Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer - 21st Amendment Brewery

Cyrano41

Virginia

3.54/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

I don't think I would have every decided to try watermelon beer if there were no outside influences. But, I had just read an online article about coming down off your manly beer perch and trying fruit beers. In total wine, a reasonably attractive woman saw me looking at the can and commented that it was very good with a winning smile. These forces combined with my uncontrollable urge to try something new or different everytime I'm faced with the Wall Of Beer (and yes, it should be capitialized) lead me to setting down on the couch to watch Disney Channel with my family with a pale yellow, fizzy conncoction smelling like one of the kids dropped a jolly rancher in my beer. After the first drink, I smiled and examinied my glass again. Hazy yellow, thin head with two scents; a good wheat and candy watermelon. I smiled wider and handed the glass to my wife. "What does that taste like to you?" I was thinking that no way should a good beer and watermelon work together....but it did! My better half took a tenitive sip, "Cherry?" I'm still not sure how she got that. Bigger swallow, "watermelon!" I don't think the normal review would give this beer it's due. Long and short of it is, it tastes good! Low enough ABV to qualify as sessionable, light enough to allow drinking a few and with enough flavor that you want to. Now, I will say that it may be too sweet for some people to session, but give it a try.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 15:50:29 | More by Cyrano41

Bauzen

New York

3.68/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer is nice alternative to conventional, off the shelf, light beer. It makes me think of summer and it's perfect on a hot day. Can't say much more about it... There isn't much depth or complexity - don't think they were going for that.

For what it's worth... It's better on tap.

Serving type: can

05-15-2013 00:22:42 | More by Bauzen

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a clean, pale yellow with a hint of orange. The beer forms a rocky head of slightly creamy white bubbles. The beers body is nearly crystal clear with just a faint hazing, and the beer’s head leaves a lacing of sticky dry bubbles. On the nose, the beer smells tart and citric with a nice sweet underlying melon scent that gives a touch of grassy hops. There is also a slight jammy smell that is a part of the melon smell, but I assume that is just the fruit in the beer. From the can, the sweet fruit is more pronounced with a touch of vegetal scents. On the tongue the beer tastes sweet with a light tartness and some lovely distinctions between the calmer sweet of the malt and the fruitier sweet of the melon. In flavor the beer begins as sweet bread and then slowly moves into distinct bitter watermelon flavors, which is impressive. There is a light citric tartness underlying the flavors, but the water melon builds into a big, sweet crescendo in the finish, leaving the aftertaste clean with a slight hint of lingering malt sweetness. From the can it tastes more metallic and chemically from the can. It definitely tastes better from the glass. In the mouth the beer feels crisp and on the heavier side of light in body with a touch of citric spritz from the medium carbonation levels. The mouth is left clean and a little tingly with some slight bitterness. Overall, this a great crisp summer beer that incorporates the watermelon flavor beautifully. It is not too sweet, just a touch tart, and just a touch bitter and is great to drink. It is a great fruit beer with not too much overpowering fruit. Try this beer.

Serving type: can

05-14-2013 03:50:14 | More by Maxwell

CT949

California

3.8/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Even though the only other fruit flavored beer I've ever had was Shipyard's blueberry, by nature, I'm not a big fan of fruit flavored beer.

That being said, I was very surprised with this 21st Amendment beer. The watermelon is very poignant and almost tastes like Gatorade. I drank five of these without even thinking about it. Great summer beer.

Serving type: can

05-14-2013 02:00:57 | More by CT949

Minkybut

Virginia

2.8/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

I poured this watery beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. Not cold enough! The beer was a pee colored concoction but did poor a really pretty big white head. i was hopeful. Slight watermelon smell first then kinda sour smell. Worried. Slightly cloudy looking also. The beer was VERY watery tasting. Kinda like watermelon kool aid that half the flavor packet had not made it into the mix. I will not buy this beer again.

Serving type: can

05-11-2013 15:56:18 | More by Minkybut

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.36/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a finger of head on a hazy, light straw colored body.
The aroma is interesting. A bit of grain and watermelon. Not bad, just interesting.
The taste has a soft, almost water and wheat taste at first. The there's the mild watermelon sweetness.
The texture is soft with moderate carbonation.
As far as watermelon beers go it's the best one I've had. Simple flavors and easy drinking.

Serving type: can

05-11-2013 04:48:40 | More by Fatehunter

Jonada

New Jersey

3.49/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz canned on 3/11/2013. Served in a pint glass

Appearance: Pours a pale yellow color with a little over a finger of a white soapy head. Body is hazy with some visible sediment floating in the glass.

Smell: Wheat, melon, some yeast spiciness, hint of wet grain and yeast spiciness.

