Lemongrass Wheat Ale (Brothers' Reserve Series) - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

Beaver13

Colorado

2.8/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

22 oz bottle. Pours hazy golden yellow with a small fizzy white head that quickly goes to a dusting.

The aroma is sweet citric wheaty malts, honey and grapes.

The flavor is bready malts, sweet grape juice and honey with some musty yeast. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and a bit watery with some slight spritzy carbonation.

Overall, it’s OK - overly sweet.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 04:50:07 | More by Beaver13

Vancoubeer

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Grabbed a bottle that had a bottle date of September 15, 2011. Been wanting this for awhile and heard let it age. So I did. The appearance was nothing spectacular. It was typical Widmer...filtered. That sucks because their normal hef is not. But it does have a very orangish clear color that is very similar to a white grape wine...I hate to say this but it looks like urine...its that kind of orangish. The head disappeared quickly and its got a good amount of alcohol legs on my snifter. When it comes to aroma, this does not smell like beer. It smells like wine. The full on grape aroma is strong. Like a sour green grape. I am really trying to find the lemongrass but its full on grape. I also get a hint of funk / vinegar. I wonder if this has soured up? I gave it a 4 for uniqueness. Its not bad but not oh my god but its definitely telling me something is happening in this glass. Now for the flavor of the lemongrass wheat ale. Wow really smooth, sweet, dry and that grape smell is more smell and the flavor is totally sweet grape with a hint of that lemon grass. Wow this was a surprise. Its very clean and the 9% is not there at all. It has a very dry mouthfeel and the carbonation helps clean the flavor away making me ask for more. Nothing stellar though. I say a 4 because of the age I was expecting the carbonation to be minimal but its still alive when it hits the tissues in your mouth. Overall, Widmer hit it out of the park with this and too bad other people are dissing this. Getting a high mark for me and I live in Portland and am normally very critical of our Hometown giant. Rob Widmer had a vision and if you aged it, you got what he was looking for. I can assume fresh that this was a full on lemony grape bomb with booze. This is a sweet succulent batch of grape skin with a hint of citrus. Man I wish I had another. Widmer is coming out with impressive one off small batches and I guess its time to grab others and age them because this was in the early stages of their reserve series. I am really impressed by this beer. The flavor alone was worth it due to its contrast with the smell.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 05:36:55 | More by Vancoubeer

Braz

Washington

3.13/5  rDev +3%
look: 1 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

The head dissipates instantly leaving no trace or lacing at all. Amber orange color is hazy with minimal bubbling.

Aroma is a cross between floral and cough drop.

Taste is slightly sweettart, with definate grape juice undertones.

Slick texture, medium body and soft carbonation linger on the palate for some time.

Overall, it’s an interesting beer that I would try again. One of the better beers I’ve had from Widmer as they haven’t impressed me much to date.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 00:21:55 | More by Braz

LiquidAmber

Washington

2.95/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a cloudy golden amber. Half finger white head dissipates almost immediately into a ring around the glass. Aroma of lemon and unidentifiable herbs, a bit of orange, light sweet malt. Flavor is sour lemon and orange rind, light vinegar acidity with subdued malt. Finish is lemon sourness with a slight metallic element. The initial flavor seems in line with a citrus sour beer, but this is too unbalanced and sharp in the finish. Light bodied. I'm not sure that wheatwine is the proper category for this, it does not resemble any wheatwine I've ever tasted except for ABV. An interesting experiment that did not work for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 03:34:27 | More by LiquidAmber

lacqueredmouse

Australia

1.9/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Bottle purchased from Ledger's Liquors in Berkeley, CA.

Pours a flat, hazed orange-gold colour, with almost no discernible head. There's a touch of bubbles in a tiny ring around the edge, but only when it's tilted. Looks really underwhelming.

Nose is quite incredibly funky and sour, and not in a good way. Slight earthy rawness, an overt lemonade-like sweetness, and really, what feels like infected homebrew. Weird.

Taste is similar. There's definitely a funk to this—really it feels unintentionally infected. Direct, earthy, slightly dirty acidity, along with a gritty bitterness on the finish and an undertone of lemongrass, unwashed roots and all. Feel is sliced with the acidity, and oddly carbonated, given how flat it looks.

