Harpoon Leviathan - Triticus - Harpoon Brewery

jjayjaye

New York

4.72/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this one at The Publick House...that's double karma!!

Wouldn't have guessed it to be a Wheatwine. I'm assuming this is the correct "Triticus" because it was advertised at 14%. Unbelievably rich and fruity. Poured a deep mahogany color with a huge stiff tan head that resisted fading. Nice lacing from start to finish. Smelled really rich and sweet; dark fruits, alcohol, cherries, molasses. Full bodied and adequately carbonated, the mouth feel is almost thick. Full flavored the taste is similar to the nose. Dark fruits, sweet malts, molasses, and cherries. Way too easy to drink! The 14% ABV warms after it's well on its way down. The mouth (4.75) coats the tongue sooo nicely and the dark fruit and cherries character lingers nicely. REALLY enjoyed this one...glad i had to run or I'd screw up and order another. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2008 00:42:31 | More by jjayjaye

Damian

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Drank on-tap at the Publick House, Brookline, MA
Served in a tulip

Poured a near opaque, dark mahogany color with a thick, silky, light tan, one-finger head that slowly faded to a creamy ring. The head was similar to one you might expect from a nitro pour. Outstanding retention, especially for a beer with such alcohol prowess. Streaks of lacing cascaded down the glass.

The aroma was subtle initially but came out much more as the beer warmed. Sweet and rich with strong dark fruit notes. Oaky and quite boozy. Phenolic with indications of banana and spiced rum.

The taste was similar to the nose yet more intense. Fruity, boozy and robust. As the with the aroma, dark fruits (raisins and figs) came through strong. Sweet and spicy with rich, caramel malts and notes of brown sugar. Some banana was also noticeable. Boozy with a pleasant, rum-like alcohol warming on the back end. At 14%, the alcohol was definitely noticeable yet not in the least bit overwhelming. The finish was slightly hoppy and citrusy, and it provided a nice balance to this otherwise sweet and alcohol rich brew. The long-lasting aftertaste was sweet, spicy and rummy.

The mouthfeel was super thick, rich and creamy. Full-bodied and mouth coating with a fine, mild carbonation. After each sip, the liquid left a sticky, syrupy coating on my lips.

Drinkability was simply astounding for a 14% ABV brew. The alcohol was sweet, warming and quite pleasant. This is a terrific beer to sip and savor as an after dinner drink.

Hands down, this is the best beer that Harpoon has ever produced. The purpose of their Leviathan Series is to attract craft beer enthusiasts who have been disappointed with the mediocre brews in their 100 Barrel Series. Boy, did they ever get my attention with this initial release. Keep up the great work!

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2008 04:40:28 | More by Damian

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

4.58/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

It's back!!!

Picked up a growler at the Windsor brewery this afternoon, poured into a Harpoon tulip. 11.5% ABV.

This brew is black as night. Zero light gets through even when held to a light bulb. The slowly-building creamy tan head settles from 1" to a stable 1/4". As it settles it leaves a solid layer of thick creamy tan lace on the glass. It looks like an intense RIS. The nose is really intense and diverse. It leads off with a ton of sweet over-ripe banana, then dark dried fruits (fig, raisin), some cherry, yeast, and a touch of warming alcohol that's well-hidden and is more felt than smelled.

At this point (before the first sip), the glass has warmed a good 10 minutes or so. On the tongue it leads with a mix of banana and bubblegum. The same sweet fig/raisin is prominent, and it adds a nice smoky/ earthy note tone that balances well. The smoke lingers into the finish, where it is joined by a subtle bit of citrusy hop. (I wasn't able to identify the characterize the hops until I belched and it tasted citrusy.)

Mouthfeel is full and silky smooth, but not overly thick or cloying sweet. It goes down really easily. The alcohol is well-hidden, but I do feel it a bit on my breath and in my head (that's unavoidable if it's in there).

