Big Blue Van - College Street Brewhouse & Pub

HavasuDG

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -0.3%

12-15-2012 02:12:09 | More by HavasuDG

MickeyMonk

Arizona

2.5/5  rDev -28.8%

04-21-2013 17:32:17 | More by MickeyMonk

Heather73

Arizona

5/5  rDev +42.5%

03-28-2013 23:57:11 | More by Heather73

GRG1313

California

3.05/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

An unfiltered wheat made with real blueberry and vanilla.

Pours a hazy medium amber/gold tone with a short white head. A single blueberry is floated in the glass and one might conclude that is the result of the marketing department and not the brewer who would know better and who would not want to alienate real beer drinkers. While I was a bit offended by the floating fruit in my beer, I simply ignored it and went on tasting it.

Nose is very assertive vanilla - almost overpoweringly so with a hint of blueberry undertone. Nose is almost "too much" in that the vanilla is pure and strong; great if you love vanilla - not so great if you don't. Blueberry is lost on this and a better name might just be "Big Van."

Mouthfeel is medium with good balance and nice carbonation although one cares little for the mouthfeel as the nose is strong throughout the drinking/tasting and flavor follows, with a strong vanilla character and flavor profile. Almost synthetic the vanilla is so strong and the juxstaposition of vanilla and "beer" doesn't quite marry for me as does, say, coffee or chocolate.

Finish is simple yeasty with a light bitter character but, again, vanilla carries the day here. Not my thing but some will enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 20:25:13 | More by GRG1313