Hell Or High Watermelon Wheat Beer - 21st Amendment Brewery

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.33/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

What a CUTE name: 'Hell or High Watermelon'! Have tried this a couple times before, always on-draught at the Oregon Brewers Fest; this is my first taste fro the can. A 12 oz'er, poured to a pint glass.

A: Nice lofty head of white cream, nearly two-fingers before cresting and falling. A lightly hazed, milky wheat-yellow with plenty of rising carbonation.

S: Meh, bland smelling wheat-malt aroma with the vaguest 'melon' aroma, a bit tart. Weird candy/fruit, although not quite the 'Jolly Rancher' sort of 'watermelon'. Not a terrible smell, but not really appealing either.

T: Interesting, full of wheat and a plump/ripe watermelon that doesn't dominate. The earthy and rind-like watermelon is evident throughout, adding some dimension to an otherwise simple wheat ale.

D: Mouthfeel is rather weak/watery and generally unimpressive. Light in body, low in carbonation.

M: Certainly 'drinkable' and, honestly, quite refreshing. Despite a weak feel, the watermelon flavor and light wheat come through nicely; it's a 'summer' beer if there ever was one. Quirst-quenching and extremely easy going down. Not one to rush out and hoard, but certainly worth a try, especially on a hot day.

Serving type: can

08-21-2009 03:33:46 | More by msubulldog25

nickd717

California

2.6/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Review dated 2/15/2009.

On tap at the brewpub. Hazy yellow color with a small white head and a watermelon slice on the glass. Aroma is lots of watermelon. Flavor is wheaty with - you guessed it - watermelon. Pretty sour and almost cidery on the finish. Light on the palate, refreshing but a little off-balance in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 18:46:35 | More by nickd717

flexabull

California

3.63/5  rDev +12%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light gold color, a little cloudy, with a faint white head.

Aromas are nice, light watermelon, cream, and candied sugars.

This kind of tastes like a watermelon jolly rancher. Though the watermelon flavors aren't overly strong. There is some creaminess, sugars, and some wheat spices.

Mouthfeel is pretty good, surprisingly fuller than I thought it would be.

Drinkability is pretty good. It's a bit of a novelty, and that wore off towards the end of the can. But it's light, tasty, and would be pretty nice for the summer time. Worth a try, but don't go out of your way to get this.

Serving type: can

02-16-2009 21:43:18 | More by flexabull

morimech

Minnesota

2.28/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Pale straw color that has the slightest haze. One finger of head that settles to a thin film. Some spotty lacing is left behind on the glass.

Sort of a bizare aroma and flavor. Does not smell specific like watermelon, but sort of a decomposing rind, vegatable aroma. Some sort of spice is lingering in there but I cannot specifically identify it.

Not a fan of the flavor either. Certainly unique. Watermelon rind, lemon, and pale wheat malt.

Solid, light body of a wheat ale. Well matched carbonation.

Not a fan of this beer. A weird aroma and flavor for sure. Finding it hard to finish.

Serving type: can

04-22-2012 17:32:09 | More by morimech

illidurit

California

2.3/5  rDev -29%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a hazy dark gold with a thin white head that fizzes away quickly. No lacing at all. Aroma is an explosion of diacetyl. Huge butter note with a wisp of watermelon. Almost intolerable. Flavor is better in that the watermelon and wheat flavors come through, but there's still a lot of that gross mealy butterscotch. Mouthfeel is a little sticky for what ought to be a refreshing summer beer. Drinkability is not good because of how easy it is to get sick of this diacetyl bomb. This beer needs a reformulation.

Serving type: can

11-08-2008 08:33:28 | More by illidurit

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-couldy straw colored beer almost resembling, sorry to say it, urine. Thin bubbly head that disspates quickly and leaves no lace behind

S-the nose is boozy like rum soaked strawberry with hints of clove and banana. The yeast is present and mixed into the straberry booze.

T/M-taste follows the nose, alcohol soaked strawberries that blend into some notes of clove and banana. smooth and creamy, light body, crisp finish, highly carbonated throughout.

D-easy drinking and somewhat sweet, suprisingly it shows alcohol with such a low alc beer.

Serving type: can

02-17-2010 23:49:31 | More by cpetrone84

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Clown Shoes pint glass.

A - Pours a hazy straw colour with a quarter inch fizzy why head that disappears leaving no lacing at all. Small particles suspended in the pour.

S - Nice typical wheat notes here with just the faintest of watermelon rind aroma.

T - Tastes like well, a wheat beer with some semi-fake watermelon flavour. The watermelon at some point has almost a rind taste, where others it tastes like watermelon candy or icecream.

M - Crisp almost high carbonation. Feels nices in the mouth and refreshing on the tongue.

