80 Acre Hoppy Wheat - Boulevard Brewing Co.

Florida9

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Cloudy, light pastel yellow. Forms between a 1/4" and 1/2" of white head. Excellent retention. Moderate lacing.

S: Very hop forward. Orange, orange rind, and a bit of lemon. Lots of citrus and rather juicy.

T: Taste is similar with a slight wheat twist. Rather hop forward with lots of citrus juiciness. Predominantly sweet orange with a little bit of lemonade in the mix.

M: Lighter bodied. Medium carbonation. Very light bitterness.

O: This is exactly the type of beer I should love: a light malt base with an exceedingly hop forward character. But I don't love this beer in the least. There is something about the juicy, citrus hops sit on that light wheat base that just doesn't sit right with me.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 01:29:43 | More by Florida9

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.11/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Hazy yellow with a nice big white cap. Decent lace on the glass.

S - Sharply hoppy and slightly metallic. Herbal green hop notes.

T - The hops are almost pilsener-esque and quite green-grassy. This really lacks the malty backbone that most hoppy beers have, and that leaves the hops hanging out there in thin air with no support. This results in a sharp and overly bitter flavor IMO.

M - Light bodied and very carbonated. Long lasting grassy finish.

This is not bad, but just seems weird to me. I love that Boulevard (one of my favorite brewers by the way) tried something different, but I think that there is a reason that wheat beers are traditionally not very hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 17:03:06 | More by pmcadamis

wedge

North Carolina

4.06/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy golden colored body; a poofy, lumpy head sits atop leaving behind some thick lacing. Aromas are initially floral hops before turning super juicy and bright. Freshly squeezed OJ, lemon, and other citrus surrounding a subtle biscuity wheat note. Pleasant, gentle hop flavors, lemon tea, wheat, mellow citrus juice, and a floral sweetness. Drying in the finish, fluffy, light, and crisp. I had one while grilling and I imagine that's a perfect situation for drinking this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 03:07:11 | More by wedge

Beaver13

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Pours very hazy straw yellow with a huge rocky white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is wheaty malts, tropical fruits and some piney, lightly resiny, hops.

The flavor is slightly sweet wheaty malts and some tropical fruits with decent piney / resiny bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, an interesting hoppy wheat.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 02:38:01 | More by Beaver13

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Delirium snifter on 10/21/12

Best By 12/10/12

Light, pale golden color. Quite hazy and a little cloudy. Two finger bone white head starts to dissipate quickly, but leaves raised webs of lace.

Good aroma - pineapple, tangerine, orange, grapefruit, lemon, toasted wheat and dusty wheat. Overtones of pine-sol as it warms. The flavor has a liberal amount of juicy citrus; kicks right nicely. Pine, lemon, orange. Kind of prickly, too. The wheat is actually tame; I figured there would be a more robust backing, but I'm not complaining,. Clean finish. The feel is crisp and carbonation feisty. Again, very juicy.

Overall, this is really enjoyable and right easy to drink. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 04:47:40 | More by Ryan011235

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass from a 12oz bottle.

Pours a very nice slightly hazy wheaty straw yellow. There is a nice 0.5 inch head that is white and soappy but alos dense.

Aroma of citrusy hops notes. Lemony and some tangerines in the nose with some grassy hop character that is enticing yet mild. Nice earthy and grainy wheat notes with some good bready sweetness as well. Very appealing nose.

Flavors starts out with some fruit sweetness and a nice grassy herbal hop note that once again is there but is mild and refreshing. There is some nice wheat sweetness and grain notes with nice bread and earthy notes as well. Very delicious true wheat ale that has a hoppy background but non of the overwhelming hop resins and bitterness that other hoppy wheat ales have. The finish is refreshing and crisp with nice wheat flavors and some slight bitterness. Incredible beer. This is up there with the best. Mouthfeel is light and crisp but incredibly flavorful.

This brew is great. True to the wheat ale style but with a nice refreshing hop kick that is lemony and citrusy without being a hop bomb. Nice earthy and grainy wheat notes with some nice herbal hop notes to back it up. My favorite of Blvds regular line up.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 21:20:46 | More by JoEBoBpr

TheSarge

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured this one into a regular pint glass, and the brew makes a massive amount of bright white foam, and the body is mildly hazy and is whitish gold in color. Foam retains quite well.

The aroma is dominated by the lemony hops, has a slight earthiness to it, and is kind of perfume like.

The taste is dominated by the lemony hops, there is a slight orange rind flavor on the back of the tongue, and altogether is very zesty.