Triticus_is_awesome. A lovely redemption after the dismal red ale. As far as the Leviathan series goes, is it fair to compare Triticus to the IIPA? I think not because they're so obviously on such opposite sides of the beer spectrum, apples and oranges, as they say. But if you put a gun to my head and made me choose between the best apple versus the best orange... I might have to side with the Triticus. But if you stranded me on a desert island with a choice of only 5 beers to sustain me for the rest of my days, those two would likely be part of the fold. Thank you Harpoon!

DRINK SOME!

Serving type: growler

08-15-2010 00:20:47 | More by BeerNinja007

GratefulBeerGuy

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle > Goblet Review based on original and updated on 5/29/11

A dark and murky brown color with very little light getting through, and a 2" khaki colored head at first which falls to a slight bubbly foam as it settles in.

The aroma is dominated by ultra sweet maltiness, dates and sweet dark fruits pop out with tootsie rolls and maple syrup as it warms up more. A complex malt scent with depth but not a lot happening except dank sweetness.

The taste starts out with a bitter and earthy hop bite and some warming heat. Dry earthy tones and dark roastie wheat makes for a clean hefty-medium feel but not at all hefty as there is plenty of zippy life to make it work. The dark wheat works really well with this style and gives off a oak-wood balanced by resiny hops with more warming but not sharp heat moves in. roastie spices and more malt comes down with more complexity as it warms, with the feel of slick malt riding in to make a full bodied feel later on in the game. Good balance here and the 11.5% abv. heat does not go crazy on your face! I love the crispy-dry wheat flavor and feel with major complexity!

Let this one warm up a bit, sip, take your time and relax with this one

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 17:51:09 | More by GratefulBeerGuy

threeviews

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just like another member of this website...I wasn't planning on reviewing a beer this evening, but felt compelled to do so.

After trying a 4-pack of Leviathan IPA and not being overly impressed, it took a moment of introspection to pony up and purchase another Levithan-series brew. However, I am pleased to report that I am ecstatic that I did. Date on the neck of the bottle simply reads: 2011

Poured from a 12oz bottle at ~cellar temperature into a snifter.

A- Pours such a dark, dark ruby (a bit darker than a red wine)...only by holding the glass up to a light reveals that the brew is not entirely black. Tan colored head rises about 3/4" and dissipates gently leaving a thin lace where the liquid meets the sides of the glass.

S- Sweet malt, earthy hops and booze in equal amounts. Despite the wheat base malt, this reminds me of a traditional over-the-top American Barleywine...awesome.

T- A lot going on. Starts off with sweet caramel, chocolate and coffee notes. That is followed by pleasant hop bitterness and then the booze settles in. Again, awesome.

M- Slick on the palate at first and then finishes dry. The carbonation is light and perfect for this brew. Enough to excite your tastebuds but remains out of the way for you to enjoy all of the flavors found within.

O- "O" for Overly impressed. This is one great beer and would highly recommend it for fans of American Barleywine style beers. I will definitely purchase this again and hope I can get it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 23:55:27 | More by threeviews

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.47/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A brown body with no head at all and lots of carbonation bubbles. Actually looks a lot like a coke or pepsi.

Smells very nice. Some dark fruits, some roasted malts. Very sweet, a little boozy.

This stuff is great and very complex. Lots of malt in the body along with sweetness from some dark fruits. pretty boozy. Finishes really sweet, leaving a sweet taste in your mouth.

A surprisingly thin smooth mouthfeel. Not so boozy that it burns.

At 14 ABV this is incredibly drinkable, great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2008 19:01:39 | More by Hojaminbag

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap 9/7/08 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a dark brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of wheat, dark fruit, caramelized malts and a good amount of hops.