Overall, this is terrible. Really—not a chance was this intended to be this sour. It's not an intentional acidity, and it pings off the lemongrass unpleasantly, as well as obscuring the flavour itself. Way, way off.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 01:27:20 | More by lacqueredmouse

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Strong, wheaty aroma has a decided overtone of lemon, and in some ways is more like a cider than a beer. Lemon cider? Lemon curry? OK, back to the review. It pours a pretty clear amber, but not much head. Crisp flavor has a malty core, strong fruity notes with grape dominating, and an overtone of lemon, rather sour but actually pleasantly so. From the lemongrass, I presume - distinctive and tasty. In addition, there is a subtle, bitter hoppy undertone. Sharp texture has good body and some fizz. Keep up the good work, Widmer Brothers! Your reserve beers may not be the absolute best, but they are distinctive and fun to try.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 20:02:25 | More by Cyberkedi

pisano

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22 oz bomber into pint glass

a: pours hazy golden orange with little head to speak of and a thin white ring around the glass

s: tons of malty sweetness, very little citrus, there's a bit of vinegary sourness as well, which is surprising

t: very sweet, citrusy, orange, lemon, can definitely taste the alcohol. some rust flavor coming thru as it warms. there's a lingering bitterness in the aftertaste

m: light to medium body, slightly syrupy, low carbonation, light alcohol burn on the way down

o: too sweet for my taste and not very well balanced. i was intrigued by the idea of it when I first saw it but i definitely wouldn't buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 22:47:38 | More by pisano

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

2.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Bottle hidden in a fancy looking green and cardboard colored box. Beer pours looking a little thin, hazy light amber. Pure white head that fades pretty quickly into a thin layer covering the top.
S: Citrus really shows here. Lemon, orange, lime. Also some wheat notes but not very prevalent. Alcohol is not present.
T: Pretty bitter and certainly not what I was expecting. Hits with a bitter taste that changes into some a few days too old orange taste. Some sweetness tries to come through but it seems like a battle against the bitterness. Some fun flavors but they blend together a little too much.
M: Lighter body. Bitterness really comes through on the palate which is exacerbated by the carbonation.

Overall I don't really see what this beer is trying to do. It has the fun fruity flavors of an easy drinking beer, and indeed the alcohol is well masked, but the bitterness that comes through makes it a bit of a sipper. Also the light mouthfeel would makes one think that this is something to be pounded on a hot summer day but the potential complexity of the flavors really makes me think otherwise. A beer with a lot of potential that needs to be realized a little bit more.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 19:59:32 | More by Jamesthebrit

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22 oz. bottle tried 2 Jan 2012. Courtesy of R&T, thanks! Served in the 0.5 L Franziskaner wheat glass.

Small yellowish fizzy head. Well carbonated, but goes flat fairly quickly. Clear bright amber in color. Aroma is lemony, grassy, slightly perfumey, sweet-tart. Starts very syrupy sweet. Some grapeness through the middle. Slick mouthfeel, medium body, alcohol is a bit hidden. Sweet sticky finish is slightly warming.

Add some lychee and an umbrella and you'd have a tropical mixed drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 15:14:53 | More by htomsirveaux

Bookseeb

Washington

3.35/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Release #5 fall 2011. Appearance has an orange amber color that produces no head or lace. I would think the protiens from the wheat would more head and retention. Smell is of wheat, malt, grassy with slight spice in the background. Taste has a light sweetness of young wine, spiciness with the wheat and malt having mild hop and a note of raw alchohol. Mouthfeel is light with a mild spike of carbonation. Not a bad brew, but Nothing real exciting either, maybe a late evening after the sun goes down summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 02:00:10 | More by Bookseeb

avalon07

South Carolina

2.68/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured from a bottle to a snifter. Had an orange-ish colored and a clear consistency. There was an inch of foamy head that quickly dissipated. No lacing at all.

S: A weak aroma of fruit, grape, and some malt. Not much going on here.

T: Tasted of lemongrass (with heavy emphasis on the grass), malt and grapes, which provide a very acidic burn in the finish. Not a pleasant flavor. The grassy quality is not very tasty and the grapes are a harsh, coarse element.

M: An average amount of carbonation with the aforementioned harsh finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Wheatwine isn't the easiest style to get right, but this one doesn't even really come close.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 12:55:17 | More by avalon07

Murrhey

Montana

2.48/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Served on tap at Out of the Park Pizza in Anaheim Hills. Reviewed from notes.

A- Finger width head with very little retention. Pale golden color. Nice lacing though.

S- Wheat and citrus. I didn't smell the grapes that it was supposedly brewed with, but my nose isn't fine tuned yet. Light and malty.

T- Light, sour and citrusy. Tastes like a light cider almost. Strange.

M- Winey, and finished wet.

