Part of the “strong ale” category, the American-Style Wheat Wine Ale is not derived from grapes as its name might suggest. Made with at least 50 percent wheat malt, this full-bodied beer features bready and candy flavors, and finishes with a great deal of malty sweetness. These beers may be oak-aged and sometimes have small amounts of darker malts added.
American-Style Wheat Wine Ale
Category: Wheat Beers
Food Pairings
- Smoked Trout
- Asiago
- Peach Sorbet
Commercial Examples
- Wheat Wine, Smuttynose Brewing Co.
- Winter Wheat Wine, Rubicon Brewing Co.
- Wheat Wine, The Portsmouth Brewery
Appearance
Color
Gold to Light Brown
Clarity
Slight Haze
Carbonation (Visual)
Slow to Medium Rising Bubbles
Flavor/Aroma
Alcohol
Noticeable to Harsh
Hop
Hop aroma and flavor are low to medium. Hop bitterness is medium to medium-high
Malt
Bready, wheat, honey-like and/or caramel malt aromas are often present
Esters
Fruity-ester aroma is often high and counterbalanced with complex alcohol character
Phenols
Not common to style
Sensations
Body
Mouth-Coating
Carbonation
Low to Medium
Finish Length
Medium
Attenuation
Medium
Ingredients
Hops
Varies
Malt
At least 50 percent Malted Wheat
Water
Varies
Yeast
Ale
