Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Mavigo

Michigan

3.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - a golden orange/light brown, has wheat grains floating in it,

S - Smells somewhat like fruit, can also smell wheat, hops

T - Tastes pretty good, can taste, wheat, hops

M - Refreshing, relaxing, very crisp, clean, a pleasure to sip on

O - Great for a summer afternoon, while it may not be outstanding, it is still very good

Serving type: can

07-13-2012 00:26:25 | More by Mavigo

metter98

New York

3.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy light pale yellow in color. It poured with a finger high white head that died down, leaving a bit of lacing on the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: Aromas of orange peel stand out in the nose, which also has some hints of berries.
T: The taste is also similar to the smell and also has flavors of wheat.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is both easy to drink and refreshing. The berries add an interesting twist and make the taste a bit different compared to other beers in the style.

Serving type: can

10-31-2011 23:26:04 | More by metter98

ForWhatAlesYou

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Review #200
12 ounce can as part of a Leinie's summer pack.

I have reviewed this one from a bottle this past spring and this will be somewhat redundant.

A hazy orange brew, Sunset Wheat has a very distinctive aroma and flavor profile that rums somewhere between Fruit Loops and key lime with hints of blueberry and coriander.

Not something that most BAs will flock too, but a fun (if novelty) beer.

Not great but I like this for it uniqueness alone. Worth trying.

Serving type: can

07-25-2011 15:34:03 | More by ForWhatAlesYou

Hopperbolic

Wisconsin

2.35/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A: Looks decent, Nice Cloudy Orange/amber. A little lacing

S: Its nothing crazy and one dimensional. Little Wheat on the Nose and IMO fake blueberry sent,as well as some Anise.

T: Fake Blueberry taste, little anise ( i hate anise ) sweet wheat. Im bored with this Brew,its not entertaining my palate at all.

M: Dry on the finish but again boring.

O: IMO this is a very Disjointed brew. i dont know what else to say other than I wont be drinking this again. IMO very major pass on this brew.

Serving type: can

07-18-2011 16:21:38 | More by Hopperbolic

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Recently picked up a Leinenkugel's summer sampler 12 pack for a day of golf. Well, the golf didn't pan out, so I figure I may as well review a few of these.

Poured out of a 12oz can into my Lost Coast pint glass.

A) A nice looking inch of white head, perfectly topping off this hazy orange brew. The head was gone quickly. No lacing noted.

S) Really fruity, mostly oranges and blueberry. I actually find the smell very pleasing.

T) Smells better than it tastes. It's wheaty, and fruity, maybe some very, very light hops. Not a fan of the finish.

M) Light to medium body, seems lighter than other wheat beers I've had the pleasure of drinking recently. The carbonation is slightly off for my palate. It just seems a bit fizzy.

O) I don't mind drinking this on occasion, usually with an orange slice. This beer is okay. I would have rather had it golfing, which would have saved me from thinking about what I'd rather be drinking. Oh well, could be worse.

Serving type: can

06-09-2011 23:04:34 | More by RoamingGnome

ONUMello

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz can poured into a pint glass
A: Hazy amber color with a one finger head
S: Smells like a dry sugar-free lemonade mix, with hints of coriander and a slight bubblegum/spearmint gum mix.
T: I agree with those below who mention the fruit loops/fruity pebbles. Primarily what influenced, with just a bit of hops bitterness.
M: Average. Nothing stands out good or bad.
O: An okay beer, but one better suited for drinking cold out of the can after mowing the lawn on a hot day rather than sitting and contemplating.

It should also be noted I get none of the blueberries mentioned in the 'notes' section above, nor does the brewer's info on the box (which does mention the beer being brewed with coriander).

