Wild Turkey Barrel Aged Wheatwine (EN)

Wheatwines- the very confirmation we need that mistakes are, in the immortal words of Bob Ross, just happy little accidents. First created when two homebrewers dumped too much wheat into a nascent barleywine, this style stands out to me above many others. I like to think of this beer as the cool older sister of the previous in the De Molen BA series- the Grand Cru. She’s the kind of sister who is friendly but also frequents hidden bars with midnight-soaked courtyards and many plants; the cool sister everyone is a lil’ bit in love with.

Upon first smell, it seemed very barleywine-ish to a point: there was a distinct caramel maltiness but after a moment also a very fresh creaminess, which indicated that this was, after all, not a barleywine, and definitely not your average wheatwine.

The taste of the wheatwine

The initial taste was a buzz of red fruits- redcurrants in particular, which broadened out into an almost fruits of the forest fullness. The syrupiness from the Wild Turkey barrels plays a role here, and while it’s not hitting on a black forest gateau (there are other beers for that), there’s a lingering hint. After the initial fruit hit, I sense a grape flavour which carries through and provides a bit of sparkling levity.

The texture itself: well I could wax lyrical: the wheat brings a beautiful soft- and smoothness which tempers every flavour, creating a beautiful balance, blend, and a sun-kissed vibe. The red fruit sweetness is allowed to come through while the bourbon remains an ethereal spirit throughout, only making a notable entrance in the final flourishes.

After the final taste I found that the beer slinks off into the night somewhat, leaving behind a jammy, creamy taste not unlike that of a perfect scone combination and no full feeling on the palate. Indeed, what cool older teenager wouldn’t simply disappear from a party in a midnight haze?

This is a beer of quiet satisfaction- it leaves you feeling that it’s an understatement, but that you wouldn’t want it any other way. While I’d love to see this wheat wine on wine barrels (because that’s a wine wine…ok I’ll stop!), the bourbon setting suits it perfectly to bring out a caramelised experience. Will we get another sibling in this family? Stay tuned to find out…