Tropical Heatwave Wheat Ale - Cigar City Brewing

macrosmatic

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 16 oz. can into an Upland pint glass.

A: Pours a hazy orange-gold color with 1.5 fingers of white head. Visible carbonation on the low side.

S: Wheat predominates, although the impression is only a bit grainy. Faint citrus as well, but overall not a ton in the aroma.

T: Wheat and cracker malt, light orange citrus or perhaps orange zest, very light spiciness. Hop bitterness is in balance, not a punch-in-the-mouth profile. A clean finish with a bit of sweet grain flavors and a very slight hop bitter. The pilsner malt character of the beer grows some as it warms.

M: Medium body, essentially no alcohol presence. Good carbonation sensation.

O: This wasn't terribly exciting, but isn't flawed and it's well-made to be an easy drink during a hot concert.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 23:00:03 | More by macrosmatic

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.89/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A- Somewhat cloudy orange body with tons of floaters in it. Fluffy white head that leaves a ton a lacing all over.

S- Lots of fruity, tropical hop aroma, very yeasty, almost slightly sour like a lager yeast, grainy wheat.

T- Lots of wheat from beginning to end. Very nice hop presence that adds the tropical fruit flavors.

M- A little fuller body than I expected from a wheat beer. Medium bodied, medium carbonation, I guess the wheat adds some body.

O- Very good for the style. Great hop selection, perfect beer for a can.

Serving type: can

04-12-2013 22:25:34 | More by stephenjmoore

mnphish

Minnesota

3.84/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to my Florida homey for picking this up at CCB and bringing it back to MN. Poured from a festive 16oz can into a shaker pint.

Appearance - dark yellow/gold body with a very small head that disappears quickly. It leaves light lines of lace around the glass.

Smell - very subtle on the nose. Light hints of fruit and hops along with some wheat.

Taste - definitely the high point of the beer. Watery fruit flavors and lemon blend with a grainy finish.

Mouthfeel - light but flavorful. Mild carbonation and extremely drinkable. I'd kick a few of these back in the summer.

Overall - a decent brew. Very tasty for the style.

Serving type: can

04-01-2013 00:41:59 | More by mnphish

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a yellow color with a white head. The aroma is full of lemons and wheat, with a good dose of coriander thrown in. The flavor is similar. I get a lot of tropical and citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, as well as some orange and wheat notes. There is also a low amount of bitterness. Thin mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very refreshing, easy to drink wheat ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 01:13:07 | More by Mora2000

beergod1

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a cloudy orange yellow color, with aromas of wheat, banana, and citrus, not much tropical aromas coming through. Flavor is a light combo of the aromas, very sessionable beer in my book, mostly a lighter wheat beer, that would be good to grill out with in the heat. Good Summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 15:23:07 | More by beergod1

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml picked up at the brewery.

Pours a slightly cloudy, pale golden yellow color with a two finger frothy white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Zesty, spicy aroma with lots of pepper, coriander and clove along with some bready yeast and a strong citrus presence. I'm picking up some subtle banana character but it's overpowered by the prominent lemon zest. Nice balance of yeast, fruit and spice.

Medium bodied and a bit fuller than expected for the style. List of bready yeast adding fullness to the palate and another dimension of flavor. Strong peppery spice presence with lots of peppery clove countered by lemon peel and other citrus zest. The citrus flavor isn't as strong as the aroma suggests so the bread and spice flavors really dominate. Could use some more sweetness for balance but it's still refreshing and decently drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 02:48:48 | More by corby112

oline73

Maryland

2.95/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

I had this on-tap at Churchkey in DC. Served in a snifter.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color with a layer of white head that fades to a rind around the pour.

Smell: I'm getting tropical fruit, pickles, and a mild vinegar note. Very light.

Taste: Like the smell but a bit less tart. Fruity with some mixed vegetables and pickles. I am getting some passion fruit. The finish is fruity and crisp.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with aggressive carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: This was a really weird beer for me. I didn't enjoy the other flavors that I was getting. I wouldn't have another.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2012 03:07:13 | More by oline73

merc7186

New York

3.58/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer poured from a bomber into a tulip.

A: Hazy Yellowish Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Minimal Lacing

S: Wheat, Lemongrass, Mild Grapefruit

T: Wheat, Citrus, Dried Lemongrass

M: Decent Carbonation, Light to Medium Carbonation, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Sweet

Overall, a decent wheat beer with a very lemony flavor, somewhat drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 03:05:48 | More by merc7186

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a hazy, pale yellow with a fluffy white head that fades quickly. It definitely looks like a wheat beer. The nose is a slightly funky wheat with a fresh cut lemon grass bitterness and some sweetness. I almost get some notes of peanuts in the skin. The taste is a slightly sweet/bitter beer with a residual wheat aftertaste. It's quite dry and doesn't pack in much flavor. Still though, it's very drinkable and would be a tasty beer on a hot summer day. The beer falls short as far as a beer I'd seek out, but was definitely light and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 03:01:56 | More by ThePorterSorter

nickfl

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours with two fingers of white foam on top of a hazy, golden body. The head settles slowly and leaves extremely thick lace on the glass.

S - Some slightly spicy wheat and a touch of pine hops.

T - Some thick wheat up front with a lemony acidity. Notes of vanilla and pear in the middle with a hint of citrus. Finishes with lemon and more vanilla as well as thick, bready malt.

M - A thick, chewy body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly dry finish.