D - Very refreshing. A watermelony flavoured lighter beer great for summertime. Looks like your typical "light" beer, not much on the nose. Still its enjoyable.

Serving type: can

01-18-2011 06:29:30 | More by rudzud

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VIII:

The can says to agitate before opening, so we know this is an unfiltered wheat. Fermented with watermelon, and watermelon juice added. The wheat really rises to the occasion with a sturdy and healthy froth, and does not want to move even after a sip or two. Golden yellow color, obvious haze from the yeast that was agitated back into the beer. Big wheat and yeast twang in the nose with a mild, fermented fruit tartness and bitterness from the rind. More than enough crispness to go around, compliments of the wheat. Moderately sized body. Quick, refreshing twang of fermented watermelon and rind that resembles a rhubarb-like flavor. Hops leave a little bit of bitterness, just enough to balance. Melon flavor throughout is light but even. Finishes with a lasting kernel of wheat malt and remnants of melon rind.

Interesting stuff here: The watermelon works with and contrasts itself at the same time. Perhaps a bit to intricate though still somewhat drinkable. Worth a shot if you are into different kinds of fruit beers.

Serving type: can

09-13-2010 20:45:07 | More by BeerAdvocate

claspada

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours yellow and hazy,with a thick white head that falls away into a thin head of small white bubbles. It left some lacing on the glass. Mouthfeel is a little undercarbonated for the style.

Aroma is dead on for a Watermelon Jolly Rancher; no hop aroma detected. Pretty simple.

Taste is also pretty straight-forward; its clean, finishes nicely. Its medium body is a bit much for the style (wish it was a little lighter), grainy in the back, some sweetness with the watermelon flavor overpowering the other malts and any hops. Its about what you'd expect a watermelon wheat to taste like. The drinkability will vary by how much you like watermelon/fruit beers; for me I could do 3 max and then be burnt out but as I said some could do many many more, some 1 and done.

Serving type: can

08-27-2010 01:53:44 | More by claspada

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to mymrnngjckt for throwing a can of this my way. Poured into my Chimay chalice a cloudy yellow color with about a finger of white head that quickly fades into a thin layer. Smells of crisp wheat and watermelon candy. Upon my first sip, yeah there's watermelon in here. Having a hard time figuring out whether watermelon extract or watermelon puree/pulp is used is this brew. Not sure you'd get this type of Jolly Rancher flavor from real watermelon pulp. Regardless, this tastes just as the label states which to me, is a good thing since I am a fan of watermelon. Mouthfeel is slightly lacking with bothe body and carbonation coming in a notch below medium. If this was more accessible, I'd have it on hand all the time from spring till fall.

Serving type: can

01-13-2009 04:47:18 | More by ClockworkOrange

scottfrie

California

2.83/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Canned 3/26/12 if that matters.

A: Pours a lightly cloudy light golden with a very fizzy and short lived white head that quickly faded into nothingness leaving no lace. Very soda-like looking carbonation.
S: I get pale notes of cracked wheat with sweeter hints of perfume-like fruit. The nose is light, crispy, and slightly synthetic.
T: A hint of watermelon pokes through light notes of grains and wheat, but it’s really more an essence or suggestion of fruit rather than an in-your-face watermelon experience. The finish is very crackery and the aftertaste is quick and forgetful. There’s something that reminds me of vegetable stew in there as well, although it’s in the background.
M: Carbonation is definitely overly fizzy and sharp like drinking a soda. Once it dies down in my mouth the body is medium but the mouthfeel is a bit syrupy and greasy.
O: Not terrible but not the most appealing beer out there. I cold with a meal maybe, but I don’t need to drink this again.

Serving type: can

05-06-2012 01:27:10 | More by scottfrie

garymuchow

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Good marketing for this brewery and beer. Let's see how it holds up for experience.
The watermelon has a sweet fruity quality that isn't quite what I'd expect for watermelon. Also contains a bit of a vegetable quality too. Kinda' summer vegatable garden. Not that enticing.
Head left very quickly and quite loudly. Mostly clear golden and lots of bubbles rising in Sam Adams glass.
Taste is like aroma in that it's more generic vegatable than sweet watermelon. More the greens than the sweet fruit or meat. Mildly dry with a touch of hop bitterness. Certainly holds Am. wheat style qualities.
Feel is right for style with ample carbonation.
Not what I expected and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't seek this out on it's own. Now I'm gonna' try this with lunch (a "big salad") and it might do quite well with that, otherwise I'd generally pass.

Serving type: can

02-05-2010 17:24:13 | More by garymuchow

wagenvolks

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz can into a Kloster Andechs glass. First beer review since trekking across the Gulf of Mexico for 45 days.

