Sunshine Wheat Beer - New Belgium Brewing

Archelenon

Tennessee

3.55/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Didn't know if I would like it because I don't like Fat Tire much. This one has an unusual flavor from the spicing, but it's not too bad. I would drink it again.

Presentation: Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Hefeweizen glass. Label had good description of beer, freshness date of 5 Dec. 10 (so it was about a month past its prime). No ABV listed. Left a small amount of lacing.

Appearance: Poured a light, light yellow (almost a sickly shade of yellow) with about a finger-width head that slowly dissipated to a thin foam ring. Quite bubbly.

Smell: Aroma is of wheat and the coriander/orange peel spicing.

Taste: Taste was slightly different from the normal wheat beer flavor, with the notes of orange and coriander shining through. Left a slightly weird aftertaste, but nothing too gross. Only slightly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Just a hair thin-feeling, with almost no hint of carbonation (but that could be due to it being past its prime.)

Drinkability: Good. The thinner body and orange/wheat flavor worked well together.

Overall: B-

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 00:17:39 | More by Archelenon

dudemuskie

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance- Crystal clear, very pale straw in color with loads of bubbles feeding a big, pillowy bone white head. Head lingers for quite a while and leaves a delightful lace down the glass, to the last sip.

Aroma- Interesting apricot jam fruitiness mixed with notes of creamy wheat, leafy/herbal hops, candied orange peel, and subtle grassy coriander spice.

Flavor- Light grainy maltiness lays an easy drinking foundation and provides a pleasant delicate sweetness from start to finish. Orange peel and herbal hops/coriander balance out middle. Finishes like a Wit with the wheat/orange peel/coriander gig, but with a bit astringent graininess.

Mouthfeel- Light body, low hop bitterness, decent balance, and a light creamy feel thanks to the use of a higher proportion of wheat.

Overall- Nice brew, and a nice, drinkable, change of pace from the heavy, over the top, rich brews that often dominate the colder winter months. Though this is an odd cross between a Wit and an American Wheat. Would be very curious to see how this brew tastes unfiltered...might take the edge off the slightly astringent finish? Either way, I am happy I tried it!

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 02:18:43 | More by dudemuskie

ForWhatAlesYou

Minnesota

2.48/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle pored into a stemmed (tulip) glass

A: Pale yellow with minimal head that leaves no lacing.

S: Orange and wheat. No nuance or intrigue.

T: Bland. Tastes a little like an orange flavored San Pelligrino.

M: Thin. Weak. The bubbles (carbonation) are pretty nice.

D: Only drinkable if I forget about enjoying myself and go directly to quenching a thirst. No thank you.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 06:14:04 | More by ForWhatAlesYou

harrymel

Washington

3.2/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed 06/28/10

Poured to New Belgium tulip.

A: Really light straw ale, almost neon. Exceptional clarity with continuous ribbons rising to surface dissipating quickly leaving no residual head. No lace.

S: Grain scent with accents of orange and a hint of coriander oversurfaced with a wisp of hoppy resin.

T: Totally caught off guard by the corn addition to the flavor of the ale. I'm often put off by coriander adjuncted beer, but this accentuates the beer quite well. The overall flavor profile of this beer reminds me of (dare I say?)...Cap'n Crunch!

M: Light-Medium bodied beer with prickly carbonation skips over palate only to leave mouth cool and dry at finish.

D: This is a beer I would recommend to a Blue Moon fan for transition to Micros. Especially during a hot August afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 06:05:14 | More by harrymel

Brent

Kentucky

3.05/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Per the bottle, an American Wheat with Belgian witbier leanings. I might have enjoyed the beer had it leaned more in that direction. The noted orange peel and coriander were there, but just barely. The overall impression was a fairly insipid American Pale Wheat with just a little spice, not enought to enliven it and it was almost more of a distraction.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 14:59:36 | More by Brent

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Devil's Backbone weizen glass.