T: The taste is malty, with sweet flavors of caramel and dark fruits up front and background flavors of wheat and hops. The hops bitterness creeps up with a little extra strength in the finish. There's very little trace of the alcohol especially considering that it's 14.00%. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth but kind of slick, medium-to-heavy body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Flavorful and tasty, goes down dangerously easy, not too filling, very strong kick, good representation of style, this is an excellent high-powered beer to sip on for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2008 00:31:31 | More by TheManiacalOne

kbanks13

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. into a snifter, reviewed from a fresh 4-pack

Pours an ink black body with less than a finger of beige head that quickly fades. No real lacing to speak of. Coffee, plums, currants, figs, and bread dominate the nose with a bit of astringency behind it all. The taste largely follows the nose: sugary, coffee (espresso to be more precise), dark fruits like you would expect in a quad or RIS, and a boozy flavor all are tasted before giving way to a big wheat flavor and lingering grain aftertaste coupled with the roasted espresso beans tasted before as they return. Low carbonation, thick and filmy. A very heavy but very tasty beer. Booze is pretty well hidden, but makes more of itself known as it warms. Going to try this again at a few different intervals to see how it ages. My only real complaint is that I wish it had a slightly larger head, but at around 12% ABV, I don't really expect one.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2010 23:48:46 | More by kbanks13

BeanBone

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: A dark brown, very nearly black body capped by a little less than a finger of creamy tan-tinged head that leaves great lacing on the way down.

Aroma: Licorice, dark malt, vanilla, and booze come together to produce a truly intriguing proposition. This is going to be big.

Flavor: A complex mix of licorice, smokiness, dark fruit, oak, vanilla, toasty malt, grain, mild chocolate, and alcohol. It's a complex and balanced mix that is balanced. Licorice, toasty malt, and lots of spicy alcohol in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and syrupy with smooth carbonation and a sweet finish. Mild alcohol burn throughout.

Drinkability: This drinks as fast as I can imagine an over 11 percent beer drinking.

Verdict: Triticus is a unique and fascinating brew. It's big, complex, astonishingly drinkable, and fun throughout. I haven't had many Wheatwines, but this is certainly the best I've tried yet. Harpoon continues to thoroughly impresses me with the Leviathan series.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 00:31:00 | More by BeanBone

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Triticus, from the Latin word for wheat, "triticum," is a wheat wine, and the first beer of its style that I've tasted. Recognizing that I have no basis for comparison, nor any expectations, this is a rather unique reviewing experience. Judging by the smell, however, the experience should prove at least tasty, as the aromas drifting from the bottle remind me strongly of freshly-cut wheat fields after a storm, steamy marble rye bread fresh from the oven, and a hot bowlful of Grape Nuts cereal sweetened with maple syrup and molasses. The beer is, in other words, quite excellent on the nose, promising massive syrupy sugars and fruit esters, as well as a healthy shock of wheat.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a flavor that would not be amiss in a Barleywine, being heavy on syrupy sugars and delicious fruit esters, including berries, lychee nut, apricot, and orange liqueur. Strong wheat flavors--think fresh baguettes, toast, biscuit, cereal grains--do permeate the beer, bringing balance to the sugars. A slight tingle on the soft palate speaks of good hops, the beer clocking in at 57 IBUs. The 11.5% ABV does bring a boozy overtone, but most of this is well hidden by the massive sugars. Late in the mouthful the hops do bring more grapefruit and pine flavors, with a slight hint of dandelion stem. The aftertaste is a heavy and continuing blast of syrupy fruit esters, mixed with a now-slightly-too-large stream of boozy vodka-like alcohol, and lingers for a long time. Mouthfeel is a viscous medium, and carbonation is a slightly annoying medium-high, adding to the buzz on the soft palate.

Overall, this is one of the better beers that I've tried in the Leviathan series (having now tried almost all of them), and is one of the few in that series that I would regularly purchase. The beer as a whole is quite delicious, and the heavy sugars are nicely tempered by the wheat flavors, in much the same way that a good bowl of oatmeal, fresh berries, and maple syrup makes for a perfect combination. Only the slightly overpronounced alcohol whang keeps this from being a near-perfect beer in my books. Well worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 23:28:47 | More by jondeelee

Greywulfken

New York

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What the hell is a wheatwine, right?