O- It was the first example I've had of the style, and I wasn't too impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2012 19:34:11 | More by Murrhey

sandidawg

4.1/5  rDev +34.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I was extremely surprised by the taste of this beer. When I opened it, It seems to smell a bit hoppy, for me isnt my favorite. I served it in a wine glass to let it breathe and it was very delicious. I would make a great paring with a lemon based dish like a lemon herb chicken or an italian dish.
Yes, the 9% ABV also has a nice kick too. amazing light, not much of an after taste if any. I am getting another bottle!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 06:21:16 | More by sandidawg

DoubleJ

California

3.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This stuff retails for $10 a bottle, yet I was able to get a bottle on clearance for $2.50. It must be the paper box which surrounds the bottle, though I must say the addition of muscat grape juice and lemongrass to a strong wheat ale does sound appealing, even if it is from Widmer. Here we go on an adventure with 22 ounces, and on to the beer:

There's a paler orange color sitting in my glass. Surprisingly clear in its body with visible carbonation bubbles running through. The head on top forms small and recedes to a lace. The nose does have some interesting points, though in the end doesn't quite meld as one hopes. The lemongrass dominates, with some plain wheat malt on the side and solvent alcohol.

Now we're on the right track. The lemongrass character is more mellow, and the muscat grape juice is allowed to pull through to create a juice sweet and herbal duo that works. There is a little character of a "wheat malt liquor" underneath the added flavors, but thankfully it's not too much of a headache. The alcohol is there, creating a bubblegum note. A medium, almost syrupy body and some sparkling carbonation are courtesy of the beer. The aftertaste is on the pleasant side, with some muscat grape juice lingering on.

The lemongrass and muscat grape additions keep this beer from being a boring mess. It's an agreeable beer, but not one I'd want to spend a full $10 on a bomber just to have again.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 06:19:06 | More by DoubleJ

Philousa

California

1.15/5  rDev -62.2%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Pours a nearly clear copper with little to no head after a vigorous pour. Any head that was there after the pour dissipates immediately after. Zesty lemon, grassy, and a little grassy hops int he nose. This sucker is mostly malt, and sweet at that. Honey sweet malt taste up front, a little molasses, some malty bitterness. Sugary light caramel taste. Not too complex, no hops or yeast to speak of. Tingly and thick, this beer leaves with a wet finish.

I don't think I've cursed in a review, but here it goes: This beer is shit. I could have brewed this myself...with a Mr. Beer kit. I think I did, actually, since it tastes surprisingly similar to the Mr. Beer Canadian Pale, which comes in a can, pre-mixed for ease of use. There are no hops or yeast to speak of in this beer. And I almost left out the fact that this didn't have any head at all. I was afraid of this to begin with, since I don't like Hefeweizens much. But my wife really likes lemon grass so I thought I'd give it a try. This is my first Wheatwine, so maybe I just don't like that style. I don't really know what to think at this point except to advise the Widmer brothers to go back to the drawing board. Just when I was beginning to trust you because of your Drifter Pale Ale, you go and brew something like this. And on top of that, you charge me $10 for a bomber? That's just insulting.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 05:39:30 | More by Philousa

hreb

Washington

2.75/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22oz of lemongrass wheat ale in a bomber in a brown cardboard box. Poured into pint glass, beer is a very pale and crystal clear orange/yellow with zero head. Why would they have filtered such a high-gravity wheat ale? Aroma suggests lemonade as much as lemongrass. Flavor is of lemonade as well. The texture is oddly both thin and heavy. Beer is plenty cold but carbonation is fine and pretty low in quantity. There's plenty of sweetness, but it's necessary given the high alcohol level with little else going for it. Wheat seems to have been used as an adjunct to brew a low-Lovibond beer rather than as a way to get what into the beer. Oh, and muscat grape juice, ditto.

Disappointing; I'd had high hopes. Those seeking a lemongrass beer should seek out CBC's Tiger Bite (at about half the ABV!)

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 00:23:25 | More by hreb

kscaldef

Oregon

2.42/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: poured into a pint glass, only the smallest of heads that quickly dissipates to nothing but a couple bubbles on top of the beer. Color is a very light orange, close to yellow. Some small bubble trains in the beer.

S: The muscat grapes were apparent during the pour, but not as much in the glass. Mostly lemongrass in the aroma with a simple wheat note.

T: Not much complexity... like a light wheat beer mixed with a bit of white grape juice. The lemongrass doesn't show up much in the taste.

M: Nearly flat.

O: A pretty weak offering from the Reserve Series. Drinkable, but this should be a standard priced 6-pack beer, not an expensive 22.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 00:52:57 | More by kscaldef

Zorro

California

3.18/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Chill hazed amber colored beer with essentially no head formed.

Smell is sweet spicy and fruity. Nice lemon grass aroma with some white wine scent. Little bit of a sour tang here like sour grapes. Grassy scent of noble hops.