Feels refreshing and crisp, but also a slight dryness to the profile. This is the hoppiest wheat I've ever had!

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 05:58:28 | More by TheSarge

hardy008

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy straw yellow color with a 3 finger foamy white head with good retention and lacing. The aroma has lemons, wheat, and bread malt.

The taste is slightly sweet, with a decent amount of bitterness for balance, and has lemons, wheat, light spice, and bread malt.

Light bodied, average carbonation, and a light lemon aftertaste. Crisp, easy to drink, and a nice beer to have on a warm autumn afternoon. Worth having again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 22:42:26 | More by hardy008

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice looking wheat beer. The head was two fingers and lasted forever, leaving sticky lace. The beer is pretty much like their regular wheat beer in color and clarity, tan and fairly cloudy. I suspect there's overlap in the recipes, but not just from the appearance.

The aroma is quite hoppy, also bready, with a little fruit and wheat too.

Taste is a bit odd, but delicious. It really tastes like boulevard wheat with a bunch of hops in it. It's got yeasty notes, wheat, citrus, grassy hops, malt, lots of good stuff in there.

Body is typically wheat beer, light and easy to drink, but almost chewy with body. A lightly sweet, hoppy aftertaste denotes the finish.

It's definitely a very different beer, and I like it. Wonderful for summer laziness. I'll definitely be drinking this one again. Great value too.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 18:34:25 | More by AlCaponeJunior

rlee1390

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Cloudy yellow orange, some carbonation, two finger head.

S-Hops with a metallic orange, lemon, wheat and grass.

T-Balance of grass, wheat, lemon with hop flavors. Some bitterness finishes it off.

M-Medium bodied, nice carbonation, crisp.

O-They were pushing this beer as a Gumball Head substitute, haven't had Gumball Head but this beer wasn't extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 22:06:26 | More by rlee1390

DCon

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on-tap @ the St. Louis Microfest in Forest Park (St. Louis), MO. Tapped from their beer cooler into my 16oz Microfest Pilsner glass and enjoy only one. The Tap Handle had "Hoppy Wheat" written on it, so I'm almost positive this is the same as the "Dry-Hopped Unfiltered Wheat Beer".

Appearance- Has a creme soda look to it with a cloudy, yellow body. There was Half a finger of bright white head and left almost no lace on the glass. There was always a bubbly ring around the beer though as the retention went quickly.

Smell- Started off with a citrus hop smell and then the average wheat and grain aroma. Has a lemon hint to it.

Taste- Light, wheat flavor with mild hop tastes and lemon as well. The wheat is an ongoing flavor in this beer and stands out more than the hops do (which is opposite than the smell).

Mouthfeel- Light Bodied, Good amount of Carbonation, Crisp, and smooth.

Overall- Never asked for the ABV but had to be between 4-5%. It was a nice, smooth beer, very enjoyable since it was so hot outside. Wasn't sure what I was going to be tasting here and still not 100% sure what I had. Almost tasted like a Hefeweizen with a lemon and hop twist. Not bad, not bad. If your ever at a festival or the Boulevard Brewing Co, this would be a great beer to start with!

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2011 18:56:31 | More by DCon

secondtooth

Indiana

4.23/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy straw golden in appearance, with a rich, frothy head of white suds. Lovely lace, too.

Aroma is pleasantly citrus-hoppy.

Taste is smooth, again with citrus hops dominating, but not in an overpowering way. 80-Acre displays a superb amount of balance between the hops and wheat-grain sharpness.

A delightful, easy-drinking session ale that is my new "go-to" Boulevard beer. Bravo, as this is one I'll gladly return to!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 21:39:10 | More by secondtooth

Mdog

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pale yellow, slightly hazy, big head.

Smell: Not much, a little citrus.

Taste: Wheaty, a little sweeter than expected. Mild citrus hops in the middle and finish.

Overall: I think my bottle may have been a little old which knocked down the aroma. The flavor was fine but not as hoppy as I was expecting, considering "hoppy" is in the name of the beer. Seems like a pale ale, just subbing in more wheat flavor instead of the barley. Nowhere near Gumballhead unfortunately.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 00:30:44 | More by Mdog

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Finger of head. Cloudy, pale straw color.
Smells like spruce and citrus. Like a Christmas tree with lemons on it.
Interesting taste. I like it. Lots of citrus bitterness with an underlying soft wheat flavor.
Low carbonation, medium and crisp body.
The taste is pretty amazing.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 19:21:50 | More by Fatehunter

beagle75

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a weizen glass.