HoHWW pours with a fizzy, bright straw-golden hue. An eggshell head is retained only by virtue of the insanely active carbonation level. Slight fruity sweetness to the nose, but the majority of the aroma is crusty wheat grains and cereal.

The flavor brings an initial squirt of Starburst-like watermelon flavor, but it's very artificial and doesn't last long. It quickly gives way to stale wheat and a cooked veggie presence. Mouthfeel is bubbly and thin, but nicely crisp and refreshing per the style. Overall, this is an interesting take on the "fruity wheat" style, but the base beer is lack-luster. No point in adding watermelon to a mediocre wheat beer. I'd pass on this next time, but it was worth a try.

Serving type: can

12-11-2010 00:54:17 | More by wagenvolks

Arbitrator

California

2.05/5  rDev -36.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Chilled can into a glass.

I was hot as hell when I had this, so I thought it would be a perfect beer for the circumstances.

A: Pours a clear straw color with a slight orange shade to it. The vigorous pour yields a decent head, but retention is a few seconds at best, receding into a collar and leaving no lacing down the glass.

S: Mostly an earthy yeast and wheat smell with the unmistakable tinge of Taco Bell bean burritos. I'm not making this up. A little lemony citrus to it. No watermelon.

T: Mostly a yeast and wheat combination, with a slightly tart watermelon finish. There's still that Taco Bell bean burrito flavor in here. WTF!?! My palate is totally clean too.

M: Light-bodied. Carbonation is moderate. Flavor is a bit watery.

D: I do enjoy Taco Bell (shoot me), but I didn't enjoy this beer. It's not something I'd have again unless someone made me drink it.

Serving type: can

07-31-2009 23:12:43 | More by Arbitrator

Redrover

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was told that the Watermelon wheat is their most popular beer. Served in a hefe glass. The beer is a hazy dark straw color with a bone white head and awesome lacing.

The nose is of watermelon and wheat malts. Could be turned up a notch, but you know what your getting.

The beer leads with a bit of watermelon; some grains a hint of spice. It has a big watermelon finish.

The mouth is nicely slick. Nice hot weather beer, another killer crossover beer from this brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2008 19:00:23 | More by Redrover

lackenhauser

Maryland

2.58/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Hazy golden color. Quite lively when poured. OK aroma-somewhat yeasty and wheat like. Moderate level of fruitiness. Rather chemical and industrial flavor. While it might be described as "watermelon" I find it to be more like tasting the rind or pith from one. Not overly unpleasant but just does not work. OK body for the style-crisp finish. A bit of a dissapointment. I would tend to think a watermelon beer would be hard to pull off-they didnt get there with this one for sure.

Serving type: can

04-29-2010 22:41:53 | More by lackenhauser

armock

New York

3.83/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Can from Perry's Liquor in Livermore CA

A - POured a slight hazed yellow color with a white head that leaves some spotty lacing behind

S - Is fairly light with wheat and some watermelon

T - Starts off like most wheat ales with wheat upfront then the watermelon starts coming through and dominates the finish

M - This beer has a light body with higher carbonation to it

O - While I'm not that into fruit beers this one is pretty good as the fruit flavoring isn't overpowering making it very easy to drink this is going to be a good beer as the weather warms up worth trying sometime if you see it

Serving type: can

03-25-2011 21:48:58 | More by armock

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

A: Poured a VERY cloudy, light cheddar cheese yellow color, with about a 1-2 finger head that quickly retreated into the brew below. The carbonation was very much on the low side. Hmmmm... If I were a betting man and didn't know the style beforehand, I would have said this was a Witbier from the look of it.

S: Sweet watermelon rind for sure, but it also had sort of a high pitched tart and/or aspriny quality to it. It was very organic at first sniff, but then I got a bit of that manufactured "artificial fruit" scent.

T: The carbonation was virtually non-existent, making the fruit juice quality that much more noticable. The wheat hit the palate first, followed by the watermelon and finishing that way as well. The fruit taste on the end was actually kind of refreshing in an odd sort of way.

M: Flat as a pancake! I mean.... wow.... man oh man this stuff needed more bubbles to cut through the sugar! After a few gulps I started to notice a bit of a prickle by the bubbles, but nothing worth noting. No lacing on the glass whatsoever.

D: If I were in the Caribbean and no beer was around except for this and Bud, I'd choose this. Otherwise, I'd definitely skip it.

Serving type: can

01-03-2011 03:35:13 | More by Chaney

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

2.78/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

"If you're going through hell or high water(melon), don't you do it alone." - Black Stone Cherry

Cloudy gold color with a thin white head. The head then quickly got up and left. Oh well.

Smells like a McDonald's Egg McMuffin. I kid you not.

