Capital Brewing Company Island Wheat

When we were on the Homeric trip to Peoria (seriously, Odysseus didn't encounter as much strife as we did on this venture), we picked up not one, not two, but three bottles of Capital Brewing Company's Island Wheat. Actually, the third was a mistake... we picked up identical mixed six-packs for the first night (one to drink there, and one to bring back and review), and then unknowingly picked up another one in our blend of beers from Friar Tuck's. As soon as we checked into the hotel and began to place the beer in the mini-fridge, we realized that not one of us had a bottle opener on our person. Me, a former bartender who usually carries 2-3 churchkeys in her purse? Opener-less. Dad, who usually carries some kind of wine tool with a bottle opener? Nope, not there, either. We ventured down to the hotel bar at one point and tried to borrow one, only to learn that the bartender used the built-in openers on the beer coolers. We considered McGyvering the beer, then decided against it (we had also purchased a case of PBR). Sigh. So, here we are, a month later, back in Ohio where we have a full collection of churchkeys on hand, and we're just getting around to drinking this.

Note, also, the differing labels. It brings out the beer geek in me. I have no idea which came first, or when Capital Brewing decided to change labels and styles. Considering the bottle on the right is the one pictured on BeerAdvocate, I'd venture to guess that is the bottle style that came first. But who knows? Really, if anyone does know, my inner beer geek is going to ponder this all night.

This pours a light straw color with moderate chill haze that has faded in the 15 minutes since we poured the beers. Seriously, it's hot in here. It's quite comfortable outside, and I have the windows open. Please tell me it's not just a hot flash, because the beer is telling me it's hot inside our crappy apartment. It had a moderate white head that hasn't stuck around. I'm also blaming the heat for that. So we're clear, it's definitely not a hot flash. The aroma is extremely faint and smells vaguely of Triscuits. There are also some mild citrus notes that come through in the the nose, along with some more bready, malty notes. When drinking it, I see where it got its name: it's definitely the perfect island beer. It's very mild, with some peppercorn surprisingly hitting the olfactory nerves first (maybe I shouldn't inhale while taking a sip?), then the mild citrus notes -- lemon, orange, and passionfruit come to mind -- take over the palate for a few seconds, then the malty notes come through again, with a hint or two of bread hitting the palate. It's a soft, round-drinking beer, yet it has moderate carbonation. I sense the wheat most in the aroma and the mouthfeel. It's very sessionable, at 4.2% ABV.

Since I'm either having a hot flash or it's somewhere around 115 degrees in here now, this may be the perfect beer for this evening. I almost don't want to turn this over to Nathan and return to the two pieces of art I'm working on, particularly since I'm to the point of cutting little teeny (and some not-so-teeny) strips of paper. The painting and the gluing of each little strip is much more fun to me... but I love the way these pieces evolve.

4.35/5 caps -- probably a little higher than I would normally rate it, because it tastes perfect when I'm so overheated.

-Jennie

It's 78 in here, by the way. Phil just headed to sleepland, so the Classic Alt station goes back on, just in time for Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart." And as anyone with good knowledge knows, after Ian Curtis offed himself, Joy Division became New Order who released possibly the greatest song in history, "Bizarre Love Triangle." But you aren't reading for my musical rants or my aging looks, you're here for the beer, so let's say we settle down in front of the warming glow of the computer monitor, and talk about beer. Much like FDR has his Fireside Chats, we'll have Pintside Reviews. Holy shit. That's a brilliant name. I hereby, being in a foggy haze of fantastic beer reserve the right to use the name "Pintside Reviews" or any variation of previously stated name (including with or without space, and with or without being pluralized or any combination). Ok, in-my-mind legal stuff taken care of, onto the beer as Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round" pulsates from the music channel.

This has a straw like color, very clear. No head to mention at this moment, as this has had time to warm up. The aroma is sweet with slight hints of citrus and earthy tones. The flavor though is nice and mellow. Lawn mowing beer at it's finest. Jennie described the flavor perfectly with some citrus hints and almost a black pepper flavor at times (possibly the yeast strain?). This is smooth drinking, like an American Lager, but with a much crisper, cleaner flavor. Decent carbonation to keep this bubbly and refreshing, but not as bubbly as a high school cheerleader who tried to find one iota of interest in the crowd of fans with the team perpetually losing and the crowd is downtrodden after 20 years of a no winning record in any sport. But enough of my high school career. The mouthfeel is smooth, hairless and refreshing. Yes, this is a hairless beer.

4.3/5 caps

-Nathan-