A taste of… UFO White

Massachusetts Bay Brewing Company
dba
Harpoon Brewery
306 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 574-9551

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of UFO Hefeweizen Unfiltered Wheat Beer was purchased for $1.75(USD) at Peas & pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was no “Best by” date on the bottle neck.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: I did pour this brew in the semi-traditional way – placing the glass over the bottle and then inverting the bottle and glass allowing the brew to flow from the bottle directly down into the glass and lifting the neck so that the neck is never in the beer or the head. This allows the yeast to “percolate” through the beer as it is poured.)
Here is an American wheat beer that has all the traditional characteristics of the Bavarian wheat beer. The exception is the rather tame effervescence. The head, of small and medium bubbles was a short-lasting mountain of foam that leaves little lace on the sides of the wheat beer glass.

Aroma: There is an aroma of just kneaded bread dough meeting the first olfactory observation. A second visit brings aromas of dried herbs and some lemon citric sensations. The third impression finally finds come hop green aromas.

Mouth feel: There is a surprising amount of body to this brew. Again, I note the less than enthusiastic carbonation.

Flavor: American wheat beers are quite different from their German, or even Belgian, cousins. The first sensation is of lightly roasted grains with a slightly metallic under current. The second visit finds the hop flowers blooming and making themselves known. The third reveals a rather light set of flavors that are refreshing together but are difficult to deconstruct.

Finish: There is a quick exit for the flavors of this brew. I could make a pun using the “Veet” sound as a play on the word in French for quick - "Vite".

Comments: It is not easy to comment on what I consider a summer seasonal brew as it is still winter. In context I have fond memories of this brew, on tap, with cold lobster salad.

The Brewery: http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10097/48933

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/harpoon-ufo-white/101806/

BEER SPECIFICATIONS - UFO White
Style: American White Ale
History: brewed since 2009
Original Gravity: 12 P
ABV: 4.8%
IBU’S: 10
PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Shellfish, seafood, soft cheeses, and green salads