80 Acre Hoppy Wheat - Boulevard Brewing Co.

312HopBomb

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a bright, opaque yellow with spotty lacing and average retention.

Smell is fruity, a little sour and some bitter hops.

Tangy, crisp with some fruit a then ends with a subtle bitterness.

Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing.

Overall a tasty example of an American wheat ale with a subtle hop addition.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 22:17:01 | More by 312HopBomb

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

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

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.71/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

sometimes I feel like I am too easy on beers, or like the .25 increments has made me a softer critic, because honestly, when you want a cold beer and the mellow factor, anything even half craft satisfies. if you disagree, you aren't a beer person. sorry, but that's a fact. this beer is that conundrum. its a mix of styles, wheaty and hoppy, fully American, but a little defunct in some way. the looks is hazy and pale yellow, like any standard wheat based unfiltered brew. but the nose is real hoppy for the color. bitter and west coast, like an American wheat meets an American pale meets dry hopping. not sure this is all of that, but it feels like it could be. I taste some fruity lighter yeast, delicate but raw wheat malt, and a fairly aggressive hoppy profile that year round boulevard concoction so curious. its got some pineapple notes too, which I find fitting. lighter in body but fulfilling texturally. well carbonated and clean but long in the finish, as contradictory as that seems. this is a beer that asks more questions than it answers, but I like it a lot, especially at this price point. boulevard is on a hot streak in my book, cant wait to try the wheat wine!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:01:30 | More by StonedTrippin

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Sam Adams perfect Pint Glass

Appearance: high carbonation, bright yellow-gold in color, one inch head, hazy

Smell: wheat and citrus hops

Taste: wheaty, grass, and citrusy hops that are especially present at the end

Mouthfeel: crisp, light bodied, high carbonation, sweetish start with bitterness coming in the middle and a bit more prominent towards the end.

Overall: Super clean. For the style, this is one of my favorites. A perfect summer beer that I could have several of. Nice pilsner like taste with a touch of pleasant bitterness that is never too bitter. One of Boulevards better small beers that I have had the pleasure of trying.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 14:39:13 | More by tigg924

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

XxNitExX

Nebraska

4.86/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass

A- Pours a hazy golden color with a thin white head on top. Pretty average for this style.

S- Citrus Hops!!!! Get a nice wheat smell after that, but you got to love the smell of those hops.

T- This is more hoped than alot of APA's I have tried. Citrusy and grassy hops. Get a little orange flavor and of course that indistinguishable wheat taste.

M- Goes down oh so smooth. Just the right carbonation and just the right stick to your mouth feeling that good wheat beers have.

Overall a great beer. If only this was available on tap to get an even fresher taste!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 04:10:19 | More by XxNitExX

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful hazy gold liquid with a generous white head.

Aroma is a mix of hops and citrus.

Flavor is hard to take in. The two dominant flavor notes (the hoppyness and the citrusy-wheat beeryness) to me are not team players. Both are so dominant that it feels like it would have been better for this beer to slightly tone down one of these notes, maybe by making this a Wheat Pale Ale rather than a what IPA. I also wonder how this beer might be with a little aging to round out the hops?

Mouthfeel is nice and full with a little bit of pricklyness.

Overall, this is an interesting beer. A nice change of pace but probably not one I would seek out on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 17:01:06 | More by jmbranum

mfavoino

Washington

4.23/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a 12 oz bottle to try from Gravity Beer Market in Olympia, WA on 26 Jan 13. Poured into a pint glass.

A: Hazy straw/gold color with a finger and a half of head that retains very well.

S: Citrus hop aromas, distinctly wheat, grainy, and bready malts.

T: Some citrus hop flavors, lemon zest, and wheat. Floral and earthy notes very much present as well. Finishes smooth.

M: Crisp and refreshing. Lighter body and medium-high carbonation.

O: Well-done execute of part citrusy APA and a straight wheat beer. I'm sure this would be a great lawnmower beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 22:18:40 | More by mfavoino

Coltalenaven

3.99/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a single beer to sample, not thinking it would be a great beer. But Boulevard is an impressive brewery.
Pours a golden amber with a sediment look throughout. The really big white frothy head takes its time settling down. Nice lacing left on the sides.
The aroma is a combination of hops and wheat but smells like a big IPA.
The first taste hits me with less IPA quality than I expected from the aroma, more mild hops and citrus overtones. The wheat seems to mellow out any bitterness and leaves a long mild finish. My second sip gave me a little more depth into the beer and I pick up some additional fruit qualities and maybe some grassiness.
Mild hops, bitter/sweet wheat quality is my best description of this beer. Overall it has a solid mild quality with no dominating tastes. Good and balanced. This was a pretty impressive beer I will seek out.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 00:13:33 | More by Coltalenaven

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

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

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

Tone

Missouri

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

Pours a cloudy, golden color. 5/4 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of hop oil, floral hops, hint of pine, wheat, hint of sweet malt, hint of pale malt, and a hint of earthy malt. Fits the style of an American Pale Wheat Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is also a slight tartness. Tastes of wheat, hint of citrus, hint of pale malt, hop oil, and floral hops. Overall, great appearance, good body, and good aroma. It reminiscent of Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat and Boulevard Single-Wide IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 14:20:52 | More by Tone

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Slightly hazey banana peel color. Godd head and a nice thick layer of foamy head with tiny, sluggish bubbles underneath.

