Ramstein Winter Wheat - High Point Brewing Company

inebrius

Michigan

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

9.5%! I can hardly believe it. Pours mud under a thin bonnet of malted milk. Like eating a banana split next to a roaring hardwood campfire the nose is a sublime melange of banana, cherries, vanilla, chocolate and smoked malts. A man could go to slavering before he even takes a sip. More treats for the buds as I quaff this chocolate covered banana explosion that's somewhat held in check by what has to be--but is not perceived as--a huge dose of balancing hops. A thin wisp of smokiness hangs out like a middle-school drug pusher. Are there smoked malts in this brew? There has got to be. What an ambrosial beer. Unique and tasty! If Ramstein gets national distribution, this one will become an American classic, for sure!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2003 20:22:07 | More by inebrius

Dantes

New Jersey

4.85/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Package: 12oz. bottle, no ABV listed. White label with purple border. Kitschy gothic letters spelling “Ramstein.” “Enjoy by month notched” marked between April and May but no year denoted. Label recommends storing at 35º-45º and serving at 40º. Neck label describes brew style. Busy but reasonably informative.

Cost: $8.99 6-pack at Gary's

Presentation: Imperial pint glass at 45º. ( I thought 40º serving recommendation was too cold).

Appearance: The beer's only weak area. Some gunsmoke. Generated little head, which dissipated quickly. Color was a rich brown-black, with an almost opaque, stout-like body. Large clumps of sediment. Unremarkable.

Smell: Achtung! All of the promised elements are present: fruity apple, clove, vanilla, smoky chocolate, and caramely malt. Bouquet is surprisingly un-volatile for its high ABV, but complex and full.

Taste: This is where this beer kicks into overdrive. Added to the aromas are subtle hints of cinnamon, bananas Foster, and dark black curranty fruits. Almost no hint of the claimed 9.5% ABV. Sweetness is present, but in a toasted-malt context and is by no means cloying. This beer never forgets that it's a wheat beer. Impressive depth of flavor, carrying through the middle to a strong, lasting finish that dries out.

Mouthfeel: Very creamy, smooth, and luxurious; but never loses its crisp edge. Carbonation is fine and consistent throughout. It puzzles me why it didn’t generate a better head.

Drinkability: Astoundingly drinkable! For something akin to an Imperial Stout, this goes down like a session beer. It is satisfying but not so filling that you can’t have several in succession (as long as you’re not driving!).

A beer worth savoring that challenges you not to drink it like water! Would accompany strong cheeses and other hearty appetizers very well. When High Point first opened, I knew one of the brewers, who invited me to try some of the beers. At the time, I thought they were good, but not stand-outs. It's been sometime since I’ve been in touch with this friend or had any Ramstein brews, but I was cooking short ribs braised in wheat beer, so I bought a six of the Classic. Intrigued by the Winter Wheat, I bought it, not knowing it was seasonal with a 9.5% ABV. Time to get in touch with my friend again!

Backwash: The quintessential Q-ship. The beer equivalent of a Mercedes 300SEL 6.3; old-world craftsmanship, silky smooth, with some serious torque under the hood.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2003 10:49:21 | More by Dantes

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Midnight brown with some slight ruby at the bottom of the glass. Topped by a frothy tan head, which breaks down a bit quick. Aroma of dark fruits, smoke, a bit of cocoa, and at the end, a sweet apple scent . Across the tongue, black currant and assorted fruits roll richly and slickly. Sweet but by no means cloying. Near 10% alcohol unnoticeale except for a trace in the aftertaste. Scarily drinkable. Hard to find this year, but worth the hunt.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2003 23:02:45 | More by RonfromJersey

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a naturally cloudy, very dark brown body with a huge creamy tan head that holds exceptionally well and leaves nice lace. The aroma is sweetish and fruity (berries, cherry) with a lightly smoky phenolic in the background. The body is medium, and the mouthfeel is full and creamy. The flavor offers some distinct caramelized sugars, a soft chocolatey note, a touch of alcohol, and some dull bubblegum. It finishes fairly short and lightly sweet. Although it's not a complex beer, it is quite flavorfull and extremely enjoyable. Highly recommended and well worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2003 20:02:23 | More by NeroFiddled

doho95fu

California

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark Brown, almost black with a medium tan colored head. The smell is of cocoa and reminds me of banana nut bread. The flavor also reminds me of banana nut bread, with a smooth, but present alcohol finish. This is a very solid doppelbock and I will head to the brewery first chance I get - I wanna see these guys at work. Really drinkable for a strong complex beer. Proud to be from Jersey.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2002 16:22:16 | More by doho95fu