Taste: Same as the nose, only slightly more assertive. Melon and melon rind are the most notable, followed by wheat and yeast spice. Not complex, but what's there is pleasant.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, crisp and refreshing. Medium carbonation.

Overall: In a world full of mediocre fruited summer wheat beers, I feel like this does at least stand out a bit from the crowd (if for no other reason than the use of watermelon). I thought the melon worked well with the wheat beer base. Not excellent by any means, but if I'm looking for something refreshing on a hot day, I'd definitely get this again.

Serving type: can

05-04-2013 21:26:20 | More by Jonada

yuenglingade

Pennsylvania

2.29/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

Poured a cloudy yellow with the aroma of a wheat field and a hint of watermelon. Smell was very odd which was mirrored by the odd taste. Just an different kind of tasting brew overall. I could not get past the aroma! For those looking to try a flavored summer wheat by all means give it a shot. This was just not my kind of brew at all! Sorry Jim!!!

Serving type: can

05-01-2013 04:18:40 | More by yuenglingade

ckollias

Maryland

3.14/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Enjoyed this 12oz can out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a clear straw color with a thin, white, 1-finger head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace leaving a partial trail.

S: Slightly tart and fruity aroma.

T: Subtle fruity watermelon flavor with a slight tartness and finishes clean.

M: Light body and medium carbonation.

O: Interesting fruit wheat beer – subtle watermelon taste – a refreshing brew but nothing I would grab again.

Serving type: can

04-19-2013 02:46:09 | More by ckollias

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Can

Pours hazy lemon gold, white head dissipates to nothing.

Smells of wheat, melon and citrus.

Tastes wheaty and notably melony, on the lighter side.

Lighter body with tingles of carbonation on the tongue.

Light, highly drinkable. Not exceptional but interesting. Good session candidate.

Serving type: can

04-14-2013 21:02:33 | More by Cylinsier

Mantooth

North Carolina

2.89/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

On draft at The String Bean, Belmont, NC. Poured in a standard US pint glass.

Pours hazy with a fair amount of visible carbonation, very little head and a nice bit of oily lacing that persists throughout the experience. I can faintly smell watermelon, but I also know it's supposed to be there. I can definitely taste it, along with some bitter rind and some thin standard flavors of a lesser wheat beer. I'm glad I tried it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2013 23:09:37 | More by Mantooth

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.76/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

On-tap at the brew-pub of 21st Amendment complete with a water-melon wedge on the rim of the glass (4.9% ABV).

Hazy gold body with a thin excuse for a head on top.

Not a lot going on in the nose or taste really: some watery wheatness just about detectable and I suppose some water melon hints as well.

OK, but not my sort of beer. Refreshing but not a winter beer in my eyes, which is when I had it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2013 22:06:24 | More by BlackHaddock

magictacosinus

California

2.95/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a weizen glass from a can. Bottling date is clearly stated at the bottom of the can as "03/02/13."

Pours a hazed, cloudy yellowish-amber look that is pretty typical to beers of this style. A nice foamy head coats the top of the glass (especially with my added extra aggressive pour), but it eventually dwindles down to pretty much nothing but a ring. Bubbles are disappointingly modest here, as well as lacing. The liquid is pretty thick in appearance, and the yeast is definitely noticeable. Still, nothing too showy or impressive. Say... I'd never guess there was watermelon in this thing by looking at it though!

Right at the front of the nose they definitely nailed spot-on the exclusive watermelon ingredient, alongside lightly tinged spices known in wheat beers. The watermelon is slightly sweet, juicy and vibrant, and also provides an off-finish resembling cantaloupe, or some barley ripe green melon. The smell overpowers other aspects in the aroma, but I am picking up some hearty wheat yeastiness, a little bit of herbal character, and lightly packed bready notes, but the watermelon concentrate and rinds really are the star here. In terms of experimenting, they definitely got something interesting and refreshing going on here, but it is unbalanced in displaying all of the beer's aspects.

The flavor, however, is a bit bizarre in following up the aroma. Lots of watermelon dried peel flavors come in, and finish in a soured, candied manner. Coriander and slightly muted spices soon follow, as well as a yeasty, bright character. The melon rinds become progressively tarty, especially as this warms up, and rather than taste juicy and thick, this beer instead comes off as needlessly dry and grainy. There's an astringent aftertaste that resembles sandpaper-like feel, which is strange. The alcohol, despite being below 5%, is surprisingly present here to the point of distraction. Carbonation is low, and there's a slight watery, thinned feel in the finish. Definitely not the most pleasing wheat beer to drink overall.

