spicy phenols enhance the juicy hop elements, but a graininess tries to interfere. Tingle of green raisin acidity awakens the palate and complements the sweetness while combating the graininess. Staunch hop bitterness is earthy and refined, never becoming acidic, and, instead, hugs the palate and contributes substantial depth. Finishes artfully balanced, with an equilibrium of spicy phenols, slippery fruitiness (green raisins, pineapple), crisp wheat and a mixture of brash and juicy floral hops. Whisper of orange zest leaves behind a teasing trail of bitterness. Belches beautifully, showing subtle flashes of phenols and floral hops. Quite an achievement here, as this is bursting with character. Maybe a bit grainy (would personally like to see more wheat-derived starches to thwart the graininess), but it’s extremely estery and showcases an array of hop aromas, flavors and bitterness. Another gem from the Ringwood artists. Thanks, ClarkVV!

2006 bomber, drunk on 8/23/06.
Sweet, it’s unfiltered. That is usually a great indicator of good things to come from Middle Ages, as these guys are fantastic brewers (they just filter and pasteurize most everything). Plenty of sediment lies on the bottom, while a moderately hazy, bronzed-straw colored body with almost a lemon-lime tint, sits below a large, mostly-well retained head that produces moderate lacing as it recedes (though it does recede fairly quickly to cover).
Simcoe hops in the nose are bitter, dry and very crisp, working well with the dry wheat and pale malts. Lots of lime zest, light lychee, white grapefruit and of course, sticky pine. But the wheat in the background, along with some very honeyish barley, is able to balance, though does not diminish the crispness of the aroma. Simcoe fades, somewhat, on the finish, allowing something of a lighter hop (noble hop variety??) to grant a lightly herbal, flowery note. Lime and lemon notes lie in the background throughout the course of the aroma.
Simcoe again, in the flavor, but not brash and dominating from the start. Rather, a honey and lightly grainy malt character is established, with smooth, chewy wheat and the simcoe gradually making a crescendo, climaxing towards the end, with a lip-smacking, slightly tongue curling bitterness. Almost a bit of tartness even, with citrus fruits being thrown in to cut the pine. Soft, frothy texture, supportive from the wheat and ample malt. Wonderful attenuation level, dry, but leaving enough sugar to balance. Moderate, tight carbonation. Some definite mineral influence from the yeast, but no diacetyl. The more it warms, the more the hop bouquet varies, with herbal-flowery notes adding a refreshing acidity and flavor.
I’m really glad TAR kept harping on the merits of this brewery, else I wouldn’t have experienced some true gems they produce (such as this).

Golden ale wih a thin off white head. Aroma of floral hops, perfumey. Honey hops in mouth with light citrus, spices, hops lingering in mouth, with light alcohol Good, but what is a double wheat??? Bottle bought at Party Source Syracuse, 5.99$, July 2006.

Nose of citrus / lemon, probably not from the hop but the fermentation. Taste of citrus / lemon, strong taste of black pepper, moderate clove, slight banana, characteristic of a wheat, with a touch more hop complexity than a Belgian would offer. Cloudy amber, good head. Really enjoyable, although the well hidden alcohol sneaks up before you finish the bottle.

Bottle from Clark and served in a weizen glass (this is a wheat beer right?) Well it pours a clean deep golden hue with a huge long lasting egg white frothy head and outstanding lacing. The aroma has very floral qualities with herbal and slightly pine hops at the forefront in addition to musty yeast, wheat husks, biscuit, mild grapefruit, even more mild banana, coriander, and some DMS. The taste is surprising with a sweet malty and fruity base with a dash of resin hops towards the finish. At first I did not care much for the flavor profile but after a couple of swallows, I started digging the interesting play of flavors much more. The finish is peppery and herbal which lasts a tad too long actually. The mouth feel is sticky and gummy dry, this is one area of the brew that needs major improvement. I like this beer and could see a tweak in recipe to take it over the top, need a bit more attenuation, a bit less piney hops and perhaps a touch less yeasty overtones (or more a German style yeast quality). Consider this a wheat "barley" wine when consuming it.