Beer Review: Bale Out American Wheat Ale

Bale Out

WHEN is a wheat beer not a wheat beer?

When it's a Bale Out American Wheat Ale, that's when.

The beer comes out of Hamilton-based brewery Brewaucracy and is brewed by renowned beer judge and critic, turned brewer, Greig McGill.

This is handy, because by his own admission, Greig is his own worst critic.

He was also a judge at the World Beer Cup in the United States earlier this year.

"Actually, this is a cheat beer. We didn't want to do an IPA or pale ale because others do it better than us.

"So, it's a hoppy, wheat-based beer made to come across as a refreshing pale ale, a more regular tasting beer," he said.

And he's right. This is a very fresh tasting beer, beautifully balanced and not bitter like a traditional hoppy pale ale. The wheat flavour is modest and not at all overpowering.

Initially I was put off by the wheat beer label as I'm not much of a fan of such a sour style of beer - not to be confused with "witbeer" (white beer) like Hoegaarden.

At 5.6 per cent it's not overly boozy, but in this day and age it will just the one if you're driving.

As this is my final review of the year I hope you all enjoy your holidays and get the chance to sample a few of the amazing beers I've been trying over the last few months.

All my reviews can be found on our website - www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz

Salut!

Beer kindly supplied by Brew Craft Beer Pub on Eat Streat Rotorua and The Strand Tauranga.