This is a strange one alright, and while I appreciate the watermelon rind tartness going on here, the beer lacks all of the hearty, chewy characteristics I love in wheat beers. I paired this with actual watermelon, and it was easier to drink... But then I realized that the watermelon fruit itself was more flavorful and juicy and muted the beer as a result. The extra graininess, alcohol burn, and thinness does not make this as refreshing as other Spring/Summer alternatives. For fans of novelty beers, do try this, but I can't recommend this as much as I'd like to.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 02:58:56 | More by magictacosinus

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.2/5  rDev -31.9%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2

Can: Poured a light yellow color ale with a small pure white foamy head with minimal retention. Aroma of watermelon and light wheat malt is weird and not really enticing. Taste is a mix between some watermelons which is more dominant then expected with some light wheat malt. Body is thin with light carbonation. Boring thin wheat with light watermelon flavours.

Serving type: can

02-04-2013 01:50:07 | More by Phyl21ca

Huffs

New York

2.84/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Emptied into a Sam Adams glass, a light, foamy head developed which dissipated in short order. Appearance was a straw, yellow with a hazy hue. Aroma was light with fruity, sweet hints and slightly sour on the back. Taste was fruity and did remind me of the white part of the watermelon. Taste was also light with a hint of sour. Aftertaste was very light and a bit sour and fruity. Mouthfeel was watery.

Serving type: can

01-27-2013 22:43:36 | More by Huffs

tectactoe

Michigan

2.94/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked up on a trip back from Toledo. Pours a golden-straw color, fairly opaque, letting some light and opposite-side shadowing through. Wispy white head fades quickly leaving no lacing behind. Nose is full of some wheat as well as a strange hodge-podge of fruit and/or vegetables. Weirdly enough, V-8 tomato juice comes to mind; for some reason, I'm picking up big tomato hints. As time rolls on, the watermelon starts to come out more, and by the end of it, the watermelon is certainly the most prominent aroma, with a slight, astringent tartness that mixes with the sweetness from the malt and the dry wheat. The flavor is also kind of strange to say the least. It's like a light, wheat beer, heavy on the malt and wheat, mixed with some tart watermelon rind in the background. The watermelon flavors bounce in and out, but there's no mistaking the fruit - it's most definitely watermelon. It's more of an astringent, dry watermelon rind kind of flavor, where I was expecting a juicy, fruity watermelon. It's more natural than artificial tasting, though, which is most definitely a good thing. Thin body, medium carbonation.

This beer is weird. I was very excited to try it, and I thought it would actually be a little more fruity than it is. Watermelon is definitely present, but not quite in the capacity I would have liked, and not presented in the manner I would have hoped for. Still reasonably drinkable, and definitely something that I was glad to try, but I don't think I'll be getting this one again.

Serving type: can

12-24-2012 21:11:50 | More by tectactoe

Ricochet

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Light yellow. Light foam. Small bubbles, strong lace. Didn't seem like a wheat beer.
S: A slight bit of raisin was all that I could detect.
M: Hollow foam at the back, bitter at the front but no lasting bitter.
T: Watermelon right? Wheat beer right? So there was a bit of watermelon, but weak as well as the wheat profile. Slightly sweet, and almost a hint olive oil. I'd say this was more sour than bitter.

O: An odd concoction that would be refreshing on a hot day. However fans of fruit beers probably wouldn't find watermelon a flavor to love, unless it was more candy like and pronounced. I'd look elsewhere.

Serving type: can

12-01-2012 05:19:03 | More by Ricochet

Bitter_Echo

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +13%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Something also on trade...this one a fruit, which I normally don't get a chance to try much. Pours a cloudy pilsey yellow with almost no head, and little lacing. Smells sweet, and green, and floral. Taste is interesting, different from many other fruit beers, surely some watermelon, but only hints. An interesting approach to a fruit beer and one that I was happy to try. Easy drinking, and not bitter and light. Carbonation is only low-moderate. Fun to try!

Serving type: can

11-19-2012 00:58:20 | More by Bitter_Echo

BeerManDan

California

2.63/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The color when poured into a glass was a hazy light yellow with hardly any foam and not lace at all on the side of the glass. The smell of yeasty citrus was evident in the aroma. The taste had of a bitter yeasty watermelon, that was not a pleasant feel on the palate. This is not what I would expected from the beer company. Not one of their better brew's.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 23:58:50 | More by BeerManDan

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer pours a slightly hazy yellow with a pillowy white head and no lacing. The aroma is of watermelon with cake and mild sweet malt. The flavor is watermelon throughout with lemon, cake, and wheat malt notes. There is a good balance between the watermelon and the rest in both the aroma and on the palate. It's mouthfeel is light. 21st Amendment Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer is a good beer, a good example of the style, and refreshing. Recommended.