A: pitch black with a very thick bubbly head - thinned out quickly, but looked great up front - surprised at the darkness of the beer - expect barleywine-esque beers to be dark brownish, but this was black (actually the edges has a translucent brown character)

S: not a big sense of smell guy - got some malt and some hops, some grains

T: coffee, and hell yeah, I tasted the wheat - something like the bran flakes in raisin bran - and some very dark fruits (like a dark quad such as Pannepot), but not too sweet - let's say 50/50 sweet and not sweet (does that make sense?); is it fair to say there were rye notes or was it just the wheat? Nonetheless, I picked up on the grains.

M: loved it - not heavy - medium-bodied, some crispness, some roughness - not a wimp beer, but classy

O: delighted - I've had a bunch of barleywines and maybe 2 rye beers, and maybe 2 witbiers as well - but this beer stands alone - it has aspects of all three styles, but is a really nice, bold brew - with a great aftertaste (gimme another) - it reminds me of an olden times beer - like medieval almost - and I would definitely buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 02:28:37 | More by Greywulfken

wagenvolks

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Well, that's a first. CDWW...IBWW? Acronyms aside, this is a dark brew that shows off a ruby-cola hue that's nearly impervious to light. A slim head of khaki bubbles forms up top, surprisingly, given the jacked-up ABV. The aroma makes me weak in the knees with its venerable kitchen sink of smells...sweet cotton candy, tobacco, black licorice, toffee, fig, dark cherry, floral honey, fresh hop cones. Remember the scene from Charlotte's Web where Templeton dances about the fair in a gluttonous rage, eating all the garbage he can get his grubby little hands on? It looked so delicious when I watched that as a kid, and Triticus smells like how I imagine that fairground did. Intoxicating.

The flavor gets darker, less sweet, but still quite good. In the ballpark of SN's 30th Jack & Ken Barleywine with its darkness. Boozy, too, with sweet toffee, rum, and chocolate liqueur. This is a sipper for sure--very complex as it unfolds across the palate. Banana bread, raisin cake, toasted wheat cereal...it's all there, and it works exceedingly well together. The body is heavy on the palate, but doesn't weigh it down to the point of tediousness. Carbonation helps that last point, as does a crisp bite of earthy hops and booze in the finish. Bottom line: Triticus is a beast. A big, boozy, beautiful beast of a beer. Glad I got a 4-pack when I did, because this should age into something even more delicious in about a year. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2010 01:55:19 | More by wagenvolks

Atron67

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

had this at the actual brewery.

A- came out pretty dark, brown, not dead black but closer to a brown porter, but crystal clear, which seems way off of a wheatwine, but anything this huge is gonna be outthere in terms of style, and i really dont care much interms of determining quality

S- very oaky, strong fruity characters on top, it was relativley subtle, but the carbonation was real light so its not too surprising.

T- sips like a thick chardonnay, but which someone unloaded currants, other fruits, and many other things into it. super smooth, pretty amazing. ends slightly sweet with a great lingering 'sweet-wine' like finish. the dark malts really provide a light rumminess for the rest of the fruits to interplay

M- syruppy thick, perfect for the style, low carbonation. lingering stickyness

d- amazing sipper, goes down very smooth.

idk what the ingredients were but the wheat was overwhelmed. outstanding beer, and definitely not in its own style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2008 04:18:03 | More by Atron67

soccerman7

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler from the Windsor brewery.

This was a monster living up to its name.
Appearance - Deep ruby/brown/copper color.
Nose - Picked up a bunch of notes ranging from sherry to banana and spice.
Taste - Outstanding! sweetness (malts more than wheat) work well and not over the top. Banana notes similar to a Hefe. extremely balanced. raisin and sherry notes on the tail with a hint of spice (cinn?). Faint oak.
Mouth - exceptionally smooth and hides the huge ABV quite well. Almost oily.
Drinkability - truly remarkable. They took the Bro's original hundred barrel release and pushed it. Well worth a trip to the brewery.