Spicey, floral, and light citrus hop aromas mixed with crackers and mildly toasted malt grain.

Spicey, lightly toasted biscuits hit the palate first. The middle has a more citrus and cracker flavor. The finish is light and bitter, but with some earthy unmalted graininess.

Refreshing and tasty. Great Summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 18:10:30 | More by scruffwhor

flagmantho

Washington

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Best by 1/21/13.

Appearance: light silvery-golden hue with a moderate haze and a strong effervescence. Head is a thick finger of frothy white foam. This has the appearance of a good witbier; I like it.

Smell: big blast of funky, earthy, citrusy hops. They smell fresh and work well in this light and refreshing context.

Taste: an interesting combination of citrusy, earthy hops with the creamy and smooth wheat flavor. Bitterness is quite low considering the hop content. I tend to be a fan of the hoppy, smooth wheat beer, and this example is pretty well executed.

Mouthfeel: light body with a strong carbonation and a smooth and creamy texture. I like it.

Overall: a very refreshing and drinkable beer. This could make a pretty great session beer; good hop flavor without being overwhelming. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 21:55:46 | More by flagmantho

acelin

Kansas

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

This beer really deserves it's own style, as do many normally called APWAs. How about Hoppy Wheat Ales? Or Hopped Wheat Ales? Naming conventions aside, this is a very tasty beer. Has a great haze, great nose that implies it's far more bitter than it is. Instead, it has all those great floral aromas as tastes without the bitterness. What a gold mine of taste, and a knock out brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 23:35:07 | More by acelin

Zorro

California

3.55/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Cloudy yellow colored beer with a small white head.

Smell is light honeysuckle malt with a citrus hop aroma. Herbal scented with a good dose of grapefruit to it.

Starts out with the taste of hard water and grapefruit. Fairly dry in the mouth. Mild bitterness, pretty much a mild mannered wheat beer with a little hop kick.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall a nice wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 19:57:37 | More by Zorro

zhanson88

Montana

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a pale, hazy straw color with about 1/2" of white head. Head retention is just okay. Lacing is non-existent. Just about your typical looking wheat beer.

Smell: The nose on this is very good. A hint of pale, wheaty malt up front, but quickly overshadowed by orange rind, citrus, florals, and hint of pine. By far one of the best noses on a wheat beer I have had.

Taste: A hint of wheaty malts, followed by some great hop notes. Citrus, florals, orange rind, followed by slight pine on the back end. Pretty nice. About the only beef I have is that it is not quite balanced; the pale malts do not really stand up to the hops. Still, nice.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Light bodied with surprising little carbonation. Okay though. Overall, by far one of the best wheats I've had. Great session beer too. Pretty impressed by this.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 21:26:04 | More by zhanson88

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

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

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

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- Pours hazy light straw yellow. A one finger of a white head. A very light looking beer.

S- Pine, citrus, lemon, wheat, very floral. Nice stuff.

T- A perfect 50/50 of a wheat beer and a hopped up pale ale. The wheat comes at frist and adds that nice taste but the hops come though and add a variety of citrus. A lot of lemon and pineapple. A touch of lemongrass and some floral notes.

M- This beer is a little bit light on feel nut makes up for it in drinkability and its well rounded nature.

O- This is a pretty darn good beer. Perfect session ale or summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 23:31:54 | More by TwelveOunces

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

rundocrun

Iowa

3.08/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Body is straw yellow and cloudy. A rough pour yields 4 (count 'em) 4 fingers of fluffy white head. Good retention.

S - Hops steal the show in the nose. Lots of pine, bitter grapefruit peel, and lemongrass. Subtler notes of orange and bright tropical fruit.

T - Up front, dry wheat flavor and mild malt sweetness. Some lemon, lemongrass, and orange peel through the middle, but very little bitterness. Finish is fruity, but otherwise bland. Overall, taste is a bit of a disappointment after the promise of the aroma.

M- Thin body with good carbonation. Very clean finish and quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 02:43:31 | More by rundocrun

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

SavvyStudent

Texas

3.48/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: It pours lighter than the Boulevard Wheat with a smaller head.

S: Strong Pine and Citrus hops.

T: Faint wheat, pine, citrus.

M: It leaves a little body with a wheat after taste that coats the palate.

O: A step away from what they originally tested at the brewery but unique in the market nonetheless

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 19:10:45 | More by SavvyStudent