Serving type: can

06-07-2011 22:12:03 | More by ONUMello

Stunner97

New Jersey

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

appearance- slight yellow to orange coloration with white head that quickly faded away to lacing, murky and cloudy

Smell- alot of fruit and citrus on the nose with touch wheat, overall i pull mostly orange

Taste- the flavor profile of this beer has always reminded me of one thing most clearly above all other fruit loops, it really reminds me of that lol, its mostly mix of citrus /orange notes that linger with moderate level sweetness and end out with with wheat and faint bitterness, the flavor is all right nothing incredible but decent

Mouthfeel- light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation

Drinkability/overall- this beer is all right its nothing i could really session that much cuz to me its just to sweet to really pound away, the flavor is a bit over the top to me in terms of citrus and fruit notes, its just a bit to much for my liking but dont get me wrong this is not a bad beer but just not one i could usually see my self sitting around drinking often

Serving type: can

06-03-2011 23:23:00 | More by Stunner97

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

No CANQuest (TM) reviews for almost a week and THIS close to # 500?!? My allergies had really been acting up and I mistook them for the onset of a cold that hit me harder than it should have and put me OOC during that time. I'm back on the bus, though, Gramma, and I'm ready to roll!

Big ups to BeerWolf77 for being a man of his word and hunting down some Wisco beers in a CAN that I had had on my Wants for a while. CAN the man get some love from a brother? I CAN always use some more CANs for this nonsense. CAN you dig it?

From the CAN: "The Pride of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Since 1867."; "Beer with natural flavors"; "Carefully brewed by the Leinenkugel family for five generations"; "Belgian-style Witbier with malted wheat and Cluster hops".

Direct from the Leinie Lodge to my glass, the Crack & Glug produced two fingers' worth of thick, burbling, bone-white head with limited retention. Color was a very cloudy orangish-yellow, like fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. Nose was very fruity and cereal-like and previous reviewers' mentions of Froot Loops and Fruity Pebbles were spot on. I have not had that type of cereal in years, but the nose definitely conjured up memories. I even got hints of anise underlying all of the fruitiness. Mouthfeel was medium with a riot of fruit flavors on the tongue, a citrusy-lime being the one that stood out. Finish really had a cereal taste to it and for a second I really thought that I was in-taking children's breakfast cereal. I have had better examples of the style, but it was not bad, just kind of odd and sometimes that CAN be good. I would put some in the cooler as a lower ABV alternative and as a refreshing alternative to the many IPAs that I would want for myself.

Serving type: can

05-21-2011 13:07:26 | More by woodychandler

weizenbob

Michigan

1.88/5  rDev -44%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

This 12 ounce can of Sunset Wheat came from a Summer Sampler 12-Pack. What a novel idea. "Best" by June 27, 2011. From the label: "Beer with natural flavors." That natural flavors part always worries me. Regardless, I cracked the can open and poured into a weizen glass. A careful pour produced three fingers of foamy white head. Retention is not impressive; however, a lot of lacing is sticking to the glass. The brew is hazy golden with little translucence. Active carbonation can be seen through the glass.

The aroma worries me a bit. The can describes this as a Belgian-style witbier so I was expecting some yeasty orange and coriander. What I'm getting is mostly blueberry with hints of blackberry and a lingering aroma of Froot Loops. It smells sweet although a touch of alcohol can also be noticed on the tail end. I'm not having a good feeling about this.

This is a really weird tasting brew. Have you ever drunk the milk that was left over in your dish after eating a hearty bowl of Froot Loops? This isn't far off from that. If the can was branded "Froot Loops Wheat" then I would say that they nailed it. However, as a Belgian-style wheat they've really missed the mark. The artificial tasting "natural flavors" are pierced by a sharp stinging carbonation that aims to strip away any remnant of beer by liquefying your taste buds. If you can look past all of that, there is somewhat of a wheaty beer underneath it all. Everything within me wants to say that it is terrible; but out of sheer disbelief I cannot stop drinking. Its tastes like fricking Froot Loops!

In the mouth Sunset Wheat is light and lively. It is highly carbonated and surprisingly flavorful (for better or worse). 4.9% ABV is well hidden and not likely to knock you over. Make no mistakes; this is not good beer. I didn't think Leinenkugel could top Summer Shandy in terms of head-scratching awfulness, but this Sunset Wheat is head and shoulders below that mark. Yet somehow I am compelled to crack open another can, if only to reassure myself that I am indeed drinking what I think I'm drinking. Leinenkugel has become the Edward D Wood Jr of brewing.

---

The Two-Schlitz Scale: (reference my profile for an explanation)
I do not give a Schlitz for Sunset Wheat. However, I will be giving out six packs as gag gifts in the foreseeable future. Did I mention that it tastes like Froot Loops?!

