Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer - 21st Amendment Brewery

mymrnngjckt

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a can poured into a shaker pint. Only one finger of head developed.

A: a light golden yellow with mininal visible carbonation

S: No smell of watermelon at all. The smell was crisp with a citric and floral hint

T: Great actually. The watermelon really comes through in the finish. Reminds me a jolly rancher.

M: Good. The small amount of carbonation helped develop the characteristics on the palate.

D: Good. I enjoyed this beer a lot.

Serving type: can

08-03-2007 20:12:07 | More by mymrnngjckt

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A trip to San Francisco was a trip to 21st Amendment. It came with a wedge of watermelon with the glass. No longer are lemons and oranges used as a garnishment. The pour was a pretty hazy with a lemony yellow color. When arrived there was a nice but light frothy head but it did quickly hide to the edge of the glass and disappear altogether.

The nose was light and mostly consistent of a wheat beer. Some lighter notes of a melon-esk substance, but not sure if I would say it would be specific to watermelon.

The taste is similar with a very subtle American wheat beer flavor. Some lighter malt hints are there if you really look for them. Some graininess flavors and in the aftertaste the watermelon makes it’s presence detectable, but is slight.

The body is light but the watermelon aftertaste (more of a hint) leaves a slight sweeter flavor. But not a malty sweet more of a fruity sugar sweet. Carbonation felt low but an interesting wheat fruit experiment.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2007 22:42:36 | More by Oxymoron

beckje01

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Yellow cloudy no head.

S- Wonderful malt balance with the watermelon.

T- Good watermelon flavors but not over powering the malts with a nice clean end.

M- Crisp and active nice complement to the taste.

D- Very easy on a warm day or when the apartment is hot a little more watermelon would be good.

Serving type: can

05-26-2007 04:31:40 | More by beckje01

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

21st Amendment's Watermelon Wheat Beer pours a hazy orange body with a bit of a pinkish cast and golden highlights. The creamy white head holds fairly well, and it leaves some initial splatters and splashes of lace about the glass.

The aroma is quite bold, and displays fresh-cut watermelon rind.

The flavor is a little more fruit-like, a touch sweet, and remarkably authentic. It starts sweet, reveals its watermelon character, and then fades readily from the palate with just a little bit of melon flavor left behind.

It's interesting and quite easy to drink, but a bit one-sided. However, it makes a great summer beer, and would probably be great at backyard barbeques!

Serving type: can

05-04-2007 22:43:59 | More by NeroFiddled

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured aggressively to wake up all the watermelon aroma possible. Head is big and very soapy, and retains for a good while. Color is a cloudy light rust color, with tiny colonies of lace dotting the sides of the glass.

Watermelon is faint in the aroma, smelling a bit sour and sort of like overboiled vegetable matter. The wheat is the most dominant and appealing part of the aroma, with mild nutty yeast in the background.

Flavor is more authentically watermelon than the aroma, riding along nicely with the wheat. Both elements are balanced well, but it's a very simple partnership, as nothing else springs up from the flavors, except for a lemon-y tartness in the distance. Sour finish isn't welcome.

Feels a bit under-carbonated for the style and particular flavors. Kind of thin and watery.

I was anxious to try this after having read a lot of hype in some of the west coast beer newspapers. Glad I got the chance, but I'm not at all envious that we can't find it in this part of the country. It's merely okay.

[Thanks to melbatoast93 for bringing back a few of these from his latest west coast jaunt.]

Serving type: can

03-13-2007 21:18:54 | More by Metalmonk

goodbyeohio

Oregon

3.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

thanks to mkgrenwel for this can. i think i got it because he really disliked it.

hazy golden pour which keeps a creamy circle floating above. retention is minimal, like a belgian with no sticky power.

i can certainly get hints of fresh watermelon juice in the nose, but they're just that.. hints. predominant in the aroma is the graininess of an american wheat beer.. the fruitiness compliments the natural sour tinge of the wheat and accents it with summer sweetness.

easy drinking, weird tasting. first off, the beer is rather buttery. shows the watermelon quickly yet thoroughly and fades into a banana-laced almond paste flavor with earthy grains. i wish the watermelon is what's allowed to linger on my palate.. after all, the only reason i got excited about trying this is because i like watermelon.

great concept, love the can. what a snoozer though. i have no problem finishing my glass.. but i won't bend over backwards to procure any more brews. thought the watermelon funk at BBF was phenomenal- that's what needs to be done to this beer to enhance its fruitiness.