Tastes like wheaty yeast with watermelon. The watermelon itself is pretty good, it's the actual beer that's icky. A Zima lover's beach beer at best.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2009 00:49:07 | More by donkeyrunner

Offa

California

3.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I was not expecting much from a wheat beer with watermelon, but saw single cans for sale so I figured I'd try it and I was pleasantly surprised.

Hazy orangish straw yellow, it has a medium off-white head, steadily shrinking to a wispy top and no real lace.

The aroma is the weakest aspect and is a bit unpleasant. It smells of apples, flour and a hint of bread dough - definitely a wheat ale quality but different, hint of pine sap, and a hint of watermelon, mostly an old, turned unpleasant watermelon quality. It's not dreadful, but it's not good, either.

The taste, though, is actually pretty good as well as being interesting and unusual and it somewhat grew on me. It's odd and different, but pleasant, with a definite watermelon element (a bit like watermelon candy without the sweetness), a general wheat-ale quality of grain, dough, and dryish fruit, as well as cucumber, and light juiciness with a finish of wheat and cooked beans. It's dryish, not really sweet or bitter.

Serving type: can

12-17-2008 18:36:56 | More by Offa

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

merc7186

New York

3.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had this beer poured from a can into a pint glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, Almost No Head, No Lacing

S: Watermelon, Mild Wheat, Metallic

T: Watermelon, Pear, Wheat

M: Poor Carbonation, Light Bodied, Mildly Sweet

Overall, this would be a nice, drinkable summer beer but carbonation was garbage and weak.

Serving type: can

03-16-2012 20:01:54 | More by merc7186

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Can as an extra from numbeercruncher - thanks!! Poured into a cervoise.

Appearance: Pours a very slightly hazed golden yellow, a very traditional hefe-esque color, with a two-finger white head of average to perhaps - for the style - slightly above average retention. Leaves some nice splotches of runny, glittery, watery lacing. The carbonation is plentiful, well-distributed, relatively fine-bubbled, and very fast.

Aroma: A little simplistic, though largely pleasant. Plenty of lightly tart watermelon, pretty authentic, over a biscuity-smelling malt base. Strangely enough, I get hints of caramel and caramelized sugars out of this one, which seem a little off - at least in my mind. Not bad though.

Taste: A little tarter and fruitier than I'd like, with a few unpleasant "vegetal" notes. On the other hand, there's plenty of good stuff here - a sweet malt base with hints of roast peeking through and watermelon "pulp" notes that transition from sweet up front to tart in the finish, slightly juicy, slightly acidic.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and big-bubbled - result of all that effervescence in a relatively thin body - resulting in a puffy and uneven mouthfeel. It doesn't work too poorly with these flavors, though in most beers it would be really distracting.

Drinkability: An interesting brew. The watermelon definitely comes through on this one, adding both a few complex fruit sugars as well as a tart, slightly puckering note in the finish. It works decently well with the beer's base too, though the whole package just leaves a little to be desired, in my opinion. On the drinkable side, it's low in alcohol and solidly made. Perhaps a few tweaks with this one - adjusting the malt base to something a little solider and simpler, and modifying the watermelon addition somehow (I know this is difficult, haha) would make this one a really tasty fruit beer. Still glad I got a chance to try it. Plus, it's in a can - another bonus!

Serving type: can

12-26-2008 00:19:10 | More by CrellMoset

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I was in Ohio and we picked up a 6 pack of cans from local store. The beer poured a hazy golden yellow..almost like a farmhouse cider, tiny white bubbly head, with no lacing. There was definitely some melon in the aroma and also in the taste. Malt and wheat balanced the beer in both smeel and taste. The mouthfeel was light in body and good carbonation. Overall a decent beer, probably better served in the summer.

Serving type: can

01-22-2012 14:55:23 | More by WoodBrew

Brenden

Ohio

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

This one is a heavily clouded light golden color. The white head pours out fizzy and sits for a short while before dying away, leaving very light lacing behind.
There's a slightly tart aroma with an earthy note and just a very light touch of watermelon in the nose. Wheat is here as well. It's a bit dull.
It seems pretty evident that there's a very real watermelon flavor in this one; this is a plus for the flavor in that it's what one might expect, but, on the other hand, it seems to water down the beer itself. There's a light wheat presence underneath. It has very little malt presence and a mild hops bitterness. There's also an unmistakable metallic tinge to this. I've had the IPA and I had to try another of these from a different store to be sure, but it's inescapable and not a product of canning.
While seeming watered down, the body is a light to medium and not too thin for the style. it does lack zip, though, and there's just enough of a crisp bite and tame smoothness to place it above average.
This isn't bad, and it's certainly natural, I just really need a bit more strength and depth.

Serving type: can

06-14-2010 04:04:07 | More by Brenden