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Sat, 29 Jul 2006
Revolutionary beer - Sam Adams Dark Wheat Ale (13:43)
Sam Adams has a new four-pack of brews in the styles of Colonial times called the "Patriot Collection." It's a collection of one brewery's view of old brewing styles.The Dark Wheat Ale tells us it's Wheat ale brewed with hand smoked malted barley. Not to knock Samuel Adams, but wheat and barley are two separate grains... The label goes on to tell us that James Madison was a very serious brewer, and considered establishing a national brewery. Thankfully that idea was dropped, and we have local breweries providing good craft beers, as well as some privately owned "national breweries" turning out mass produced mediocre beer.
Let's look at the neck label:
The slight tartness of malted rye balances sweeter roasted malted barley notes of cocoa and toffee in this deep mahogany brew. Hand smoked malted barley adds a subtle smoky finish common in colonial brewing.So this "wheat beer" is made with rye and barley.
Enough on the label, how's the beer? Okay. Not one of my favorites, but as the label says, there's a bit of smoky finish, nice color, good head, and a complex taste leaning to malt but well balanced. This wouldn't be a bad session beer, I can see several of these going down keeping each other company.
As I often note, don't over-chill! To the extent that this brew uses colonial brewing techniques and recipes, remember that the cooling technology of the time was the ice house, and beer by the barrel was often served at cellar temperature, in the 50-55F range. There is a lot more in this brew at 55F than 40F, if you want to get the flavor you paid for, serve it right. End rant.