D - Very nice, this is more reminiscent of a Wit bier than a German or American wheat beer and in that regard it succeeds quite nicely, Eminently drinkable with an acidity that helps cut through the thick body.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 02:18:26 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

3.43/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: 3 finger frothy head with nice lacing on a murky pale golden yellow body.

S: mostly malt and bread with a mild lemon note.

T: the fruity notes are mostly sour with light malt and wheat and a slightly tart finish.

M: light to medium body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: Its a little bland. Highly drinkable. Not a bad beer just not very memorable.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 02:17:30 | More by kylehay2004

Vec2267

Florida

3.78/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - cloudy straw yellow with a huge creamy head, great lacing

S - fruity, lemon, wheat twang

T - tropical fruits (mango / banana), tangy followed by a grapefruit hop bitterness

M - crisp, light, refreshing, sparkling

O - a nice refreshing tropical take on the style

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 01:19:39 | More by Vec2267

drabmuh

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter, beer is yellow and hazy with a wispy thin white head, some lacing, moderate carbonation, looks fine.

Aroma is grainy and mildly sweet with a hint of hops, interesting but not a great aroma.

Beer is light with this grainy finish, mildly bitter, mild tropical hops in the midpalate but they are a little lost in the yeastiness of this beer, not a great wheat ale unfortunately, less yeast and mroe hops would have helped this beer a lot.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 04:30:28 | More by drabmuh

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours an opaque light yellowish orange with a full finger of pure white head. It reminds me of some sort of juice. Like Five Alive but with a puffy white head. There is only slight spotting as it drinks.

S: Hmm. It smells like a mix of sweet malt, astringent alcohol, citrus, and a touch of spice. It reminds me of a lighter grapefruit juice.

T: It starts out with a big wheaty smack in the face. The grapefruit flavor comes on strong afterward. As the beer finishes, there is a serious astringent funk. It's really bitter in the back end.

M: Light bodied beer. It starts out wet with the flavors enveloping the palate. The finish is dry and biting.

O: This is a decent beer, but it's nothing special. It's a bit too bitter and stinging for a wheat beer. It's really not as refreshing as I would have liked.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 19:56:05 | More by trxxpaxxs

GallowsThief

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of a bomber into a regular old bulb glass.

A – Poured out a very cloudy straw color with a massive two fingers of stark white head that left solid lacing all down the glass.

S – Smells of lemon peel, banana, grain and wheat with a slight sour back end.

T - Follows the nose with a burst of tropical fruit. Mostly get the lemon, banana and orange. Has just a slight hop bitterness to it. Pretty solid wheat and grain flavors.

M – Medium bodied with nice carbonation and a bit drying mouthfeel.

O – Had this the day after I had CC’s Criterium wheat. Both are very solid and easy drinkers. This one had a nice tropical flavor as advertised. Another great beer for the summer. I favored this one slightly over Criterium.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 02:13:47 | More by GallowsThief

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared by drabmuh. Thanks Matt.

The beer is golden yellow hued with a small, fleeting white head. The appearance is mostly clear, with only a slight haze. The aroma offers wheat and some pungent malt. Smells ok. The flavor is dry and tart with an abundant wheat character. Dank hops play a major role as well. Again, ok. Lingering dryness and mildly tart wheat. Overall, mediocre beer from an outstanding brewery. Still worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 20:02:12 | More by Huhzubendah

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to drabmuh. Served in a SAVOR wine glass.

Pours a clear straw yellow with a thin white head and some spots of lacing. Thin cap. The nose carried some light grain and a touch of stone fruit. Flavor is very grainy with some tannins in there. Far too tannic. Light body. Crisp. Just okay.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 19:59:12 | More by Thorpe429

shand

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

Pours a hazy white-yellow color with two fingers of head. The aroma is rather unique. It kinda has that witbier banana thing going on, along with a bunch of hops and tropical fruits. The taste is very good, not as good as the recent Criterium wheat, but still very quaffable. It's got more of a witbier thing going on at first with the banana flavor, but with plenty of hops to keep things interesting. These hops are very tropical a-la Jai Alai, and actually work very with the base. The finish provides a strong kick of wheat that lands this pretty firmly in the American Pale Wheat category. The mouthfeel is solid, and the drinkability is great. I don't like it quite as much as this year's Criterium Wheat, but it's still a great ale worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 04:25:12 | More by shand

Swim424

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into cigar city pint glass.

A-cloudy mango. decent head. pours alot of yeast out of the bottom

S-fruity. sort of like a tropical fruit drink. a bit of hops.

T-mango mainly. maybe some peach and grapefruit. very tropical. a hint of hops at the finish. A good balance of the yeast and malt.

MF-medium to thick body for the style. feels very full, and creamy. pretty smooth. not a whole lot of carbonation.

O-pretty good. would love to have this on the beach during the summer. i wouldn't mind having this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 05:48:57 | More by Swim424

babaracas

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy straw color with dense, pillowy two finger white head, settles to a quarter inch leaving a sheet of delicate lace down the glass. Smell: tropical fruit, whole grapefruit, floral, somewhat weedy/vegetal. Taste: lemon juice, grapefruit rind, tropical fruit notes (passion fruit juice?), buttery wheat cracker. Medium+ bodied, fluffy/creamy feel. Interesting, tasty, and refreshing are adjectives that could describe this beer. Bottled Feb 24, 2012.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 04:39:10 | More by babaracas