A: Hazy, pale golden color with over one finger of persistent white foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass.

S: Dominant smells include ruby red grapefruit juice and green plant stems. Not particularly complex, although a fine thread of grain threatens to peek through the volatile aromas.

T: Begins barely off-dry, with blended hop aromatics that are a weak rendition of the smell--with a side of pine. Acidity is moderate into the middle where pine and green plants become more mellow but persist. Some clean wheat is also projected, adding some bready depth. The wheat quality overlaps into the mildly bitter and herbaceous finish.

M: Medium viscosity, creamy on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: While this beer's application of hops isn't particularly inspired, it does reflect a purposeful step in the correct direction for the universe of American pale wheat ales. More interesting that a Bell's Oberon or Sam Adam's seasonal wheat-whatever, it could have benefited from a more aggressive application of Amarillo hops post-boil. Otherwise it is a solid wheat... which Boulevard should have pinned by now, right?

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 01:25:17 | More by beagle75

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Beertopia, Omaha, NE
Date: "Best by 11/28/12" stamped on bottle
Glass: Standard US pint glass

I don't find this terribly different from a very sessionable IPA, though the body is slightly smoother and more complex than the malt bill in most session IPAs. 80-acre was very drinkable for those who enjoy hops, and one I will definitely revisit.

Pours a 2cm head of eggshell white foam, which descends rather quickly to a thin ring around the glass. Lacing is minimal, with just a few small lines and dots along the glass' edges. The body itself is a pale yellow color, semi-hazy, with light bringing out primarily the same tones. Carbonation is visible from the bottom of the glass, streaming upwards throughout.

Aroma is blatantly, unabashedly hoppy, with strong grapefruit, lemon, an orange tones accompanied by a bit of wet pine mulch, as would fit a combination of Cascade and Nelson Sauvin hops (though I'd accept Simcoe as well). Delicious, with a subtle malt base underpinning all these hops.

The flavor is simultaneously a fairly notable, sugary sweetness from the combination of pale barley and wheat malts and the strongly citric-bitter from usage of fruity, lightly citrus hops. Opens with sweet malts coalescing cleanly with grapefruit an orange-like hops, leading to a mid-palate of marginally sweet malts and lemon-orange-grapefruit flavors. Back of palate picks up modest bitterness along with continued grapefruit and orange flavors. Aftertaste of mild bitterness, some orange, and sweetness from wheat an barley malts.

Beer is medium to medium-light bodied, with mid-level carbonation, creating a slightly fizzy, foamy, but smooth mouthfeel. Closes semi-dry, as expected from the substantial hop usage.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 09:00:34 | More by falloutsnow

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass.

A - Pours a hazy golden straw with a frothy white head that doesn't stick around too long.

S - Lemon, pine, candied, orange, wheat malt, sourdough yeast.

T - Sweet lemon tart flavor with pine underneath. The lemon and pine really bounce off each other throughout the drink. A mild peppery edge as it warms up. Grassy hops and watermelon rind come out as well. Finishes crisp and dry.

M - Moderate carbonation, smooth feel, light but firm.

The focus is on the hops. This is what I'd want to drink during a run. It's fresh and clean but still has the wheat body to give it some substance. I'd take this over the regular Pale Wheat Ale any day.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 21:40:31 | More by StaveHooks

Kromes

Georgia

4.04/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. A hazy pale straw color with a thick, dense white head that remains until the finish. A tangerine and grassy hop aroma. It has a nice wheat flavor with citrus and grassy hop notes. Finishes very smooth with a bit of tartness and a lingering grassy hop flavor. A great light summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 23:35:51 | More by Kromes

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Much anticipated. Pours a slightly hazy straw gold with a big-bubbled head of fizzy foam that collapses into thin lacing. Aroma is lightly citrusy with lemon drop, lime peel, and pineapple. More of the same on the palate. Subtle, but vibrant hoppiness with a faint background of crackery wheat. Clean, dry, and well carbonated. I was expecting an IPA level of hoppiness, which this is not. Just a slightly bigger and hoppier version of their wheat, but with a more nuanced and interesting hop character. I guess I can't say I'm disappointed since I have bought two sixers since its Oklahoma release last week. Certainly makes a great late summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 16:14:56 | More by bump8628

Reaper16

Alabama

4.55/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

served on-tap @ Boulevard Brewing Co.

This is a new test beer. I do not know if there are any plans to bottle this in the future. I don't know if this version of Unfiltered Wheat Beer is any different than the original apart from the dry-hopping. All I know is that if you find yourself at Boulevard soon then you MUST try this.