Serving type: can

04-29-2011 18:13:23 | More by weizenbob

Arbitrator

California

3.08/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Chilled can into a plastic glass. Served on the plane from Dublin to Atlanta.

A: Pours a cloudy straw color with a billowy off-white head that leaves sticky lacing down the sides of the (sigh) plastic cup.

S: Orange peel, lemon rind, and apricot. The reviewer below me claims Fruity Pebbles -- ok, I could concede that, too. I didn't get coriander in the smell.

T: Dominated by the citrus flavors picked up in the nose. The mid-taste showed a rough grain component, and the finish contained a hint of coriander. And -- well, ok, it was kind of Fruity Pebbles-like.

M: Light-bodied, high carbonation, and a relatively crisp and clean finish.

D: Granted, the cost (free) couldn't be beaten, but I wound up having 4 of these over the 10-hour flight. Surprisingly enjoyable. It's not the best wit I've ever had, but it filled a niche.

Serving type: can

10-17-2009 03:29:48 | More by Arbitrator

Schwab

Florida

3.05/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I got this beer on an international Delta flight with my dinner and was pleasantly surprised, especially since I had it twice before on tap at a local bar and did not like it at all. As a matter of fact, I thought it was outright disgusting when I had it on tap locally. Not so this can.

A - I poured it in my small plastic cup and you could immediately see the nice sight of a wit beer. Left a nice head on both pours.

S - A somewhat typical wit beer, the hint of fruit (blueberry) cannot be missed. Some other notes were there, too, but I was unable to identify something specific.

T - Smooth wit beer, not spicy, hint of berries. Balanced for sure!

M - Somewhat refreshing, definitely no hint of anything but wit beer style characteristics. No dry finish or other unbalanced or bitter notes.

D - I can see this a beer for warm days and even more for people who are not too much into hoppy beers, stouts, etc.

Overall I was quite surprised by this experience, especially since I really hated it the first two times I tried it. Not that I would run to a store and buy it, but when I have the next time the choice between Heineken, BMC and this one - I will certainly take the Sunset Wheat again.

Serving type: can

08-22-2009 13:49:18 | More by Schwab

smibroncos

New York

3.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

I poured the beer into a glass issued by the airlines the head was white with little lacing on the glass. It poured a yellow orange color with a decent head.

The smell to me was fresh cut hay with notes of bannana, honey and corriander.

The taste was a little on the citrus side orange peel.Slightly fruity.

The mouthfeel was light and the carbonation was small bubbles.

The overall drinkabily was good I could drink a few of these while mowing the grass. Definately a summer beer, refreshing.

Serving type: can

03-19-2009 14:42:46 | More by smibroncos

JanM

Sweden

1.48/5  rDev -56%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Poured hazy in a pale yellow color with quickly disappearing, soapy foam. The smell was sweet and fruity, like artificial orange and bubble gum, maybe apples and pears too. Quite distinct and different actually. Unfortunately it tasted like lemonade made from "natural falvors" and dishwater. In fact, it started to look like it too. I'm sorry to say that it was a disappointment.

Serving type: can

12-07-2008 17:33:36 | More by JanM

superdedooperboy

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +22%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Delta recently started serving this beer on its flights, and I had the chance to sample it both to and from Germany. (Perhaps serving well as a "Goodbye" and "Welcome back" to my home country.)

As I had this on a flight in second-class, I poured from the can into a plastic cup. The head was a white, bubbly mass that remained through the life of the beer. Color was bright yellow.

Aroma was citrussy-sweet. Taste was similar, with a strong hint of berry. Mouthfeel was somewhat thin, with a nice amount of carbonation. Aftertaste was virtually nil. I could easily down a few of these, as they're quite refreshing. And being that the beer was free with the in-flight meal (all alcohol is free on Lufthansa-- fly German!), I was quite pleased with it, regardless.

Serving type: can

08-15-2008 04:41:20 | More by superdedooperboy

jdubjacket

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on a Delta airplane recently. Pours a pale murky yellow with minimal head, as typical for wheat beers. Smell is relatively earthy with a good amount of spice in the nose. Taste is overly fruity. This beer actually tastes like froot loops, and not a whole lot else unfortunately. The fruit taste is overpowering. The moderate carbonation makes this beer relatively drinkable but I wouldn't seek this one out.