Really sad they are not going to bottle this release but all others.

Serving type: growler

08-23-2008 20:02:05 | More by soccerman7

ImHereForTheBeer

Vermont

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was lucky enough to try the Triticus on draft at the Burlington Vermont Brewers Festival, and then score a log of it for our B&B.

It pours a dark chestnut color with a subtle touch of orange. The head was toasty cream, subtle, but thick and persistent.

At first whiff, it resembles a barley wine with a touch of chocolate - or caramel wheat. Strong feel of dark fruit. No real sense of the high alcohol is found in the aroma.

The taste is chocolate, bread, caramel, and perhaps even a bit of fruit. Hops are well defined and were somewhat more noticeable than I would have anticipated. There is no mistaking that German hops were used. A rye or smoked quality is clear in the flavor and works to help mask the rather high alcohol content. As a matter of fact, there is very little about this strong brew that would even indicate that it is such a high alcohol beer.

Mouthfeel is full, but not overwhelming considering the look and what you may expect. Coats the tongue, fades quickly, the briefly lingering aftertaste is pleasant and smoky.

Drinkability is really surprising, again considering the abv this beer goes down easy and really is a sipper you can enjoy after a good meal.

We never got the chance to try the Bros version years back, but this is perhaps one of the best beers we have tasted from Harpoon. It's a shame it wasn't available in bottles, we would have liked to cellar one of these.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2009 14:17:47 | More by ImHereForTheBeer

TommyW

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into an overs-ized wine glass.

A- Very thin white head that fades to a ring ontop of a black body with ruby/brown highlights.

S- Not what I expected. Big wheat twang with lots of lemon and orange peel and citrus. Some notes of dark fruit come through as well.

T- Follows the nose pretty well. Wheat twang with orange peel and lemon citrus. This mixes in with a bigger malt profile, some dark and tropical fruits and a touch of coriander. Alcohol comes out towards the finish. Touch of orange lingers.

M- Very smooth with an easy carbonation on the medium to full body.

D- Really awesome beer; my first wheat wine but I'm really impressed by what Harpoon did with this one. High ABV makes is a definite sipper.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2010 21:42:12 | More by TommyW

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received a rich deep brown glass with a half-finger beige head, Some light lacing.

Crazy deep aromas here, but the first is alcohol. Then fermented fruit, then dark boozy charred smoky grain. Lots going on here.

More of the same. Sweet wheat and browned stone fruit with a huge kick of booze. Feels like it is over-toasted, with intermingled and alternating sweetness and crispy bitterness. Like the burned sugar or juice that sticks to the side of a pie tin. Long bitter pleasant finish.

Full body and chewy goodness.

Overall, a sipper, but very drinkable and unique. Well worth trying for a switch-up in the style. One and done, for sure, as this will land you on your ass.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2010 22:18:41 | More by OtherShoe2

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: solid black; the carbonation is not pronounced, with the head dissipating relatively quickly
S: sweet, luscious, lively aroma; I detect grape overtones
T: beautiful taste, much like a barleywine style ale, but, as you know, wheat as the base of the beer; sweet, well spiced
M: thick, rich
D: very inviting

A beer to brood by. Very very nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 14:07:59 | More by Arithmeticus

DrDogbeer

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap most recently at Union Brewhouse, although I tried a couple of growlers straight from the brewery as well. Pours a dark brown, black with a thin tan head. Smells of dark fruits, wine, and lots of alcohol. Tastes are similar. I have liked this beer more each time I have tried it. It is extremely strong- almost makes you wince after each sip and warms you as you drink it. Very slick mouthfeel. I am excited for Harpoon to start up this series!

