If I were to grab a bottle of Spanish Peaks Big Bite Peach Wheat out of Chug’s private stash, do you think old Chug would take a big bite out of me? Probably not, since Chug, brewery mascot of the Spanish Peaks brewery formerly of Bozeman, Montana, passed away in 2005. Still, he was much loved by his owner and the brewery staff, and his picture adorns the labels of Spanish Peaks beers. As a dog lover myself, I can admire that.
Spanish Peaks itself has undergone some changes over the years. I can remember drinking their beers (Black Dog Ale comes to mind) as solid, drinkable if unexceptional beers. Their Winter Cheer, sampled first by me in 2008, is perhaps my favorite brew from Spanish Peaks. Spanish Peaks opened its doors in Bozeman in 1991, but these days their website has them based in Polson, Montana and Denver, Colorado. My bottle of Spanish Peaks Big Bite Peach Wheat was contract brewed at the Olde Saratoga Brewery (owned by Mendocino Brewing Company) in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Spanish Peaks Big Bite Peach Wheat is described on the label as “Ale with natural flavor added”. The beer has an alcohol content of 7% by volume, which is a bit higher than normal for a fruit-wheat beer. It’s part of the “Chug’s Private Stash” collection, and I got a 22-ounce bottle at Sherlock’s in Marietta, Georgia for just $4.49. Spanish Peaks says this about the beer on the label:
“An American wheat beer with a big bite. A cold filtered clear wheat that is mildly hopped with a hint of peach flavor resulting in a big beer with a touch of sweetness.”
My bottle aged in the beer fridge for about a year.
Spanish Peaks Big Bite Peach Wheat Ale pours to a rich orange amber color with a light creamy head formation and a slightly sweet, decidedly fruity juicy peach nose. Taking a sip, the beer screams fruit right at you, juicy peach, but surprisingly remains dry at the same time. Tart crackery wheat lies under it all, and the finish seems boozier than it should be for the alcohol content. That’s likely because of the lighter wheat base working with a higher gravity.
A very tasty fruit wheat beer all in all, refreshing, and I like the balance of this brew and the fact it is so dry in the finish. At the price, a great deal too. I would give it 3.5 on its own merits with an extra half star for the nice price.
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