Pours a supremely hazy, cloudy straw yellow color. It nearly looks like young, unfermented beer; it has that sort of quality to it (all you homebrewers will know what I'm talking about). Not much head off of this one, though the lacing is adequate.

BOOM. Tons of hops sing soprano out of the glass. Whereas the OG Unfiltered Wheat Beer is crisp and zingy with some lemon, this dry-hopped version showcases an abundance of more tropical fruit. Lush stonefruit, waves of mango and little punctuation marks of guava make for the brightest hop character I've ever smelled in a pale wheat ale. The wheat is still there, and in many ways this is still the same old Unfiltered Wheat Beer that accounts for roughly 70% of Boulevard's sales. The creamy, zingy wheat is still there. It's just full of these lush, soft, bright hop aromas.

The taste follows the nose. You get the stonefruit and some of the mango, but the hop flavors are soft. This is not a bitter, abrasive take on the style. The finish, somehow, is all wheat bread and a bit of lemon. It tastes remarkably like Unfiltered Wheat Beer, but the tropical fruit hop flavors are a major improvement. The compel further sipping, making this a very drinkable beer. This beer transitions beautifully from the hoppy fruit juice flavors up front to the almost entirely malt & wheat dominated finish. It occurs to me just now that this tastes like Harvest Dance Wheatwine as a tiny little baby. Awesome stuff.

The mouthfeel could use some tweaking. The level of carbonation that so characterizes the OG Unfiltered Wheat Beer is not the same here. I could use a bit more bubbles to liven up all aspects of the taste. This beer might be "too soft" in ways. Still, this is nothing short of solid; I'm now just picking nits.

I really hope that this... whatever it is (test batch, brewers' experiment, whatever) becomes an actual product in the future. This is every bit the peer of Lagunitas' Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale or Three Floyds' Gumbalhead in the category of hopped-up American Pale Wheat Ale. Super delicious and super drinkable. This deserves a wide release in bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 02:33:59 | More by Reaper16

tronester

Oklahoma

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy yellow with a medium white head that has great retention and lacing. Aromas of a freshly mowed lawn. Taste begins with a huge lemon peel component, followed by a bit of saltine cracker, then a massive grassy, herbal flavor. Citrus aftertaste. Mouthfeel is good. Overall a quite good beer, but a little bit grassier tasting than I typically would like.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 23:36:56 | More by tronester

dbossman

Nebraska

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy lemon-yellow hue with a one-inch head that dissipates to a thin, steady film; lacing is mediocre

S: That smells awesome: pineapple, lemons, grapefruit, and other tropical fruit aromas on top of a grainy, grassy wheat malty base; such a brilliant blend of the two

T: Not quite as hop forward as aromas teased but still so much tropical fruits mingling with the malt base--what a beer--but a touch watery on the finish

F: Decent body with the residual stickiness from the hops but a tad thin on the finish

O: I am so glad Boulevard released this beer; now, along with their porter they have to go-to "regular" beers

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 03:23:47 | More by dbossman

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: 80 Acre looks like a very creamy Hoegaarden. Lemon meringue pie in a glass to be honest, complete with white peaks of foam.

Smell: Pine and lemon hops. Extremely odd for a wheat ale, but very enjoyable.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Excellent flavors. A hybrid between an IPA and a wit, complete with grapefruit, lemon, orange, and a hint of lemon. Crispy, yeasty mouthfeel to finish.

Overall: I would define this as an excellent gateway for Blue Moon drinkers looking for more excitement.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 00:07:17 | More by tjsdomer2

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.58/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured at room temp in hotel glass

A: 5: wow, huge head; bright yellow; foamy; crazy carb action; fantastic lacing
S: 5: hoppy, powerful aroma; you’d think this was going to be an IPA; lingers long
T: 4.5: light, fresh, spritzy flavor; hints of lemon; hoppy, sweet; not very boozy
M: 4:
O: 4.5 I’m not a fan of wheat beers, but this one is quite good, thanks to the hop profile

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 23:20:47 | More by Arithmeticus

match1112

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a: slightly cloudy golden straw color with a two finger head that lasts awhile.

s: smelled like there was a fresh orange slice in the glass on top of the beer. behind that were muted aromas of pine and wheat.

t: very refreshing. more of the orange and pine that were big up front but fall off in the end.

m: light, crisp, well carbonated, dry on the finish.

o: impressed by this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 15:02:31 | More by match1112