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2008 01:21:29 | More by DrDogbeer

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From a 4 pack (don't drink them all in one sitting) poured into a snifter.
A very dark brown color with a small tan head.
Great aroma: caramel, sweet fruit, some spice, some alcohol.
Great taste also. Caramel, dark fruit, peppery cinnamon. Alcohol there, but not in the way.
I liked this beer a lot, even though it was not like any wheat wine I've ever tasted. I also thought it was a touch too spicy. Small complaints.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2010 00:25:30 | More by lordofthewiens

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a New Belgium Globe.

A: Dark brown/black with a creamy one inch tan head. The head fizzles out quickly and leaves light patchy lacing behind. This is to be expected for such a high abv beer.

S: Raisins, plums, fusel alcohol, licorice, fruity esters that suggest mandarin oranges, and muted smells of wheat and cocoa.

T: This beer has a vinous quality, with tastes of raisins and plums on the forefront. Warming alcohol is present but not overpowering. A bit of molasses and hints of tropical fruitiness come through. It also contains some spiciness reminiscent of a doppelbock. Cocoa powder rounds out the finish. Very nice.

M: Light, fluffy, and creamy thanks to the wheat. Great.

D: This is a sipper to be sure, but it is pleasant enough to drink.

Notes: The flavors and aromas in this beer were muted until I let it warm. I let it get to near room temperature before it really opened up. I have never seen dark malts used to this degree in a wheatwine before, but it is a most welcome addition. This is one of the best wheatwines I've had, though I haven't had many.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 00:09:36 | More by ryan1788a5

DamDweller

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Harpoon Leviathan Triticus, 2010

The wheatwine style is unfamiliar territory. This beer pours a nice dark ebony with a white head. The beer has aromas of molasses, sun dried raisins and prunes. Initial taste has hits of molasses and cinnamon with a medium body. The beer coats the tongue nicely and washes away with a hint of bitterness. Despite the alcohol content there really isn't much presence of it, making this a very drinkable beer through the fall, winter, and spring months. In conclusion, this beer encourages further exploration of the wheatwine style.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 23:04:21 | More by DamDweller

exonthebottle

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice dark tan small lacing light carbonation

faint fruits less than a dark hefeweizen sugar sharp

dark crisp apple/ berry slightly hoppy afterwards quite long lasting sipper

light crisp and dry but stays on the tongue long enough

good beer nice sipper hides alcohol well nice

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 02:30:02 | More by exonthebottle

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Blind beer #3 from Shogo--
Calls for a pint... Into my nonic with you!

I was honestly hoping for something hoppy tonight... Like a nice IPA or something (call it hopslam envy-- it hasn't hit the SW burbs of Chicago yet!). I grabbed this and hoped against hope...
Tis not to be.

This is dark-- very deep reddish brown, with a tan head. Very nice retention.
Smells of giant coffee notes, some piney resin, even a touch of mint.
This beer has an odd tongue-numbing sensation to it-- it's quite hard to explain. The flavor has all the notes I expected from the nose, and reminds me of a porter crossed with a barleywine in a strange way.

Feels pretty fully and oily.

Well... I have NO IDEA what this is.

REVEAL-- Harpoon Leviathon Triticus.
This is a wheatwine? A wheatwine??? Wow. This is a dark wheatwine! Very complex, tons of flavor-- quite interesting.
Having this blind, wheatwine wasn't even something I considered as a style.

Now knowing what it is, here are my ratings;
A-4
S-4
T-4.5
M-4.5
D-4

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 04:50:18 | More by AleWatcher

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

From notes:

A - Pours nearly black, with a tan small finger's worth of head.

S - Slight chocolate, malts, graininess, and a tiny hint of alcohol.

T - Slightly sweet, with a noticeably banana character. Very little booze on the taste, it is well concealed.

F - Medium in body, with a little creaminess.

D - Heaps of flavor, and a well hidden ABV gives this some scary drinkability!

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2010 12:02:24 | More by EgadBananas