Serving type: can

02-07-2007 19:48:35 | More by goodbyeohio

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Much thanks to TomDecapolis for supplying this brew that I've been waiting months to try...
Appears a hazy pale gold with a small white head that quickly fades into a mild cap and collar.
Smell is of watermelon jolly ranchers, & obvious watermelon water ice jumping out without anything else more that stands out. It may sound appealing from a distance but it's really one dimensional.
The taste is of light sugar, bubblegum, and watermelon rind. I really don't know what else to say about it. It's not really bland...it's just uncomplex.
Mouthfeel is fizzy, light, yet very interesting.
I give 21st Amendment props for making this beer. It sounds like something that I would try for one of my homebrews. I'm sure they did a much better job than what I would've attempted.

Serving type: can

01-08-2007 03:39:08 | More by weeare138

kmcnair

California

3.9/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned microbrew! The wave of the future! (I hope)

Aroma - definitive sweet watermelon, crisp wheat, clean - no diacetyl, no noticable hops.

Appearance - Hazy golden hue, long lasting white head.

Flavor - Malty, wheat backbone that is slightly tart, pronounced fresh watermelon accent that tastes like real watermelon. Slight hop bitterness, focus is definitely on the blend of fruits. Well attenuated as it has a dry finish.

Mouthfeel - Crisp, clean with moderate carbonation, slightly creamy texture and a bit of warmth, not astringent. Light-medium bodied.

Overall Impression - This is a really well executed fruit beer, the balance of the base beer is almost perfect. Some critiques... I think a bit more wheaty twang and a spicy phenolic would go really well with the fresh watermelon flavors. Its a really great, easy drinking beer that I would love to enjoy on a hot summer day.

Thanks to barleypop for the can!

Serving type: can

12-07-2006 05:48:20 | More by kmcnair

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Is this the first can I've reviewed since Miller Lite? Fantastic styled can from 21A. Thanks Nico & Shaun.

Pours out as a deep murky hazy swamp water orange hue. No head to speak of.

Nose is a light cheddar, yes as in cheese. No fruit appearing.

First swigs: Oh there is the watermelon. Crammed in with the wheat and the light escaping malt. THis is a balancing act of light wheat and light malt. Yummy! Slight bubble gum. Easy watermelon and yes...cheese! Stickin' with the cheese aspect but subtle

Feel is thin and brisk!

Last swigs: This is trade worthy. Seek and destroy!

Serving type: can

12-03-2006 06:59:52 | More by blitheringidiot

timtheenchanta

South Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Many thanks to lou91 for sending a beer I've been excited about trying.

Clear golden straw color... almost like watered down honey. Thin white head that quickly fizzles away.

The nose is more akin to pineapple than watermelon. Slight wheat smell and a hint of doughy yeast.

Once again the taste is closer to pineapple but there's some watermelon flavor to it after it warms to room temperature. Dirty unkind wheat flavors.

Not my favorite brew overall but I'm glad I got the chance to try it. I think 21st's small capacity is the best thing this beer has going for it because it keeps people wanting to try it.

Serving type: can

11-17-2006 22:16:51 | More by timtheenchanta

shivtim

Georgia

2.1/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Watermelon Wheat in a can? Lets give it a try.
It's slighty hazy and amber, with no head to speak of. The nose is bitter watermelon and not much else. Taste is lots of watermelon, but it's not sweet at all. It's like watermelon vines. Very acrid and metallic. Mouthfeel is ok I suppose, it's a bit watery. The drinkability suffers from the non-sweet punch of watermelon flavor.

Serving type: can

10-03-2006 01:46:29 | More by shivtim

Imstillthegman

Delaware

3.88/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I, too, must thank Lou91 for this sample. I have been wanting to try this one.

Poured a pale straw color with a touch of cloudiness. Two finger, white head formed and then quickly disappeared. Some light lacing left behind.

Aroma is light. Average wheat beer smell, but with a hint of sweet watermelon. That little wiff of watermelon peaks my curiosity.

The taste follows the same path as the aroma. At first, it seems to be an average wheat beer, but then the watermelon creeps in. Nicely blended between the two. I was worried that it might be too sweet, but it is not. Watermelon aftertaste reminds you that it is a different kind of wheat beer.

Nice, light mouthfeel. Decent carbonation. This would have been an interesting beer to bring to a cookout. I think most people would enjoy it.