Serving type: can

07-21-2008 02:07:18 | More by jdubjacket

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +28%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Aroma is malty with a wheaty undertone, and hints of orange. Color is warmly golden and somewhat cloudy. Flavor is rich, rather malty with strong orange tone, rather sweet but not cloying, just a whisper of smokiness. It has a nice thick feel that I do not often find in wheat beers, and leaves a pleasant and satisfying aftertaste. Better than what I expected!

Serving type: can

07-14-2007 23:34:23 | More by Cyberkedi

JackMcAwesome

Florida

3.89/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from the bottle to a mug.

Look: You have to pour a bit aggressive to get a nice one finger head going. It pours a golden brown that is hazy throughout. The head diminishes to a thin ring and it leaves a decent amount of lacing.

Smell: Getting some things that I don't generally smell in a Witbier, peach is the most prevalent. Seems to be a bit of coriander maybe? A very pleasant aroma that stay throughout.

Taste: Generally good. Lots of wheat and malt with a bit of the fruit that you smell. Maybe a type of berry as well. Black or blue maybe? Not sure. I generally don't like those type of berries, but it's working out nicely here.

Feel: Very light and refreshing. I wish it was hot out so I could enjoy that a bit more. The carbonation level is right around my preference.

Overall: I was very surprised by this. I picked it up in a mix-six but would definitely grab a full six next time. It's light and fun, and with the lower abv, I could knock a few back in mid-day after some yard work. (Always a plus)

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 21:36:42 | More by JackMcAwesome

bbluemzbeer

California

2.85/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

I am glad I bought one bootle at the store. It is was way to sweet and 'fruity.

Appreance: Golden yellow with a white frothy head
Smells L fruits and whean
Taste YOu can taste fruits, with no balnce ot it '
Mouthful : is very acidic in the mouth

Overall : I would pick up a blue moon any day before this beer. THis is an average beer on hot summer day at best !

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 07:12:27 | More by bbluemzbeer

AngrrryMan

Louisiana

3.35/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Drank from the bottle, so didn't get a good look.

Smell: Sweet smell.

Taste: Tasted fruity, and a little like Fruity Pebbles. After a while it began to get a more and more bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Was smooth.

Drinkability: Good to drink with a fruit salad, or for breakfast. LOL!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 04:22:00 | More by AngrrryMan

YardmanFTB

Maryland

3.41/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

This beer seems to kill it with the ladies during the spring/summer time. It is another one of Leinenkugel's extract style fruity beers. It like the others tastes "soda-like". But this one especially tastes like "Fruity Pebbles" of all things. It sounds odd but it really does. This beer will always do well in the spring and especially with the ladies with a sweet tooth for beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 03:26:08 | More by YardmanFTB

teromous

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Very hazy medium shade of orange and golden straw body, with a fluffy white head. Some lacing on the glass.

S: Smells like fruity pebbles, lemons, and only a hint of hop muskiness pops out in the end. Mostly it smells just like a bowl of fruity pebbles.

T: Some wheat twangy flavor mixed with fruity pebble cereal. It doesn't taste like a wit, but I get what they're doing with it. My only qualm is that the flavor tastes very artificial. I don't know if it has real flavoring or not, but it tastes too harsh. It's hard to pick out the flavors in the beer when my palate is washed with fruit.

M: The mouthfeel is nice and smooth. It is pretty easy to drink, and has a fairly light body. There is some texture to the beer as well.

O: Overall I was not a fan of the beer. I thought that it really didn't taste like a witbier, and seriously was a lot like drinking fruity pebbles. I would have liked to taste more of the beer and less of the fruit flavoring. It's worth trying if you really like fruit beers, but I don't think it's a beer that would draw a person back.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 17:39:22 | More by teromous

tectactoe

Michigan

3.39/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Pours a tainted copper color with peachy, golden highlights - inevitable witbier haze throughout, capped off with a frothy, almost-creamy white head that settles shortly after the pour and deposits trace amounts of lacing on the glass. Surprisingly aromatic, nice combination of light spices, wheat, and a collection of fruitiness. Lemon zest and orange peels are the most prominent, but I feel like there's some other kind of berry in there. To be completely honest, the aroma draws a striking resemblance to a big bowl of Fruity Pebbles. The dry wheat aroma settles things down a bit. Not getting much of a hop profile, if any, from the nose.