There seems to be no real dearth of "Summer style" beers in Winter. Hmm... This one pours a clear pale straw topped by a bit more than a finger of white froth. The nose comprises lemon zest, cardamom, a lot of cracked black pepper, and white bread. The taste does not deviate from this prescribed path, though a slight mild sour crick wanders through along the base of the mountain. (Imagery, yeah!) The body is pretty light, with a very light carbonation and a smooth, nearly watery feel. Overall, a nice bit o' APWA, though I could see some not appreciating the pepper as I do.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 07:49:45 | More by TMoney2591

JayS2629

Alabama

2.95/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A- Thin, cloudy, clear yellow with thin white head and little lacing.

S- Wheat, lemon zest, coriander, and clove.

T- Lemon zest and orange peel are at the front end followed by cloves and coriander. Bitter, but sweet underneath.

M- Thin and watery.

D- An easy to drink wheat beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2010 18:48:28 | More by JayS2629

jwinship83

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle that says it expires on dec 11, 2010. drank from a pint glass.

A- this one pours out a hazy and pale straw colored body with a finger of bright white head on top. the head lasts for a while before falling and leaves behind some random spots of lacing.

S- the nose starts off with soft bready malts and quickly moves in with some citrus notes. lots of lemon zest and a little bit of orange. mildly spicy (coriander mostly).

T- the taste once again opens with some malted wheat and light bready malts. the lemon zest i could smell comes through, but not as strong as in the nose. the orange peel i could smell is almost nonexistent in the nose.

M- light bodied. thin and watery. the carbonation seems a little bit high for this one.

D- decent enough for a summer time lawn mower beer, but nothing i would really want alot of or that often. not one of new belgiums best efforts

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 04:14:16 | More by jwinship83

cnally

Indiana

2.08/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This one has a fairly crystal clear golden body and a sticky white head with decent lacing.

Sour lemon, off aromas staring with the yeasts. Smells untamed and a little nasty. Kind of like a car air freshener.

The flavor is just pure sweet, but there is at least some depth. Now, whether that is a welcoming thing is up for debate. The sweetness is tempered by a punch of coriander, clove and anise, just barely noticeable, underneath a cloak of citrus. Layered, certainly, but because of its over-sweetness, sour citrus, and imbalance between the layers, it comes off as being absolutely unappealing.

Watery as piss. Low carbonation. Little to no body.

Yikes. Did I drink this past its prime? I guess I have to try it again when it is more in season, because as is, yuck.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2010 03:19:02 | More by cnally

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the brewery. August 2009. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a light yellow color. White head and not much lacing. The nose is really quite plain. There are a few light notes of orange and lemon; maybe a tad bit of spice. The taste is slight malt with a bit of sugar. Light orange character. Feel is light and somewhat refreshing. Another very plain offering out of them; quite disappointing.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2010 01:48:53 | More by Thorpe429

gueuzer

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 0z bottle

App- Very clear yellow color. Too clear.

Sm- Coriander and orange peel. Some slight skunkiness.

Ta- Good wheatiness,but lacks that mat coat you get from an unfiltered wheat. Spices are perfect and really shine through.

MF- Carbonation level a little high considering that it is unfiltered.

Dr- Very refreshing. Could have a lot of these on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 20:07:10 | More by gueuzer

NODAK

Tennessee

4.65/5  rDev +32.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Aroma here is mostly of lemon, and a bit of spiciness. Somewhat weak.

Taste is very crisp upfront, with a rush of lemon. The body is a mix of citrus, orange, and a healthy dose of coriander. It reminds me of a wit as far as the strength of the coriander, with a weaker orange character. I suppose it's as if they took a wit and mixed it with a summer citric beer. It wraps up with a bit of tartness. There is very little left over after the swallow; only some coriander.

It's actually very good, I'm impressed with it. This would probably go very well for a person who likes the flavors of a wit without all the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 00:40:53 | More by NODAK

Dionysius86

Tennessee

3.48/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance = A golden yellow, as is to be expected of a wheat beer. About a one-finger head that most fades away pretty quickly, though a smidge lingers on as you drink.