Starts out sweet and sour and quite fruity tasting. This is certainly sweet and approaches my tolerance for it in a wheat beer. Something like grape soda with lemon grass in it.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall this is just OK. This is just too sweet. It would have been better if they had left out the grapes and made a dry Lemon Grass spiked wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 05:27:08 | More by Zorro

ElGordo

Oregon

3.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours without any trace of a head. Body is a pretty golden-orange color. Sweet aroma of primarily muscat grapes, with a hint of crisp wheat and just a faint whiff of lemongrass after it warms up a bit. Palate is sweet up front, again heavy on muscat grapes. Notes of orange marmalade and light malted wheat, without much suggestion of lemongrass. The mouthfeel is a little syrupy and sticky, without which the relatively high alcohol content would be nearly undetectable. This is reminiscent (if not the same recipe) as Widmer's 2004 OBF entry, Muscat Love. Like that beer, I think the grapes should have gotten top billing on this one, as they are the dominant flavor, not the lemongrass.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 06:29:40 | More by ElGordo

HalfFull

California

3.05/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Standard bomber poured into a wine glass, a rare visit to the Wheatwine style and my first from a bottle. Pours a moderate gold with a touch of apricot, mostly clear but with a bit of haze. A thin cap of foam lacks staying power, looking like a sweet wine in short order.

Aroma is a bit light and reaching. Touch of lemon, hint of wheat and some perceived alcohol. Lack of carbonation is surely a factor here. Touch of ripe tropical fruit and some hop notes appear briefly after some agitation and warming, yet diminish too swiftly.

Somewhat sweet in flavor yet not overly so. Gathers a bit of complexity with warming but still seems a bit run of the mill. Offers an enjoyable fruity flavor and is light in body for the ABV. Finish is vinous in nature with the Muscat ruling the day. Subtle and delicate overall and a rare quandary of a beer for me. A firmer carbonation would be in order for me as the beer is too sweet and vinous as is though still causing me to pause for a moment. Bit of a bump as it warms up...

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 06:47:50 | More by HalfFull

mactrail

California

3.85/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Oh, Muscat grapes must be what give it the spicy, fruity flavor with a touch of perfume. The lemon grass gives it the tartness and fragrance. Crazy stuff, and audacious to flavor a wheat wine. Sweet, but about what you'd hope for in a strong sipping beer. Wheat gives a pleasant sharp note with the big fruit of the flavorings. Lovely golden amber in the chalice with a sparkly carbonation, though it dissipates after a while.

Whatever Widmer wants to do is so far OK with me since they make everything with clean, crisp flavors. None of the murky graveyard funk or the "oops" hop overdose.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 05:26:59 | More by mactrail

lordofthewiens

Maine

2.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

In a snifter the beer was a bright red/orange color with just a rim of head.

Sweet, fruity aroma: lemon, grape, pineapple.

Grape taste, like drinking Manischewitz. Alcohol noticeable, not that pleasant. What happened to the lemongrass?

Too sweet, a little hot.

Not at all to my liking. Will not try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 16:12:05 | More by lordofthewiens

Monkeyknife

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle a deep bright orange with just a thin ring of off-white head.

Aroma is sweet and syrupy with pineapple, tropical fruits and a touch of earthiness.

Like the aroma, the taste is quite sweet with pineapple, tropical fruits, candy sugar, Belgian yeast and wheat malts. I've yet to notice the much anticipated lemongrass in this one. The 9% alcohol gives the palate a lingering warmth.

Medium bodied and syrupy with a moderate carbonation.

A fine tasting beer overall, but maybe a tad oversweet and lacking the lemongrass flavor and aroma I had so looked forward to.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 22:06:25 | More by Monkeyknife

Gobigvt7

Oregon

2.95/5  rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

22oz bottle in a DFH "pint"

very light gold with a hint of tan. looks highly carbonated, but a very fine carbonation (like champagne yeast or something). Head quickly flees, no legs, no lacing.

smells pretty green, some pine and resiny hops, a little medicinal (a la DFH Saison Du Buff). Rosemary?

Hmmm. I have not eaten a blade of lemongrass in my life, so I cannot compare, but I'm told it's rather lemony? This has a little citrus, herbs, hops. Backs up the medicinal promise of the nose. Definitely sweet. I'm getting a little bit of the wheat malt, but it's more distracting than helping.

Sticky and thick, cloying sweetness. Carbonation has long since dissipated.

Weiiird. Weird. I don't hate it, but I definitely don't love it. I don't know why they made this a wheat beer, it seems better served by going the saison route (like Du Buff). Some of the flavors work, others don't, and it's way too sweet to be a repeat drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 03:55:59 | More by Gobigvt7

ezec

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Off to a bad start with this one...poured almost flat. Very thin looking and a very thin head that quickly dissipates to where it has a cider-like appearance. Nice light orange color. Very mediciny on the nose, with strong fruit (apples/pears) and alcohol coming through. Creamy mouthfeel, strong fruit flavors, light alcohol burn with a decent caramel malt finish. Would work better with some kind of fruity dessert than on its own.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 00:15:51 | More by ezec