The taste draws from that same fruitiness; lemon and orange zest, again, some type of unidentifiable berry. The spice comes out a bit more, side by side with the bread-filled, wheat laced backbone. Some slightly floral and delicate perfumey aromas and tastes start to jump out - not sure if it's from the hops or from some of the spices used. Wheat stays strong despite the fruit onslaught. Maybe it's just my nose tricking me, but I even get a subtle taste of Fruity Pebbles as well. I'm telling you, try this one and tell me it doesn't smell/taste like Fruity Pebbles. Overall a bit watery at times, it wouldn't hurt to be amped up a bit in terms of robustness and/or flavor, but then again, I guess that's not what you expect from a Leinie wheat beer. Pretty thin body, medium-high amount of carbonation gives it a tight, crispy snap.

This one holds a special place in my heart because it was the first "craft" beer (albeit possible faux craft, but that's beside the point) I ever had, and it was long before my actual endeavor into craft beers. My friends and I used to go to the store and pick up a few six packs of Sunset Wheat and play video games all night. Those were the days. Upon revisiting, I'm definitely not nearly as infatuated with this brew as I once was, but it's not a bad beer at all. Still remains sessionable and nice for a summertime cool-down.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 21:02:17 | More by tectactoe

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Sunset Wheat

LOOK: Pale cloudy yellow. Soapy white head and little to no lacing.

SMELL: Wheat, grain, and berry like notes.

TASTE: Sweet wheat malt and a blueberry note. Little to no bitterness. Sweet malty flavor rounds out the beer.

FEEL: Light to medium bodied with a fair amount of malt sweetness in the finish.

OVERALL: This is a lager with blueberry flavor. Pretty average for a lager with moderate artificial flavor. Avoid unless you can't handle the flavor of a real beer or if you simply love blueberries.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 20:18:51 | More by Stinkypuss

BottleOfPills

West Virginia

3.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First discovered this beer when at a local restaurant was serving it with blueberries. Took a sample and well my better half seems to enjoy the said combination.

Bought this six pack for the holidays from the local Sheetz, and poured into a glass. What a few of the others have said below about a nice head and such - I get none, mine was light if anything and quickly faded to a small foamy rim around the edge of the glass. The color is creamy - like a thick cream ale - yeah I guess that really isn't a color, but the overall appearance doesn't put my off, but it doesn't stand out either.

This being a wheat beer you can smell the fruity'ness, but I don't really get the orange scent or the coriander as you find in others. I definetly can get the blueberry idea though. I'm not saying it smells like blueberry, just that I can see where that would taste well with it. The fruity isn't girly, but it doesn't scream Metal either. Average

Taste I actually like, this is my second one today. Although I don't think I'll have a third. It's fruity, lemon like caramel. (try that with some Jelly Belly's and see how it taste??) Again I don't get the normal corieander spice kick that I find with most wheat beers I've tasted. Above average.

Mouthfeel - in all my reviews I've done, if it's crisp I give it a good rating - this is crisp, doesn't leave a filmy taste on my mouth. I'll go with 4

I will say I don't normally enjoy wheat beers but this one isn't that bad and I will definitly try again and may even shop for it. It's good, not great in my opinion. If you like wheats try it. If you don't it may be different enough that you still may want to try.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 18:46:53 | More by BottleOfPills

DragonsSlippers

4.75/5  rDev +41.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: - Golden wheat color, cloudy. Head was mostly lasting with fair lacing.

Sent: Sweet wheat aroma with lemon zest, blueberry, and some floral notes.

Taste: Very crisp, fresh taste with a hint of blueberry

Mouth feel: : Smooth and light bodied, slightly hoppy at the beginning, giving way to a wheat complexion with the lemon and blueberry.

Overall Impression: Loved the blueberry aroma/taste. It was stronger in the scent than in the flavor. Excellent when cold, okay when starting to get warm.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2012 05:56:08 | More by DragonsSlippers