Plain, inexpressive, unfiltered mahogany-hued ale can’t find the right groove. Subtle rye-cocoa illusions get buried beneath prickly citric hops and blanched barley roast. Earthen red-white oak finish recedes to bland nuttiness, deadening ginger, allspice, and clove tingle.

Pleasant German-styled half-wheat spikes smoked wheat malt assertion with cherry-soured chocolate wisp. Similar to a fruited stout, but way too watery. Brewery defunct: 2005.

Phenol murky brown dark wheat ale comes up short in limited ’08 release. For starters, dry-bodied banana souring needs to be pushed forward. Next, its lack of spicy clove-coriander sweetness, dearth of pineapple-orange fruiting, and off-putting smoked peat malting mire cocoa-tinged raisin-prune-fig tartness. Finally, moldy earthen usurpation ruins bland yellow-fruited finish. Busily muddled 2012 version chucked sweet and sour banana tartness in all directions, expanding stylish boundaries as unexpected beechwood smoking cluttered vinous red grape coarseness, musty grape-stemmed Muscat wining and yellow raisin snip.

A.k.a. dark wheat, this medium-bodied Bavarian tends toward the lighter side, as dry plum-raisin souring picks up mild malt creaminess alleviating clove-banana recess. Floral hop dusting drapes lucid mocha backdrop.

Booze-charged caramel-wafted dark wheat beer with creamy mocha malt palate and rising prune undertones intercepted by high-octane alcohol-fueled hop bittering. Buttery honey-nut follow-up reaches dry almond wine finish. Depending on individual taste, this coppery German is either pure platinum or fools gold – but it’s always inviting.

Casual fizz-hopped bitter underscores sourdough yeast with orange-peeled lemon rind tang, but scant caramel creaminess compromised by indecisive malt impact and dry cork must.

Sturdy chartreuse-bronzed dark wheat beer allows sour yeast and subtle grains to impede soft hop-fizzed citric-soured banana-clove surface. Delicate barley-roasted burnt caramel pleasantry daubs dried prune overtures and soft floral undertones, reaching buttery sourdough finish. Enjoyable, but not essential.

Creamy ruddy amber full body retains overripe banana-clove sweetness, cinnamon-toasted apple jacking, and brown sugared cocoa buttering to warm barleywine finish. Prune-plum-fig sourness, cider-y green grape pucker, and dry bourbon boozing nestle tertiary red cherry, sugared date, and butterscotch notes.

Sinewy yeast texture, Bavarian malt creaminess, and fizzy hop carbonation give soda-like dark wheat a refreshing combination. Though lacking explosive red wine-like essence sometimes typical of its class, soft lemon-clove perk and roasted barley backbone expand surprisingly smooth sedation.

Dark wheat brew with natural cherry flavoring and sweet wine essence. Fizzy-hopped cracked wheat punctuation adds depth to rich chocolate malt finish. Consistently rewarding without being too obtuse in its slurry fruited nature.