Smell = The dominant smell is citrusy (mostly lemon), though other spices are definitely present.

Taste = Much like the smell, the taste is dominated by a lemon/citrusy taste, though not overwhelming.

Mouthfeel = Crisp, refreshing, thin

Drinkability = This is a good summer time beer. Not a ton of flavor, but definitely refreshing. It goes down smooth and leaves a pleasant, sweet aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2010 22:55:31 | More by Dionysius86

bagpiper2005

Idaho

2.85/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pour: Light lager clear yellow color and effervescence with a finger and a half of white head that dissipates almost instantly and leaves almost no lacing on the glass.

Smell: The orange peel absolutely dominates the aroma, with underlying wheat malt sweetness. Not getting any of the corriander and no hops.

Taste: Fairly bland with hints of wheat, yeast, and citrus. A little bit of yeast, and rather grainy. Finishes with no hop bitterness or aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean, and light with active carbonation, not dissimilar to sparkling water.

Drinkability: It's refreshing but that's about it.

Final Notes: I like a lot of the New Belgium beers but this one just isn't doing it for me. A little more flavor than a macro, but it's rather bland and unbalanced.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 22:22:13 | More by bagpiper2005

kimd03

Texas

2.58/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I'm a fan of New Belgium beers, but this one reminds me of Fruit Loops. Nuff Said.. A beer shouldn't taste like a breakfast cereal.

Drinkable in modest amounts (i.e 1) at 8 am followed by a cold glass of milk.

Overall it's still crisp and refreshing, but I can't deal with the Toucan Sam after taste.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 19:07:46 | More by kimd03

froghop

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pours a clear pale yellow with a small white head that goes away quickly.

smell is faint, wheat, some citrus.

taste starts a little sour, refreshing, lemon, slight wheat, tart finish.

overall i like the taste, but downgraded on the smell and only so-so on the appearance.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2010 03:00:06 | More by froghop

arrangerx

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

When I first moved to Fort Collins, Fat Tire was just becoming a "thing". . . and Sunshine Wheat was the summer beer of choice.

This light, somewhat citrus flavored beer, is a major step forward for the crowd that thinks Coors Light is a summer ale.

I was spoiled in that I lived in the town it's brewed in, so I got the "fresh" stuff out of the tap. Always better with an orange slice, (yeah. . . I know. . . ) this is a good introduction to microbrews without being to shocking to the taste buds.

If you enjoy wheat beers, this is as good a start as any -- and far better than some of the lemon-flavored Wits or summer ales out there. Not bad in a bottle either. . .

And if you're someone who puts more than a couple away in an evening, it's very easy on the tastebuds.

Good start. . . when you're ready to move up, there's better, but this is good!

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2010 15:16:34 | More by arrangerx

erosier

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

L: Pours a near clear straw yellow with a short and somewhat thing white colored head that laces the glass nicely on the way down.
S: Smells of sweet toasted malts, hints of lemon, sweet wheat malt, and a touch of spices with a slight citrus-y hop finish.
T: Tastes of sweet toasted malts, nice wheat malt followed by big lemon and orange flavors which gives a smooth transition to the citrus-y hops that finish it off.
M: Crisp, fresh, refreshing, light bodied, perfect amount of carbonation.
D: Very drinkable as all the flavors are there and it's not a huge abv beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2010 10:46:47 | More by erosier

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.53/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale straw yellow, mostly clear, with not much head and minimal lacing. Obvious carbonation bubbles. Nothing special to look at, but not bad looking either.

Smells a touch of hops, plenty of lemon, light spices, some wheat and just a hint of malt. Doesn't smell that great but is pleasant nonetheless.

Tastes again of plenty of lemon, with a smidge of orange, although not overpoweringly so. Very nicely done on the citrus. Some smooth wheat also, along with indistinct but detectable spices.

Mouthfeel is dry and crisp, plenty refreshing, and leaving me wanting another. Aftertaste is of sweet lemonade like Grandma used to make on a hot summer day.