Serving type: can

10-02-2006 13:38:19 | More by Imstillthegman

dirtylou

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz single, Thanks lou91 for the try, I have been hearing about this beer in comparison to the great dane's version

appearance: I had no idea this came in a can....pours into an imperial pint glass....very pale body, light straw color, frothy white head with light lacing

smell: I can tell almost immediately what this beer is as i've seen its type before....a nice and original fruit presence over an average wheat body. I've never had a watermelon wheat before though, so its a fresh idea to me...aroma is of a nice red watermelon, honey, pale wheat body

taste: taste is immediately of watermelon which im not sure my palate knows how to process...body and base resembles an american pale wheat with very subtle flavor. It's an interesting beer and I can see a 6 pack of cans being a nice buy on a hot summer day

mouthfeel: medium-light body, average carbonation

drinkability: pretty high

Serving type: can

09-20-2006 02:29:20 | More by dirtylou

Brewfan

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Lou91 for the "bonus can" in our recently completed trade.

Poured from a 12 oz. silver can depicting what looks like mob guys in suits into my Duvel tulip.
Huge frothy white head on a clear golden body. Little retention in the head left little lace to speak of on the beer. Steady stream of bubbles rises from south to north.
Aroma of overripe watermelon. Not very pungent, but sweet, like watermelon sitting in a bowl in the sun for a few hours. No discernable hop aroma, just fruit. Actually very nice.
Initial taste is not far from the aroma. Sweet watermelon juice with a little maltyness and cantelope. Definate hoppy bitterness rounds out the back of the tongue. Quite refreshing. This is a definate summer beer. I could easily see myself sipping cans of these on the beach or a boat.
Light mouthfeel with decent carbonation. Crisp and snappy.

Thanks to Lou for the chance to try this one. I can see myself trading for a case next June.

Serving type: can

09-20-2006 01:05:54 | More by Brewfan

mitchfor3

California

3.95/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled at the 21st Amendment is SF.

This is a really interesting beer. Presentation was cheesy - in a weizenglass with a slice of watermelon garnishing the lip of the glass. Still, the tropical feeling was welcome and while gimmicky, it was also creative.

Beer was a hazy straw color with a fizzy white head.

Tastes and smells remarkably like watermelon. I think they nailed this one. Delightfully refreshing and went great with 21st's delicious pizza. In my experience, fruit beers tend not to make the best session beers, and this one is no exception. For me, drinkability was hampered by the uniqueness of the taste - one was enough.

Really an ideal beer to pick up in cans. Perfect for the beach!

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2006 23:29:25 | More by mitchfor3

unklesyd

Oregon

4/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer twice, and both times it has fallen on the better half of surprise.

I've heard many complaints that this beer is too spritzy and that there isn't enough going on flavor wise. However, I think that these are a couple of its strong points.

It is indeed spritzy, but not in an over-the-top, acidic bubbling on your tongue way. Effervescent is what I would call it.

The flavors are subtle, but with this style, that is the way it should be. Rather than dose this beer with a heavy watermelon Otter-pop juice flavor, the brewers kept it simple and gave the essence of the melon flavor in a dry, very neutral wheat beer base. No noticable hop flavors, which would very much distract from the watermelon.

Aroma is hard to detect, but there is a slight white flour and watermelon in the nose if you get close.

This is a perfect choice for a nice hot day. If I could buy their new cans up here, I'd get a case.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2006 15:26:26 | More by unklesyd

Chadbrew

Delaware

3.95/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

OK I'm pretty impressed with this. I really wanted to try it for the gimmick of a watermelon beer but I was pleasantly surprised to find a refreshing beer with alot of flavor. The appearance isn't anything to brag about and the aroma was a little like a capri-sun but the flavor was everything I thought it wouldn't be. Thankfully this is not a sweet beer. If it had been I think it would have ruined the beer by fullfilling my expectation of a watermelon extract/candy alcoholic schnaaps-like drink. Instead the fruit presence is definitely melon but was more cantaloupe than sugary. Highly drinkable... go get some!

Serving type: can

06-29-2006 22:39:18 | More by Chadbrew

benito

Oregon

2.88/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at 21st Amendment. After a long bike ride around San Francisco, I was looking for something refreshing and tasty. I was disappoitned.

A: Unfiltered. Cloudy gold served with a watermelon wedge. No head and low carbonation.

S: Lots of watermelon. It gives the impression that it's a standard American pale wheat beer with 400 lbs of watermelon in the mash.

T: A good watermelon sweetness across the front of the tongue. The flavors dissipate fast, meaning a dry finish. There were no residual flavors save a light 'wheatiness.'

M: Thin, but inoffensive. And not memorable.

D: Very summery and light. Easy to down a pint despite its lack of flavor.

Overall, mediocre but not offensive. Not recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2006 23:38:54 | More by benito

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Presentation: Silver can with black silhouettes and a dark red square with the words ‘Watermelon Wheat Beer. Holds 12 ounces of beer and is listed at 5.5% ABV.

Appearance: Massive white head forms rapidly and fills all the available space in my 20 ounce glass, despite the fact that it only holds 12 ounces of the brew. Pale golden yellow with a milky body. Clean looking with a healthy conditioning but it is not the usual over-carbonated fizz that so often comes from Cans.

Nose: Sweet nose, delicate wheat with little in the way of anything except for a very delicate hint of freshly cut watermelon.

Taste: Thin profile and low key tastes, but nice enough. Hints of watermelon only come through in the finish. The beginning has a watered down presentation and it struggles a bit in the initial stages but soon pulls round in the finish when the fruits show them selves.

Mouthfeel: It’s a wheat beer so it doesn’t knock your socks off, yet it puts up support in all the right places. Tended to feel a bit weak at first but it grows on you. Light but cheery!

Drinkability: Very refreshing, this is a great Summer beer and it doesn’t put up much of a fight, and it has a fantastic thirst quenching quality.

Overall: Craft beer in a Can is new to me, and this is probably the first which I have had in fact in the US. Lugged all the way down from San Francisco and gifted to me by Gentleman BA Barleypop.

Serving type: can

06-11-2006 23:40:29 | More by TheLongBeachBum

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +38%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My experiences with Watermelon Wheats had not been positive so I was hesitant to try this beer. At the advice of a respected BA I gave it a shot and boy was I ever surprised. First and foremost, 21st’s WW isn’t pink. It looks like beer rather than Kool-aid. This is positive. Its body is a hazed golden lager color served in a small weizen glass. Aroma is all watermelon, real, honest to goodness watermelon. Close your eyes and you’re body will tell you that you’re sniffing a big wedge of green and red goodness. The flavor matches as does the mouthfeel. It’s fibrous. This is the real deal. While there is almost no head, there are bountiful carbonation streams giving this beer a great bite. Body is very light. Drinkability is high due to the lack of artificial flavor and only light to moderate sweetness. They were wise not to overdo it. The best watermelon wheat I’ve had… in fact the only good Watermelon Wheat I’ve had.

Note: I'm giving this beer high marks not because I loved the beer but because I feel that 21st captured the style they were going for almost perfectly.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2006 16:27:19 | More by DaPeculierDane

donnebaby

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Crisp fresh watermelon nose -- like the mostly neutral smell of watermelon rind, lightly sweet and creamy. Opaque white gold body and a fat haze held up by the pulsing bubble carbonation.

Highly carbonated in the mouth -- almost to the point of club soda carbonation. Decent body, not thin. After of toasty dry cereals. This is certainly on the dry end of hefeweizens -- virtually no sweetness in the mouth. Light hop bitterness way after-the-fact. Complex in its subtlety, the watermelon wheat is clean and soda-like in the mouth and then blends light bitterness, toasty grains, and a small, sweet watermelon candy taste in the after.

I didn't think I liked this brew at first, but it definitely proves itself with subtlety and taste. An excellent pick for a summer seasonal.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2005 04:22:31 | More by donnebaby

dansroka

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +34.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I used to work in the neighborhood of 21st Amendment, and this quickly became a favorite summertime beer. Your first reaction to hearing the name is "watermelon? in a beer?". But watermelon provides a suprisingly light and refreshing twist to a wheat beer. After drinking it, we all had the sudden desire to try to brew it ourselves.

It arrives with a nice head, nice clear color, and a slice of watermelon (instead of the typical lemon). The taste is all beer, with just a hint of watermelon - enough to make a difference without feeling cloying or gimmicky. The draught is very refreshing, cutting through any flavors in whatever food you may be eating and cleansing your palette. Perfect with one of their great burgers, before strolling down to a game.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2005 19:46:00 | More by dansroka

Bang34

California

4.08/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A friend of mine made me try this before a Giants game and I really didn't expect to like it. I am not a fan of fruit beers having to deal with Pyramid's apricot ale when the ladies brought the beer. But I have to say that this was very good.

It poured a nice golden color with a bit of a head and a watermellon wedge on the rim of the glass.

It really didn't taste fruity at all, nice and crisp with hints of citrus like all good wheat beers should be and with just a hint of watermellon in the finish.

overall I have to say that the best thing about this beer is how refreshing it was. It was almost like drinking lemonade. Now whenever I head out to Pac Bell to catch the Giants I make sure to stop by the ammendment for a brew. It is a great way to start an evening of baseball.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2004 06:05:31 | More by Bang34

beerguy101

California

3.23/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Light gold color. A light bodied wheat ale. Fruit flavor is very subtle, its there but masked. Very smooth taste. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is neutral. A good wheat beer, but the melon taste is not really noticeable

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2002 19:43:18 | More by beerguy101