Wheat Ale

Jailhouse Brewing Adds Bottles

Jailhouse Brewing (Hampton, GA) is no long draft only. 22oz Bombers of brewery’s beers are hitting shelves.

The Beers:
Slammer Wheat – American Wheat, 5% ABV. An American wheat beer perfect for the “General Population,” Slammer Wheat is Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: Peak Brewing Winter Session

New from Peak Organic Brewing Company (Portland, ME) is their latest seasonal, Winter Session.  Inspired by the Peak’s popular summer release – Summer Session Winter Session is just as tasty.   It’s a wheat ale, with a darker malt profile. Continue Reading →

Bell’s Oarsmen Bottles

This beer has made a couple of showings on tap handles around Atlanta.  Very limited.  Ironically, this is a year round offering from Bell’s Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI)  Some bottles have just popped up in Atlanta.  It’s pale, light, wheat, and Continue Reading →

NEW BREWER: Les Trois Mousquetaires

Les Trois Mousquetaires Brewing is here from Quebec, Canada.  The name “Les Trois Mousquetaires” translates to “Three Musketeers” in french, and is located near the famous Unibroue Brewery.  Started in 2004, Les Trois specializes in German style beers with a Continue Reading →

Peak Organic Summer Session

Some drinkers see the word organic and they grimace.   I guess the word organic has gotten a “bean sprouts and tofu reputation.”  I won’t lie, even I am guilty of that thought before my first taste of a Peak Continue Reading →

Sweetwater Sch’Wheat! Hits Taps!

Sweetwater Brewing’s (Atlanta, GA) newest year round offering – Sch’Wheat American Wheat Ale has officially been launched and has now expanded to tap handles in Atlanta.  Sch’Wheat replaces Summer Hummer.

American wheat ales have a moderate wheat character and are brewed Continue Reading →

NEW RELEASE: Hoppin Frog Wild Frog

.Hoppin Frog, despite being a very small brewery in Akron, Ohio continues to work full time to reach more states.  They have barely been in Atlanta for a month and more and more offerings keep popping up.  The most recent Continue Reading →

Posted in JailHouse Brewing, New Releases

Jailhouse Brewing Adds Bottles

Jailhouse Brewing (Hampton, GA) is no long draft only. 22oz Bombers of brewery’s beers are hitting shelves.

The Beers:
Slammer Wheat – American Wheat, 5% ABV. An American wheat beer perfect for the “General Population,” Slammer Wheat is characterized by inviting citrus aromas and delicate malt flavors that finish clean and crisp.

Malt – U.S. malted pilsen and wheat varieties.
Hops – U.S. Sterling

Mugshot IPA – American IPA, 6.7% ABV Chinook, cascade and sterling hops and a balanced blend of malt flavors that finish nice and dry. Forward hop bitterness lingers on without a overwhelming the palate.

Malt – U.S. malted 2-row barley; munich, caramel, and special roast; demerera sugar
Hops- Chinook, Cascade and Sterling

Breakout Stout – American Stout, 7.8% ABV.  Break out of your routine with our robust blend of dark roasted malts. Breakout Stout is a bold American Stout with a sturdy hop bitterness, hint of chocolate from chocolate malt and a pleasing finish. Breakout Stout compliments desserts and lends a surprising depth when paired with savory dishes.

Malts – U.S. malted 2-row barley; caramel malt; chocolate malt; roasted barley
Hops – Chinook and cascade

Availability: 22oz Bombers, Draft. Year round offerings

Looking for these? 12/8 – Available at Hop City, Greens, Tower, Macs, Ale Yeah, Mink’s Package

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in New Releases, Peak Organic Brewing

NEW RELEASE: Peak Brewing Winter Session

New from Peak Organic Brewing Company (Portland, ME) is their latest seasonal, Winter Session.  Inspired by the Peak’s popular summer release – Summer Session Winter Session is just as tasty.   It’s a wheat ale, with a darker malt profile.  Instead of using amarillo hops, brewer Jon Cadeaux used the new, popular citra hops.

Quoting Rob Lucente:
This winter wheat ale uses unique malting methods (midnight malting, to be precise) to create a toasty, complex body. Dry hopping with the Citra hops provides pineapple notes which goes fantastically with the toastiness of the malts. We are very excited about this offering, and believe it will continue the success we have seen this year with our Seasonals.

Style: Winter Wheat Ale

Taste Expectations: Citra hops give this ale a pineapple, tropical fruit taste.  Wheat malt softens the mouthfeel.  It’s flavorful, & easy drinking.

Availability: 12oz/6pks.  Draft.  Some cask offerings.

5% ABV

62 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Bell's Brewing, New Releases

Bell’s Oarsmen Bottles

This beer has made a couple of showings on tap handles around Atlanta.  Very limited.  Ironically, this is a year round offering from Bell’s Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI)  Some bottles have just popped up in Atlanta.  It’s pale, light, wheat, and worth a look.

Commercial Description:
Designed as a flavorful session beer, Oarsman Ale uses a classic German brewing technique to impart a light, refreshing tartness. Oarsman Ale grew out of a desire to explore the tradition of session beers, trading intensity for finesse while still creating a worthwhile experience for the taster. The grain bill includes a healthy portion of wheat, while light hopping lend citrus & herbal notes to the aroma. Fermented with Bell’s house ale yeast, Oarsman comes in at 4.0% alcohol by volume. Rather than being the dominant flavor note, the tartness in Oarsman takes on more of a palate-cleansing role, making it perfect with meals or purely on its own.

