100 Barrel Series #10 - Triticus
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

100 Barrel Series #10 - Triticus100 Barrel Series #10 - Triticus
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From:
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Wheatwine
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.18 | pDev: 7.42%
Reviews:
88
Ratings:
99
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 14, 2019
Added:
Jun 17, 2005
Wants:
  12
Gots:
  4
Latin for "wheat," Triticus is a strong and dark Wheat Wine style ale that's light and lively on the palate. The blend of 50% wheat malts, including caramel and chocolate, provides color and depth of flavor. Complex hopping and dry-hopping lends a delicate spiciness and just enough balance to complement its strength. Best shared with friends.

57 IBU

This is the original Triticus recipe, brewed with Jason and Todd Alström of BeerAdvocate.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RoyalT:
Photo of RoyalT
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan

3.65/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance – This is a very dark brown in color, presumably from the darkish malts used to create this beer. The head came up good for such a high ABV boozer. It left nice lacing on the inside of my Chimay glass.

Smell – The 50% malt/wine mixture takes away from the traditional WW bouquet, and the big hopping here gives this nose a super complex one two three punch. Then you’ve got some chocolate notes to top things off. There’s a lot of different smells in here, almost too much for me to try and pick a part or really soak in.

Taste – This ale has a split personality. On the one hand, you can taste the big wheat wine that is almost like a straight barley wine. Either way, it’s very winey and boozy with a strong date and tobacco flavor.

On the other hand, you have a chocolaty flavor almost like a light chocolate stout, complete with dark, roasty malts. Somewhere on a third hand you have some fairly large hopping

All together a lot of flavors and, like I said, maybe a bit much for me. I’d have preferred maybe splitting these flavors up into several different beers and am hard pressed to determined why they were all stuffed into one beer.

Mouthfeel – This is almost full in the body with a big, bitter tobacco dryness in the last half of the sip.

Drinkability – This is a big beer to hop by yourself, and like I said it has so many huge flavors that you can’t do anything more than sip away at it. It’s nice but I think tries to do too much.

Comments – I’d like to give a big BA shout out to BeerGuy for visiting us here in Seattle and bring out a Triticus for skyhand’s Broken Fridge tasting.
Apr 24, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.1 by smithj4 from New York

Sep 14, 2019
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at Barcade, Brooklyn, NY

A: The beer is very dark brown in color. It poured with a narrow collar of tan bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of cocoa nibs and dark fruits such as prunes are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell, but has less cocoa and additional flavors of raisins with hints of caramel. Only some traces of alcohol are noticeable. As the beer begins to warm up, strong notes of wood also become apparent.
M: It feels full-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer definitely tastes like it is heavy duty but does a very good job at hiding its alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap
Sep 13, 2019
 
Rated: 4.15 by dbrauneis from North Carolina

Sep 13, 2019
 
Rated: 3.59 by emerge077 from Illinois

Mar 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Jun 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by JTomczak from Connecticut

Aug 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jun 25, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 18, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Dec 06, 2011
 
Rated: 3.75 by Burt from Rhode Island

Nov 22, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by oline73 from Maryland

Nov 16, 2011
Photo of ShogoKawada
Reviewed by ShogoKawada from Pennsylvania

4.12/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Ah, the OG Triticus. Harpoon was kind enough to bring some to beervana. Don't think there's too many more of these kegs out there..

A- Dark in the glass, like a root beer. Thin, tiny-bubble tead sits tightly around the edge of the glass.

S- Lots of deep dark malty goodness. Molasses, rye bread.

T- Follows the nose, licorice, rye bread, semisweet chocolate and some undefined dark fruit. Very mellow and smooth, flavors all tumble around together and achieve great cohesion.

M- Mellow, smooth, velvety. No sign of ABV.

O- Aged very very well, I liked this better than the re-release, it seems to have some different and more complex flavors. Would love to grab a bottle of this if they're still out there.
Nov 11, 2011
Photo of SaCkErZ9
Reviewed by SaCkErZ9 from South Carolina

4.52/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
I received this in a trade or BIf long ago (back in '06 I believe, three houses ago) and have since forgot the sender so thanks whomever you is. This one has some age on it and may be the oldest beer to ever adorn these lips. Date of 051605 on the side so that puts this one at the ripe old age of 5.5 years!

Pours from a 22oz, gold foil addorned bottle into a New Belgium snifter/globe glass, one of my faves. Looks exactly like Coke or Pepsi (or any other cola). Color is the same, the head is the same, and the quick departure of the foam leaves in the exact same expediency as a soft drink. No lacing.

Aroma is malty and smoky. Smells are similar to a Scotch ale or even a Doppelbock. Tinges of alcohol and hops of the earthy variety. Slightly fruity with Red Man tobacco aromas as well. A slight vegetal aroma is present.

Really quite nice flavors. Heavy on the tobacco flavor. Chocolate, roasted grains, figs, even some bubble gum and slight clove spiciness. one other flavor lingers, almost like a stout with Angostura bitters. Significant and beautiful hop bite as well.

