leinenkugel’s sunset wheat
November 6th, 2006 by don
Although I enjoy wheat beer year round, many people consider it a summer beer. Leinenkugel’s produces their Sunset Wheat during the summer months but if you’re lucky, you may still be able to find some on the shelf this time of year.
Sunset Wheat appears to be unfiltered rather than bottle conditioned, so much of the yeast was still suspended in the beer. Still, give the beer in the bottom of the bottle a good swirl before pouring it, just to make sure you get all of it. This beer has a cloudy, straw color and a nice white head, like a good wheat beer should.
Leinie’s uses malted wheat, cluster hops, and coriander in this brew. At first taste it’s a little bitter, but that’s followed by a pleasant citrus-y bite from the coriander. Sunset wheat is stronger on the coriander than any other wheat beer/white ale I’ve tried, but it works very well. It leaves an almost citrus aftertaste, even without adding a lemon slice or orange slice in your glass.
Of course, since I am dedicated to thoroughly testing any beer I write about, I did try this one with an orange slice, too. It really didn’t add anything to the flavor, and in fact seemed to reduce the bite of the coriander somewhat. I’d recommend skipping the citrus fruit and just enjoying this one just as the Leinenkugel brothers brew it.