This will never be a monster of the craft beer craze, but it's quite nice and easy to drink. Could be an excellent beer to wean crappy macro beer drinkers off the big brand, low taste type beers.

Highly drinkable and not at all overbearing. Would be excellent for a day of fishin' on the lake. I see from other reviews that cans are available; that would be excellent for this brew, since many lakes have a "no glass containers" rule.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 18:51:50 | More by AlCaponeJunior

stewart124

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy straw yellow with a centimeter of bright white head and an obviously high carbonation level.

The smell is of straw, lemon zest, and spices.

Medium bodied with a nice mouthfeel. The taste is grainy with spice notes and some noble spicy hops. Straw and rough grains really come through. It is almost like chewing on two-row and wheat malt. Just a touch of citrus and spice add complexity without taking away from the grain bill.

Quite drinkable and delicious on a warm day. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 01:17:08 | More by stewart124

bierenutz

Michigan

2.63/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A-Pours a pale clear yellow color with a smallish head and minimal lacing.
S-Faint citrus although somewhat of a sour aroma and piney hops. Even agitating the glass I could only arose more of the grassy funky aroma...bad bottle?
T-Not a whole different than the smell. I'm just not liking this beer and I find myself continual lowering my rating as I drink on.
M-Thin and watery with moderate carbonation.
D-I am not impressed with this offering from NB. It's looking more like a drain pour the more I drink this. It was a gift, though, and I do not want to offend (gag!).

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2010 00:53:43 | More by bierenutz

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.45/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a little light. Good aroma, wheat and lemon for sure. Minimal hop aroma.

Taste, light, yet refreshing, kinda like what macro light beers are advertised as, but this one actually substantively backs it up. It's a girlfriend beer, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its place. Minimal ingredients I would guess, but in the right ratios. All the usual suspects, the lemon, the light hopping, the small amount of haziness.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 00:19:34 | More by Beerandraiderfan

emmasdad

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into pint glass from a 12 oz can. I am personally very excited to see so many Colorado brewers putting beers like this into cans; perfect for the park. This one was a pale golden color, with a nice fluffy white head. Aromas of light wheat, lemon and citrus. Lots of lemony flavors here, along with wheat and a hint of hops. I will be buying more of this one to drink during the upcoming hot summer days.

Serving type: can

05-19-2010 00:10:29 | More by emmasdad

burnerfinger

Texas

3.65/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from the 12 oz bottle into my New Belgium goblet. Trying to maintian a open attitude, in the past I've not liked wheat beers very much.


A: The Pour produced a minimal half-finger eggshell-white head. VERY thin color light golden but super clear. BRIGHT yellow brew and very clear.

S: nice but light aroma - very light and clean citrus. absent are both hops and just barely a touch of malt.

T: again very CLEAN. a bit, just a bit, of maltiness comes thru as this beer warms, and in the aftertaste.

M:very light body, plety of carbonation.
NO alcohol taste, NO hops.

D: HIGHLY drinkable. baseball games, beach outings, etc. is how I see this beer shining.
really not bad at all recommended to buy this by the six pack or more.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2010 16:52:51 | More by burnerfinger

meeekyh

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

So here we have what may be the primary reason I dislike both New Belgium AND wheat beers. I grew up in Boulder, about two hours south of Fort Collins, and this beer was ubiquitous. I will now attempt to view it with new eyes (it was sitting in my fridge).

This beer went into a Belgian styled beer glass with a belled top and revealed a very pale and very clear, light straw colored ale with little head. This beer has nothing wrong looking with it and that is worth something.

Smell resembles apricot and is light but pleasant.

Taste is likewise on the light side and resembles apricot, there is also a notable grainy/wheaty presence. I am pleased that this beer is not offensive and to the contrary is rather pleasant in general.

Mouthfeel is slight and well carbonated, refreshing beer.

Drinkability is good and I am overall pleased with this re-trying of this perennial favourite.

Slainte.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2010 02:15:50 | More by meeekyh