Serving type: can

10-27-2012 06:35:17 | More by B967ierhunter177

FosterJM

California

3.35/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1560th Review on BA
Can to Pint
12oz

Purchased @Total Wine & More, Sacramento, CA for $1.79
Didnt write down canning date

App- It looks more like a wheat that I though. Didnt have any off color. Maybe was thinking it would be red/pink. Guess thats what I get for thinking. Had a good wheat haze behind it with a semi large 2 finger, fast receding head to it. Still no cling. Looked nice though.

Smell- Its about the par for a wheat beer. I get the wheat, a little bit of grassy and maybe some lemon. I dont get any of the watermelon on the aroma. Just a bit light and a bit average for me. Not my favorite style so probably has a lot to do with it.

Taste- I thought this was a very tasty beer. It wouldve been great for the 100+ temps in So. Cal if it was distro'd down here. Had the watermelon flavor and was suprised it wasnt overpowering but well layered and tasteful.

Mouth- A bit light on the feel. Just a bit flat as well. Its a light body with a pretty flat medium carbonation. Could be that this can was 5 months old I believe.

Drink- I thought it was tasty and for a fruity beer with a wheat background, I would anticipate during the summer this would taste a whole lot better.

Serving type: can

10-10-2012 14:57:18 | More by FosterJM

JKuras

Virginia

2.68/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Yellow-orange in color, creamy and hazy. About an inch of fluffy head forms at the top but quickly dies down to nearly nothing. Doesn’t look overly carbonated. Looks like a typical hef.

Smell: Very sweet and floral, I’m thinking honeysuckle, with some malty grains backing it up.

Taste: More of that floral sweet honeysuckle at first, then comes the watermelon and citrus notes, and finally the malts and bitter hops finish. The watermelon tastes a little artificial and overall the brew is more sour and acidic than I was expecting. I’m not getting much of the cloves/banana etc that I expect from wheat beers, but there is some banana there.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, refreshing going down and easy on the finish. A little bit syrupy consistency.

Overall: Had one of these leftover from summer, and it’s a nice hot day today so figured I’d kill the six-pack. This is probably the only one I poured into a glass to review properly, the rest I drank straight from the can. And I think that’s how these should be enjoyed -- floating down a river or by the beach in a tube with just the can. It’s not a bad summer brew but I think the artificial flavor would turn some people off. My woman didn’t like it and she’s a fan of fruit beers. One of these is great, after two or three I’d probably get tired of the sweet and sourness.

Serving type: can

10-06-2012 18:56:35 | More by JKuras

colts9016

Idaho

3.3/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a wiezen glass at 40 degrees

Appearance: one finger foamy white head that has no retention. The color of the beer is a medium yellow with pale yellow hues. The clarity of the beer is cloudy probably due to yeast. The head no longer remains in the beer.

Nose: The aroma of wheat and grass are the most prominent aromas. The watermelon aroma is faint but of course there is really no smell to watermelon. The only other aroma in the beer is yeast.

Taste: predominately wheat with notes of citrus and grass. The watermelon is there along with the yeast and a subtle sweetness like honey.

The mouth feel of the beer is carbonated with a crisp finish.

Overall: the body of the beer is light and the finish is medium. Although, you can't taste the watermelon in the beer, it is a pretty apparent going down. This is a good fruit and herb beer. This beer would be great on a nice sunny summer afternoon.

Serving type: can

09-29-2012 04:58:27 | More by colts9016

mgironta

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This brew poured with a one finger white head that dissipated quickly and left no lacing on the glass. The body was a clear, golden-yellow color with mild visible carbonation. The nose was very muted. I only got a hint of watermelon. I remember this having more of a nose the last time that I had it. On the taste, the first thing that hit me was how much more carbonation there was on the taste than what I could see in the glass. The next thing that hit me was that this tasted exactly like a liquid watermelon jolly rancher to me. This was completely saturated with lots of artificial watermelon, which wasn’t all that pleasant. After that, I really didn’t get anything else. Any other flavors were completely hidden by the watermelon. The finish was quick, again with watermelon. I remember enjoying this beer much more…I guess my tastes have changed. I would not rush back to have this.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 23:04:33 | More by mgironta

B0BZ1LLA

3.73/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A pale, straw-yellow and slightly cloudy beer with virtually no head.

S: A somewhat-too sour watermelon smell accompanies a decent wheat aroma.

T: It's almost all watermelon, but it's surprisingly just the right amount. It's not a watered down wheat, nor is it a liquid jolly rancher.

M: Hell or High Watermelon is a fairly light beer.

O: A great summer beer.

Serving type: can

09-03-2012 03:39:51 | More by B0BZ1LLA