This is an exciting moment for me. This is my first advance review. Harvest Dance Wheat Wine, Boulevard Brewing's latest Smokestack Series release, was just approved for release today, but it will still probably weeks before it hits the shelves. Jeremy from Boulevard, who I met at Brew Day #4, offered to set aside a bottle for me. Who am I to say no?Wheat Wines are one of my most favorite styles. This probably because it is a newer style that is really just now starting to develop. It is similar to a barleywine style beer, except with a high wheat malt grain bill. While Barleywines can be thick and boozy, Wheat Wines are often lighter in texture with just as much of a kick.
750 ml bottle, corked and caged. This is from the very first batch. Poured into a proper Boulevard Smokestack chalice. I think this glass was made for this beer.Head from the first pour is billowing and fluffy. It challenges the edge of the glass. It is slow enough to recede that it enhances the creaminess of the texture. There isn't really any lace on the glass, but the surface maintains a foamy cap. Color is a bright and hazy burnt orange. There are a few random flecks of yeast sediment.
Smell is dry and slightly yeasty. That's a nice and tart Belgian yeast. There is a mildly sweet, but mostly tart grape skin. Taste is also super dry. This has been aged on oak and resinous characters stands out here. It is hopped with some Citra, which is a new type of American hops. It has tightly blended fruit flavoring. I get a lot of grapes, but there is also some mango and papaya. The wheat and the yeast gives it soft tart tanginess in the finish.
Mouthfeel is so soft, it feels more delicate than it really is. Carbonation has a tight density. As stated, the retained head adds to the creamy smooth texture. This is so smooth, the 9.1% ABV barely even registers. Boulevard has another outstanding beer here. Any yahoo can throw excess hops or malt at a beer and call it extreme. Boulevard does extreme beers, extremely balanced and drinkable.
5 comments: