Big Rock Grasshopper Wheat Ale - Big Rock Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Many years since I had this beer and it tasted far better and balanced. Could not get a smell but could have been the glass. Refreshing summer ale offering. Thanks Osborne Freehouse. Grainy and malty sweet. Crisp like a wheat but not much wheat. Thin-medium mouthfeel.

Another 1.75 years and I had this in fresh bottle. Less metallic, easy drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2004 05:39:35 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.05/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Immaculate amber with a surprisingly small, off-white head. I gave this sucker a high-altitude pour and was able to fit all 341 ml into the glass with ease. As I type, the cap is down to a slim one finger and is fading fast. The glass is almost as spotless as the beer. Grasshopper is average in the looks department (and that's being kind).

I'm not sure what makes this beer a kristal weizen and not an American pale wheat ale. Whichever one it is--if it matters--there's no trace of yeast to my eyes or to my nose. The aroma is sweet and grain-like with a complete absence of accessory aromas that would make it the least bit interesting.

This is an APWA and it's a middle-of-the-road one at that. The flavor is more sweet than the nose and I'm betting that honey is an unadvertised ingredient. There's isn't enough malt for the beer to be as sweet as it is without some other source of sugar. When the brewery says that it's 'delicately hopped', they aren't kidding. In fact, I'm having a hard time appreciating any hop flavor at all.

There's a wee bit of bitterness on the back end, but try as I might, I can't even guess as to the country of origin of the hop bill. Given the name, I would have loved to have seen a hugely hopped wheat ale. 'Grasshopper' is wasted on a beer that's this lackluster. The finish is short and honeyish. Some citrus would be nice.

The mouthfeel is actually pretty decent. Whenever the flavor doesn't knock my socks off, I at least like to feel a little zip in the mouth with regards to carbonation. This one is more bubbly than I normally care for, but it's keeping me semi-interested. The fact that the carbonation is still kickin' in the final mouthful is a minor highlight as well.

Grasshopper (why the umlauts?) is a average North American Pale Wheat Ale whose biggest positive is its mouthfeel and its benign drinkability. I could toss back a few of these if there was nothing better on hand, but better beer shouldn't be that hard to come by. Even in Canada.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2006 20:27:19 | More by BuckeyeNation

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

1.23/5  rDev -59.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Bottle: Poured a fizzy golden color ale with a small head with no retention. Aroma is comprised of weak wheat. Taste is again quite weak on wheat with a gross watery aftertaste. There is also some sourness that I could detect that wasn’t pleasant at all. Bad bad stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2005 15:40:21 | More by Phyl21ca

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.56/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

355ml can. I only seem to drink this when I'm elsewhere in the province, usually Calgary (the Arts Hotel downtown comes specifically to mind), which I attribute to the 'When in Rome' phenomenon. This time, it's across the border in BC mountain country, and another can destined for that apres-ski hot tub sensibility.

The beer pours a crystal clear pale golden straw colour, with lots of loosely foamy off-white head, which leaves a low ring of minor shore-side lacing around the glass as it lazily sinks away.

It smells of decently prominent breakfast cereal grain, wheat and barley duly represented, with an ever so slight banana/cloves essence. Wheaty, full stop, and hardy in its bearing.
The taste is a pleasantly prominent grainy malt, of the same ilk as the aroma - bready and wheaty in a sturdy sort of manner, a softly sweet, tame floral hop crispness following gamely up, with a lingering, hollow spice perception, one somewhat redolent of spicy cloves.

There is just a tad too much carbonation, but to no great ill effect, the body an adequate medium-light weight, and smooth enough, I suppose. It finishes generally on the sweet side, the kids' breakfast cereal wheatiness holding sway.

A decent enough Americanized wheat ale, nothing all that complex, and worthy enough of multiple indulgences, given the right conditions when and/or if you find yourself adrift in Wild Rose country. And one other thing - I looove saying the name of this beer with an Aussie accent. I just do.

Serving type: can

01-14-2009 23:36:41 | More by biboergosum

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: When the bartender says that they have a wheat beer flowing, I got all excited and ordered one right away. The beer came in a mug with a lemon wedge already there, the filtered appearance saddens me with the golden orange tone of the beer and fizzy thin white head, leaves behind some specks of lace. Aroma: A nice citrusy zing doesn't have any of the great yeast characteristics I have come to enjoy from the German hefeweizen, but it's not bad sharp sweetness decent. Taste: The flavor is a spritzy mix of sweetness and citrus tones but a bit bland, when I added the lemon to my beer (which I never do) it actually improved this one. Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with very fizzy carbonation, not bad but again I was looking for a fluffy textured hefe. Drinkability: I had a couple over the course of the weekend not my favorite but a solid wheat ale if that's what your into, I'm not.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2004 21:08:38 | More by WVbeergeek

rhoadsrage

Illinois

2.05/5  rDev -33%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

(Served in a pint dimple mug)

A- Yellow with slight orange hue very clear with a thin pure white head that lasted for a little bit

S- Thin clean aroma that smelled very crisp. I couldn't get any notes of hops, wheat or grain.

T- Light pale malt taste with a very light hop bitterness, no beady or fruity hints at all. Very clean finish.

M- Thin body with a light carbonation fuzziness and no tart aftertaste.

D- Very light beer that did show any fruitiness or any wheat flavor. I felt this was a kristal weizen that was trying to appeal to an American adjunct lager drinking market.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2005 02:07:25 | More by rhoadsrage

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

A new look at an old beer, haven't had this one since back in the 90s. Typical yellow pour, thin white ring of head above the beer, dissipates quickly. Aroma, lacking a whole lot in that department, what is there is very faint citrus and wheat/grain notes.

Taste, very middle of the road, still a plenty light body. Wheat, no hops, some lemon or orange rind maybe to it. Very easy to drink beer, one of those summer or friend beers to have around. Can't say there is anything wrong with this beer, it just is. Carbonation seems high to give it an even lighter body I would guess. Some fruity metallic notes on the undercurrent if you look for it.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 15:12:14 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Gusler

Arizona

2.25/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Light gold color on the pour, modest bright white head that is frothy in its texture as it dissolves a thin sheet of lace makes attempts at sealing off the glass. Nose is lightly sweet, crisp and clean a hint of grapefruit, start somewhat sweet, top cadaverous. Finish spitefully acidic, hops lean and the aftertaste droughty, all in all a somewhat bland beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2003 00:00:49 | More by Gusler

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

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

I CAN thank my lucky stars for good notes.

I got a rocky two fingers' worth of French Vanilla-colored head with great retention. Color was a beautiful golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose had a slight grainy sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium with a light sweetness on the tongue. Finish continued with a light sweetness. Lawnmower beer!

Serving type: can

12-24-2009 21:20:28 | More by woodychandler

DrJay

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Clear, pale golden with a thin white head. Mild sweet aroma. Grainy sweetness dominates, but there is a thin bitterness hiding underneath. Noticeable wheat flavour. Quite smooth with a medium/light body. The finish dries the mouth somewhat and some bitterness lingers on the palate. Not particularly complex and the balance seems to be a little off.

341mL brown bottle, freshness date stamped on 6-pack box.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2004 22:14:01 | More by DrJay

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.68/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A Kristal Weizen from a can...

Poured as any macro swill would - no head really, a crystal clear body, a yellow-lime tinted colour. Aroma not of wheat, but rather corn starch. A real cereal like smell to the malts. Unappealing and grosely out of character for a wheat beer. A adjunct filled mouthfeel, no texture less a slight syropy coating. Flavour starts on a sweet note, ringing out from the adjuncts. I don't taste any wheat at all. The flavours really don't last long, the only aspect of which that stands out is a real cereal grainyness. The flavour would slowly redeem some of itself as it warmed... but this drink as any macro lager does...

I'd rate this higher as a macro lager, cause it drinks ok. But for the style, and from the can.. this was worse than I would have expected...

Serving type: can

02-11-2007 23:01:07 | More by biegaman

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A: Kristal clear, yellow hue. No head.

S: Like glacier clear water! (almost no smell).

T: Initially very well balanced, finishing slightly bitter.

M: Light body, moderate carbonation.

D: It doesn't get any easier than this!

Great summer/after-exercise beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2005 22:49:24 | More by Derek

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Kings Head in Winnipeg. I asked them if it was a pale ale or ipa (because of the hop in hopper) and they said it was that mixed with a wheat beer. Well they were kind of right... but from the first sip I knew this wasn't near a pale ale or ipa.

Poured into pint glass.

Color is a straw golden yellow. Little head, but good retention leaving slight lace.

Aroma is of honey and floral hops. Some cloves and dried fruit as well. Taste is cramel and fruity zest. The hops are pretty fruity as well.

Mouthfeel is kind of bitter, but it evens out quickly and goes down easy. Very slight dry aftertaste.

Overall not to bad, it was neat getting to try a new beer. It wasn't too hoppy and it wasn't too malty. Very easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2009 01:01:29 | More by mothman

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Color is a pale yellow, nothing pretty for a hefe, lightning fast faded head of I think was white, has very light and small spotty lace. Smell is malty, wheaty, some mustyness with a simple woodyness in the back. Taste is bland of malts and some touches of wheat, has a bit of sweetness and fairly strong hold in the middle of grain. Feel is pretty full and a bit of a grain feel, is pretty good, best part of this brew. This is a bit over average, I wouldn't pass it up if offered, but would pass it by otherwise.
This grasshopper jumps across the field just fine but it just so happens to land in the mouth of a hungry bird.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2003 07:15:06 | More by tavernjef

TheLongBeachBum

California

3/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 11.5 fluid ounce (341ml) brown glass bottle, with a twist-off crown cap. The orange neck label has the Brewery name ‘BigRock’, whilst the orange colored main label has the word “Grasshöpper” as well as the picture of one. Described as a “Wheat Ale Traditionally Brewed in Canada”

Appearance: Exceptionally clear filtered look, a surprise for what is described as a Wheat Ale. Smooth ½” cap forms easily when poured. Golden straw body, that looks more akin to a Euro-Pilsner, rather than a Wheat Ale.

Nose: Some light biscuit malt with a slight citric hint, rather poor.

Taste: The wheat lends a light biscuit malt that is prevalent at first. Some sharp lemon twangs in the middle that rapidly fade away. A cloying feeling is left in the mouth after the beer is swallowed. Rather bland actually.

Mouthfeel: Very average, redeemed by its great thirst quenching qualities. The slight cloying feel on the palate when swallowed, prevents the mouthfeel being anything other than average.

Drinkability: Pretty good, an inoffensive easily quaffed beer.

Overall: A pleasant enough beer, that is rather drinkable and not that bad at all, but as a “Wheat Ale” it disappoints me. I am not sure that I would seek it out again to be honest, but I would not refuse it if I was offered another one. A very “average” Average Beer!

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2003 21:13:45 | More by TheLongBeachBum

francisweizen

Australia

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

On tap at the Manx in Ottawa, ON. Decent enough. Crystal clear, light golden with a nice off-white head that lasts for a while and than dies. The aromas are of wheat, banana, and an odd flavor that I can not place. The taste is wheaty, yeasty, and spicy, this actually tastes more like a medicore wheat, than a weizen. The mouthfeel is medium bodied-light, and the drinkability is OK. Not bad for a local version.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2004 23:49:20 | More by francisweizen

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

341ml bottle poured into 400ml dab glass sept28 2009

A clear golden yellow with a crazy amount of bubbles. It poured a thin head with no retention or lace

S grain and not much else

A little sweeter then the smell but not a whole lot going on here

M too much carbonation and as thick as water

D easy too drink like water is easy too drink

hard to avoid in Calgary, not that you need to avoid this beer, it's just nothing worth bragging about

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2009 05:46:27 | More by wordemupg

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

As the sun gets warmer the Grasshopper becomes more of an option on tap with a slice of lemon. This is a clean crisp Am Wheat with decent finish and great drinkability. Don't kid yourself this is no sipper or complex ale. However unlike the XO lager this one IMHO nails the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2008 21:15:02 | More by canucklehead

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

2.65/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

355ml can on a westjet flight

Appearance - Clear yellow/gold colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for onlt a few minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, apples, light spices, banana

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an above average amount carbonation and I can taste breads/grains, light bananas, faint clove and some apples. It finishes with a slight sweet lightly spiced aftertaste.

Overall - Definitely nothing to go out of your way for, but when your other options are coors light or molson canadian, this is a decent option.

Serving type: can

04-04-2012 02:22:37 | More by spinrsx

kmpitz2

Tennessee

2.85/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours a pale yellow color, with a finger of head that falls quickly. The nose is sweet wheat with a hint of citrus in it. Not exactly what I was expecting. The taste is pretty bland. Not a whole lot going on it it. No creamy banana, no nothing. Mouthfeel is thin and watery. Drinkability is not really good either. Just an okay beer without much either direction.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2004 01:01:45 | More by kmpitz2

beerguy101

California

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

Light gold color. Small head. Aroma is slightly malty. A very light bodied wheat beer. Some malts, some hops. Not much flavor. Beat macro swill, but why bother. Mouthfeel is thin. Finish is clean. Aftertaste is neutral. not bad, but really nothing to recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2003 18:21:58 | More by beerguy101

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +30.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Admittedly I am a fan of the Big Rock Brewery, and Grasshopper is my personal mainstay from their line, and one of my favorite regional ales to drink on a regular basis when out and about. It pours out a darker golden hue, with a big white head, which dissipates after a couple of minutes, and then leaves a bit of a lace. Nose is sweet and citrusy, and the flavour matches that, a bit crisp as well. Smooth mouthfeel, I can drink a lot of this stuff, and that's not just a hypothetical statement. Not exactly a traditional weiss beer, but a good stepping stone into the style for those who are apprehensive at first. Also my favorite beer to ween people off of macros at first. A great hot weather summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2003 16:11:04 | More by IronDjinn

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

2.48/5  rDev -19%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served in a pint glass.

A - Light to medium yellow, slightly murky. A small amount of white head with some light lacing.

S - An extremely weak nose. There are hints of grainy/bready malts and a touch of citrus.

T - As the nose suggested, the palate is somewhat light. Hints of bready malts and a touhc of citrus. There is a very light bitterness to compliment the very slight sweet maltiness.

M - Light body, moderate carbonatoin.

O - A farily uninspiring example of the style. Only worth ordering if my other options are Labatt or Molson.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 19:02:08 | More by TheSevenDuffs

clvand0

Kentucky

2.73/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I like the label. Pours out a clear yellow color with small head that goes away quickly. There's nothing much in the smell. Maybe some lemon, I think. Smells macro-ish. On to the flavor. Flavor reminds me of a Bud Light. Pretty boring and over produced. Not too impressed with this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2004 18:07:18 | More by clvand0

WoodBrew

Illinois

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

Had a chance to try a Big Rock Grasshopper at a conference in Calgary. The bottle was poured into a tall pilsner glass and did not generate much head. The color was more yellow than golden and the clarity was clear for a wheat beer, which surprised me a little. There was some cirtus notes to the nose, but not overpowering. The taste was good, well balance wheat beer nothing extravagent. The mouthfeel made for a perfect after lawn mowing beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 23:31:39 | More by WoodBrew