Wheatwine is not a typical beer style and is not a typical style I drink. I usually find them really sweet and boozy. This one is great. Slightly sweet up front; malt and charred oak barrel kick your ass in the front, and then the bitterness takes your money as you leave through the back door of the bar. Really well balanced and a delight to drink. The alcohol is hidden well and this one sneaks up on you. Possibly the best wheatwine I have had. I seriously thought of trading this away but I am very glad I kept this one. I don't know how this drank fresh but it is drinking good as shit right now. Very enjoyable and very sippable.
Nov 17, 2010
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Huge thanks to Bob (psycohops) for sharing this with me. Also, thanks to Uncle Jimbo for sending this to Bob in his secret santa 07 package. Poured from a 22 ounce bomber bottle into a pair of basic snifters. Triticus appears a hazed deep chestnut brown color with about an inch of sporadic, foamy ecru head. The head left a slight lacing on the inside of my glass in its wake. Aromas and flavors consist of rich caramel, dark brown sugar, figs, molasses, faint chocolate notes, dates, cherries, dark toast, not a hint of alcohol heat to be found. Approaching full bodied with ample carbonation levels. Seriously, this could have very little carbonation and still be a very pleasant drinker. Time has been quite kind to this bottle. Glad I had the chance to try it. Thanks again Bob and Uncle Jimbo!
Oct 08, 2009
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

4.42/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Acquired via trade from ppoitras, so a big "Thank you" goes out to him. Poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of dark fruit, chocolate, roasted malts and a good amount of hops.

T: The taste starts with sweet flavors of chocolate and dark fruit. There's a hearty wheat and malt background, but it doesn't make the beer too heavy. The hops presence has been subdued by age but is still enough to provide a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, strong kick, very good representation of style, this is an excellent beer to sip on for a long time.
Mar 17, 2009
Photo of JohnGalt1
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho

4.42/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Ongoing cellar clearing project continues.... 22 received back in October '08 from MarkD... A huge round of applause goes out to Mark... I have been trying to score a bottle or two since I first started trading.... poured tonight into my New Belgium snifter.

1" head was sorta unimpressive... but it did leave quite a bit of lace and held a firm cap until the bottom of the glass... the brew is dark dark walnut brown.. verging on porter territory.. only reveals brown highlites when held to a light.

It's amazing, but some hoppiness has survived the years.. sorta a grassy/menthol type with a bunch of dark fruit .. think cherries and mild plum.. pretty nice.... I have to remember to BM mark and ask if this has been refrigerated prior to ending up in my basement.

From the first sip, I am liking this one more than any wheatwine I've had lately... much less sweet and not cloying at all.. figgy maltiness.. with some chocolate essence.. mild caramel and toffee.. a little bit of spicy alcohol is present but adds to the overall package.. still very pleasing after all this time.. no oxidation at all.. very balanced.. the body is a firm medium with perfect carbonation.. a subtle smokey flavor emerges as it warms up.. again adds a nice layer of complexity... it really blossoms when it hits room temperature.

Really very nice.. and I am not getting any indication that this is heading down hill yet... Thanks a ton Mark.... This is one of my "White Whale" brews.. and it was worth the hunt... I know there wasn't a "Moby Dick 2" but I may try to score another bottle or two to cellar and bring out at various tastings... Good stuff that should be shared.
Feb 05, 2009
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I had been holding onto this one since last year. Now that the redux has been brought out I really wanted to try the original to see how it held up. Served this one right out of the cellar, this gold foil capped, twenty two ounce bomber was poured into a Bell's Tulip and consumed on 10/06/2008.

The pour on this one was definitely decent. A rich, caramel color brown with a good amount of haziness and cloudiness to it. Some nice sediment at the bottom of the glass. A head of about an inch and a half rose up from the bottom and settled down gracefully onto the top leaving behind some decent side glass lacing. A small amount of carbonation could be seen streaming up from the bottom of the glass.

The aroma was charged with alcohol at first. This mellowed though as it started to warm and ended up with a nice and very sweet malt mixture here. Nice notes of caramel, brown sugar, hints of molasses and a touch of dark fig like fruit. Interesting flavor here now as well, as it all combined in together. Nice notes here of caramel and earthy malts come rolling across the tongue. Very rich with a sweet sugar like flavor that blended in very well with a light touch of alcohol that rounded out the profile really very nicely. Smooth as silk, as the 11% was noticeable, but not overwhelming in anyway. This was definitely a sipper though as about half way through the bottle I was definitely starting to feel it for sure.

Overall this was a very solid beer that I would have no issues with trying again. Good to see Harpoon bring it back to life, as it is quite different then anything else I have ever tried in the style. Very solid and I would do this again.
Oct 08, 2008
Photo of Boto
Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut

4.12/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz. bomber: Cracked out another one from the dark recesses of the fridge. This one pours a dark brown color, with a small tan head. The head doesn’t linger or leave any lacing. The aroma had some chocolate, plums and caramel to it. A touch of sweetness also. The taste is good. I get some notes of chocolate on top of a caramel/toffee sweetness. Some dark fruits (maybe plums) hiding down in there also. Not bad.
Nov 19, 2007
100 Barrel Series #10 - Triticus from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 99 ratings