Thanks go out to the brewery for sending me this bottle this week. When I first found out about this beer coming out, I was cautiously optimistic. I really love the style, but one of the really redeeming qualities is how drinkable and sessionable they are with the refreshing qualities and the low alcohol. I was concerned that "Imperializing" the style would cut back at some of what I really loved about the beer. On the other hand, they could end up enriching the flavors I love too. Time to find out.
A very small, slightly off white head formed when I poured the beer, as you can see from the picture. What is now left is just a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass. The body is a light, clean, golden color.
Smelling the brew brings back what I love about the style. Nice wheat base that just seems to intensify the tartness laying underneath. Some lactic aromas underneath. Sour apple.
Flavor echoes what I got on the nose. Light wheat base rings through the entire time this is on my tongue, intensifying a bit towards the end. Tartness comes in right from up front, lasting for a couple seconds, before giving way to a bit of sweetness. Green apple is there, but very light.
This one does drink much easier than you would expect from a 7% beer, but not quite as easily as a typical Berliner Weiss. I guess that's pretty much what I would expect, though it might drink easier than I expected.
Very drinkable and pleasant beer. Being a lover of sour beers, and knowing what New Belgium can do with sours, I was hoping there might be a little more tartness here. It's on for the style, but the higher base seems to have made it a little more muted. That said, I'm enjoying this thoroughly and will be happily polishing off the bottle.