Flying Dog Brewhouse Rarities Earl Grey Black Wheat
There are two things you should probably know about me before I dive into this review for Flying Dog’s Earl Grey Black Wheat (part of their Brewhouse Rarities collection). First, I’m not what you would call a tea drinker. My experience with Earl Grey tea is limited to those lovely pieces of chocolate that happen to have the spice blend mixed in. Second, as any frequent reader of the site can tell you, I’m not a fan of wheat beers — though I do enjoy a good dunkelweizen.
So I shouldn’t really like this beer, right?
See, that’s the strange thing about taste buds. Your experience may tell you one thing, but those damn little things seem to have a mind of their own and ultimately tell you another. Flying Dog’s Earl Grey Black Wheat is pretty damn good. The combination of flavors and smooth mouthfeel (really the only good thing about wheat-based brews) work so wonderfully together. This 6.3% ABV brew isn’t my favorite from the limited releases the brewery puts out, but for a beer I shouldn’t have enjoyed, it won me over.
Appearance
Earl Grey Black Wheat, as you would expect, pours a near black — a deep, dark, murky brown really — with a creamy mocha head.
Aroma
Wheat, a soft roast, plenty of tea notes, a touch of citrus and a hint of cocoa combine for an enticing aroma.
Taste
The Earl Grey certainly takes center stage here, but is nicely balanced out with a soft char, wheat, a hint of coffee and distant cocoa. The brewery didn’t over do it with the spice blend. It’s full-bodied and smooth on the palate, almost stoutish in that regard. The lasting finish is lightly drying and lingers for a good bit.
Overall
I really like the dark wheat and roast that Earl Grey Black Wheat brings to the table. Combine that with the wonderful mouthfeel, as well as solid tea infusion and you’ve got yourself a surprisingly tasty brew — well for myself, it was surprising. Like I said, it’s not my favorite from the Brewhouse Rarities, but still a strong contender to make a reappearance in my beer fridge.
Rating: 3.75/5
This is a review of a promotional sample.
