Pete's Wicked Honey
Wheat
Review Date 10/21/2000
Try?
Re-buy?
I have always had a great fondness for this beer, perhaps
a greater fondness than I have for any of the other beers in the Pete’s
Brewing lineup. Introduced back in the nineties amidst a slew of other new
Pete’s beers (Strawberry Blonde, Pilsner, Etc.), the Honey Wheat is one beer
I was happy to see survive the cutback in the line just before Pete sold his
interests in the brand.
From the label, Pete says:
"Sometimes you‘ve just gotta do things your own way. For years I wondered why nobody ever thought to brew an “amber” wheat beer with a distinctive “nutty” flavor and sweet aroma.”
OK well, the Germans brew some amber wheat beers, so I really don’t think you’re the first on the block to do that Pete. Oh and the honey. It’s a fantastic touch in this beer, but it’s nothing new. While hops are the universal seasoning in beer today, that wasn’t always so. The first beers brewed thousands of years ago by the Sumerians and Egyptians were more likely to be flavored with dates or honey.
Honey, being mostly sugar, tends to ferment out completely, but imparts some interesting and rich flavors to a beer. Honey is used as the primary fermentation product in mead, a rather thick and cloying alcoholic beverage.
Pete’s Honey Wheat pours to a reddish-amber color with a light head formation and a malty nose. The palate is malty, slightly sweet and rich from the honey but not overly so, tart and quenching from the wheat, and my favorite of all, peppery hoppy in the finish. There’s a touch of honey character in the finish too.
Pete’s Honey Wheat has always had that distinctive peppery finish, and I think it’s my favorite aspect of the brew. Peppery, yes, but nutty? No. The beer is unfiltered, meaning yeast is left to settle in the bottle. I like this beer with chips and spicy salsa.
From the label, Pete says:
"Sometimes you‘ve just gotta do things your own way. For years I wondered why nobody ever thought to brew an “amber” wheat beer with a distinctive “nutty” flavor and sweet aroma.”
OK well, the Germans brew some amber wheat beers, so I really don’t think you’re the first on the block to do that Pete. Oh and the honey. It’s a fantastic touch in this beer, but it’s nothing new. While hops are the universal seasoning in beer today, that wasn’t always so. The first beers brewed thousands of years ago by the Sumerians and Egyptians were more likely to be flavored with dates or honey.
Honey, being mostly sugar, tends to ferment out completely, but imparts some interesting and rich flavors to a beer. Honey is used as the primary fermentation product in mead, a rather thick and cloying alcoholic beverage.
Pete’s Honey Wheat pours to a reddish-amber color with a light head formation and a malty nose. The palate is malty, slightly sweet and rich from the honey but not overly so, tart and quenching from the wheat, and my favorite of all, peppery hoppy in the finish. There’s a touch of honey character in the finish too.
Pete’s Honey Wheat has always had that distinctive peppery finish, and I think it’s my favorite aspect of the brew. Peppery, yes, but nutty? No. The beer is unfiltered, meaning yeast is left to settle in the bottle. I like this beer with chips and spicy salsa.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