Style: American Pale Wheat Ale

Taste Expectations: Lemon, bread, citric with a touch of tart.  Wheat shines through with a bit of honey.  Light, & an easy drink.

Availability: 12oz Bottles. Limited draft.  Year round by Bell’s.  Limited availability in the southeast.

4% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Les Trois Mousquetaires Brewing, New Launches, New Releases

NEW BREWER: Les Trois Mousquetaires

Les Trois Mousquetaires Brewing is here from Quebec, Canada.  The name “Les Trois Mousquetaires” translates to “Three Musketeers” in french, and is located near the famous Unibroue Brewery.  Started in 2004, Les Trois specializes in German style beers with a French/Belgian twist.  The brewery currently has a website and Facebook page, but neither are active.

4 beers are now offered here in the United States, and Georgia:

Serie Signature Rauchbier – 6% ABV.  Chocolate, raisins, smoked malts.

Serie Signature Kellerbier – Keller Bier, 5.5% ABV.  Zesty & bitter.  Hops are floral, & grassy.  Some lager yeast character.

Doppelbock Grande Cuvee Printemps – Doppelbock, 9.5% ABV.  Sweet caramel malts.  Some chocolate.  Biscuit & fruit.

Imperiale Weizen Grande Cuvee – American Pale Wheat Ale, 10% ABV.  Honey, clove banana. Soft wheat malt finish.

Availability: 750 ML Corked & Caged.

Looking for these? 8/18  Hop City has all 4 in stock!

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Beer Spotlight, New Releases, Peak Organic Brewing

Peak Organic Summer Session

Some drinkers see the word organic and they grimace.   I guess the word organic has gotten a “bean sprouts and tofu reputation.”  I won’t lie, even I am guilty of that thought before my first taste of a Peak Organic brew.

Let me do tell you that there is no reason to grimace.  Peak Organic Brewing is a very well intentioned brewery with an emphasis on the good things in life.  Recently, Peak released Summer Session Ale, a wheat ale.  As craft beer gets more bold and extreme, it is easy to lose touch with session beers.  (Ideally less than 5% ABV)  As the weather gets warmer, I find my desire for light, refreshing beers increasing.  While extreme, inventive, strong, and bold beers make craft beer great, I think its time to focus back on some session beers for a bit.  In honor of summer, hammocks, beaches, and lawnmowers.

This is the first release of Peak Organic Summer Session. I spoke to Rob Lucente, owner of Peak about Summer Session.  Rob is a great guy with a lot of passion for his business and craft beer.  Peak has almost been overwhelmed with the great response from Summer Session’s release.  Rob describes Summer as “a wheat beer marries a west coast pale ale.”  Summer Session is brewed with locally grown Maine wheat.  Ingredients –

Hops – Amarillo. Dry Hopped generously with Amarillo

Malts – 2 Row and a touch of Carapils-

Availability – 12oz/6 pks and Draft.  Summer Seasonal

Taste Expectations – Very approachable, light & crisp ale with notes of citrus and lemon peel.  Light hop aroma.

5% ABV

Fun Fact – The images on Peak Organic beers and 6 packs aren’t stock photos.  They are photos ( with stories) of people enjoying a “Peak” moment in life.  Its feel good drinking! More at www.peakbrewing.com

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Now Tapping, SweetWater Brewing

Sweetwater Sch’Wheat! Hits Taps!

Sweetwater Brewing’s (Atlanta, GA) newest year round offering – Sch’Wheat American Wheat Ale has officially been launched and has now expanded to tap handles in Atlanta.  Sch’Wheat replaces Summer Hummer.

American wheat ales have a moderate wheat character and are brewed with American yeast strains.  Citrus and spice are noticeable in American wheat ales, less banana and clove like many German hefeweizens you might have had.  Hops are definitely more prevalent in American wheat ales.  Sch’Wheat! Is intended to be kind of a gateway beer by Sweetwater.  There is still a huge part of the beer drinking population that has never even tasted a craft beer, much less an unfiltered beer full of wheat.  Not every craft beer is one that you would want to hand to a friend to try hoping to get them hooked on craft beers (some are so bold in flavor, it could be a turn off.)  This offering of Sch’Wheat! aspires to be a transition into the world of craft beer with a light, subtle, easy drinking session beer.

Available year round in 12 oz/6 pks and draft.

Sch’Wheat is Taco Mac’s beer of a month.  Have a glass of Sch’Wheat on Thursdays starting at 5pm and keep the glass.  (While supplies last)

Sweetwater supports Upper Chattahoochee River Keepers.  Be sure purchase a fish at Taco Mac restaurants this month to help keep the Chattahoochee River clean.  Visit the River Keepers site HERE

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hoppin' Frog Brewing, New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Hoppin Frog Wild Frog

.Hoppin Frog, despite being a very small brewery in Akron, Ohio continues to work full time to reach more states.  They have barely been in Atlanta for a month and more and more offerings keep popping up.  The most recent – Wild Frog Wheat Ale.

Wild Frog is a traditional German style unfiltered wheat beer.  No fruit or spices were used in the brew process.  Wild Frog uses a special yeast from the oldest brewery in the world -Weihenstephan.  (Weihenstephan has been brewing since 1040 A.D.)

Availability – Year round in 22oz bottles, and Draft (although, to my knowledge no Hoppin Frog beers have hit taps in Atlanta yet…)

Taste Expectations – Some orange/ fruit arising from the special yeast.  Wheat nose, and flavor with some light malts beginning to end.  Great for warm weather.

6% ABV

12 IBU’s (not bitter)

by Reid Ramsay