Wheat Beers for a Fulsome Fall

- By Marsha Bryant

Like liquid gold the wheat-field lies,
A marvel of yellow and russet and green…
—Hamlin Garland

‘Twas Demeter that gave the world wheat;
And Triptolemus took to his feet
To bring grains to us all.
They enrich beers for Fall,
As autumnal observance completes.

1.
This Floridian Wheat Beer is light
With a citrusy sweetness that bright-
ens refreshing mouthfeel.
It’s an ale that’s appeal-
ing as sunshine embraces cool nights.

2.
Eclipse is an Oberon ale—
A Citrus Wheat varietal.
Your tongue-tip will savor
Its orangey flavor
That minimal spice won’t derail.

3.
Pouring golden, with light honey haze,
This Bavarian Love Beer will grace
Your tall glass with bright foam
For this late harvest home.
And its sweetly dry finish you’ll praise.

4.
Honey-noted, this Don de Dieu ale,
An Imperial Wheat with details
Of Belgiany spice
That will surely entice—
You’ll delight in the tastes that prevail.

Tasting Notes
Floridian Wheat Beer, Funky Buddha, Oakland Park FL. 5.2% ABV.
A tropical take on German-style Hefeweizen, this straw-colored beer has a refreshing, citrusy sweetness and an ultralight mouthfeel. Crushably unfiltered, it’s just right for the waning warm days of late Fall.

Oberon Eclipse Citrus Wheat, Comstock MI. 6.3% ABV.
An upscale take on the classic Oberon, this ale has orange notes with just a trace of coriander. Pours amber with a light-bubbled head and medium mouthfeel. Less tart than the classic version, it starts and finishes with a fresh orange flavor.

Love Beer Wiessbier, Schneider Weisse, Germany. 4.9% ABV.
This unfiltered, bottle-fermented beer pours with a golden and yeasty haze. Slightly sweet in its approach, its dry finish has a mild hop-tingle that brightens the whole. Dry cider drinkers should love this beer.

Don de Dieu Belgian-Style Imperial Wheat Ale, Unibroue, Quebec, Canada. 9% ABV.
The wheat smooths the Belgian spicing in this bottle-fermented ale, which pours with a dark honey color and an off-white, bubbly head. Lovely on a cool Fall evening, its Tripel richness spreads slowly over your tongue as you sip it.

MARSHA BRYANT writes about literature, culture, and craft beer. Her recent essays appear in The Bloomsbury Handbook to Sylvia Plath, the online journal Humanities, and the textbook Impact of Materials on Society. Marsha teaches at the University of Florida. Her Untappd handle is LimerickLady.