I reported recently that a new brewpub is slated to open in Saskatoon in the coming months. Shiny Penny is currently trying to finalize a location but in the meantime arranged to brew a beer at Paddock Wood, under their licence, to promote the company. It is a Witbier called Saskatchewan Wheat Ale. I am told it will be one of the regular beer at the brewpub.
The beer is available only at the Paddock Wood Brewery retail store for the moment, but I got my hands on a review bottle and had a chance to try it recently.
It is a very hazy light orange hue offering a voluminous white head that maintains a consistent blanket through the sipping. Quite an impressive look. I notice as I pour it that there is an unusually large amount of yeast sediment in the bottle.
The aroma has that expected sharp wheat quality, a touch of citrus and some earthiness and bit of a yeasty note. I take a sip and pick up orange and lemon citrus up front, with a touch of sharp sweetness. There is some background pepperiness. It has a soft wheat flavour I enjoy quite a bit. The finish is tart and has a bit of a harsh yeast bite.
I find myself thinking that it was a mistake to pour all the yeast into the glass. Normally that is okay for Witbier, but I think the volume of it added a yeast roughness that detracted from the beer. I chalk this up to the fact it is a first-time beer – and my own haste. It is one of those things that is fairly easily corrected.
In fact I quite enjoyed the beer. It has a subtle complexity that sneaks up to you. Certain elements remind me of a Saison, interestingly enough. It is not as refreshing as my favourite Wit – Blanche de Chambly – but I consider it a fine first effort. It is on the bigger end of the style, offering a little more bitterness and more malt character than many versions. I find myself attracted to that boldness.
If this is what we can expect from the folks at Shiny Penny, it will be a destination of choice in Saskatoon.
August 26, 2010 at 11:39 AM
I didn’t like the first couple bottles I tried at all. I got too much harshness in the finish. I chalked it up to too much pepper/grains of paradise, but now that you mention it, the yeast is a bit much, so that could be it too.
I had another bottle 2 nights ago, still with the yeast swirled in, and I thought it was much better. I’m going to try the next bottle without the yeast.
I agree with the saison comparison, it is very dry. The aroma is top notch. And while it is refreshing, I find the alcohol presence is a little too big for what I want in a witbier.
All in all, a very promising first attempt from the Shiny Penny crew! Definitely worth a try, I don’t think I’ve come across anyone else on the prairies doing a true belgian witbier.
August 27, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Greetings Mr. Foster,
Unrelated to this post is my question: Are you aware of any up to date or close to comprehensive beer ownership chart/diagram/elaboration?
I know many of the basics of who owns what in the brewing world, but I would love to see some kind of discussion or animation of that situation.
Cheers,
A
August 27, 2010 at 9:59 AM
Hi Alejandro,
A REALLY good question. I have not seen one, but would love to. I imagine must of us beery geeks have a pretty good sense informally, but seeing it in one place would rock.
However, I imagine if one exists one of the tens of readers this website has will offer a link or something.
Or, if no one knows of one, if I get some time or need to procrastinate real work, I might try to start such a chart. Shouldn’t take too long… (famous last words).
Jason
September 1, 2010 at 9:29 PM
Back to the Sask Wheat Ale for a minute.
On a lark a few weeks back a beer guzzling pal and I took a roadtrip down to visit Paddock Wood (We tried to get into Great Western too, but they aren’t quite as friendly!). We happened to miss Steve Cavan, but fortunately Chloe and Cedric were there to tour us around in his absence. Although they were busy preparing to host some potential funding partners they still took time out to pour a few samples and give us a good lesson in microbrew.
Due to several other beer-related events, I’ve been sitting on several bottles of this witbier and I still haven’t given it a proper taste test. The unpitiable troubles of a beer geek! 😉
Thanks for the review (I’ll be trying it avec and sans yeast to get a better appreciation of it). And cheers to the good people at the Shiny Penny!
Scott
Epilogue: “Saskabush is pretty, yep, she’s pretty flat!”
September 1, 2010 at 9:47 PM
Cool. Please let us know the results of your experiment with yeast and without yeast. I wish I had two bottles when I sampled it to do it myself. I am very curious.
Jason