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How's my 2022 Beer Tasting project going?, you might wonder. Especially now that it's 2023. Well, almost a year after I started it (Mar 2022), it's still going. It's been going slowly the past few months but might pick up again now after I bought several packs on a beer shopping trip last weekend. I have a few new— or "new" since I last tried them years ago— varieties to try.
One of the new-ish beers I picked up last weekend is North Coast Brewing Company's Blue Star wheat beer.
I first encountered this beer at the brewery's tasting room in Fort Bragg, California seven years ago. It was one of the beers in the amazing 14-beer sampler platter I drank.
FWIW they don't offer that gonzo sampler anymore. When I visited again a few years ago their new policy was to limit samples to 4 small glasses at a time. Bummer. 🤷♂️
That first time I tried the wheat beer was also the last time I tried it. I remember that it was a fine tasting beer, and great to drink on its own. But once food came— you didn't think I was going to drink 14 different beers without eating food, did you?— the lighter flavored beers like the wheat were overpowered by the flavors of the rich food, while the richer beers shone.
I figured I usually drink beer with a meal and enjoy richer beers anyway, so I didn't buy any of the Blue Star wheat after that sampler. Until now, 7 years later.
What changed? Well, tastes change over time. Appreciation for a category can change, too. I've come to appreciate the category of wheat beer more in the past year since learning about the difference between the classic, German style of wheat beer, weissbier, and the more American style of hefeweizen.
Months ago in this tasting project I picked up a four-pack of Erdinger Weißbier on a whim and really enjoyed it. That whim, BTW, was, Hey, this is on a really good sale, I might as well try it! 😅
I'm glad I had that whim because I've enjoyed the Erdinger. I've bought a few more four-packs since then, even when they're not on sale. 🤣 It's a mild, pleasant beer, great for times when I want to drink a quality beer without accompanying food. In particular, as a weissbier rather than a hefeweizen it doesn't have the yeasty character or flavors of clove, banana, and other fruits that American style hefeweizens feature.
The difference, BTW, is right in the names. Weissbier, or weißbier, means "wheat beer" in German. Hefeweizen is "yeast wheat". They're different categories. It's just that in the US they're usually conflated, with yeasty, fruity hefeweizens being called "wheat beer".
Alright, enough with the language lessons. Time for tasting notes!
➢ The Blue Star wheat was great to drink on its own. The character is light, but unlike many "light" beers it's still flavorful. There's no icky aftertaste as with "light" beers, either. Blue Star is enjoyable as an on-its-own sipper.
➢ Next I tried it with dinner. Remember, trying it with a meal is where it came up short last time. This time I was surprised! The Blue Star paired just fine with a takeout pizza I bought.
➢ Finally I tried Blue Star compared to Erdinger Weißbier. Another surprise— I like Blue Star better! The difference is that Erdinger does have slight notes of clove and banana still, like a hefeweizen. I never noticed that before because it's so much cleaner in its flavor than a hefe. But Blue Star wheat beer makes it clear what a clean, wheat beer should be.
North Coast's Blue Star is my new easy-drinking, lighter flavored beer champ!
One of the new-ish beers I picked up last weekend is North Coast Brewing Company's Blue Star wheat beer.
I first encountered this beer at the brewery's tasting room in Fort Bragg, California seven years ago. It was one of the beers in the amazing 14-beer sampler platter I drank.FWIW they don't offer that gonzo sampler anymore. When I visited again a few years ago their new policy was to limit samples to 4 small glasses at a time. Bummer. 🤷♂️
That first time I tried the wheat beer was also the last time I tried it. I remember that it was a fine tasting beer, and great to drink on its own. But once food came— you didn't think I was going to drink 14 different beers without eating food, did you?— the lighter flavored beers like the wheat were overpowered by the flavors of the rich food, while the richer beers shone.
I figured I usually drink beer with a meal and enjoy richer beers anyway, so I didn't buy any of the Blue Star wheat after that sampler. Until now, 7 years later.
What changed? Well, tastes change over time. Appreciation for a category can change, too. I've come to appreciate the category of wheat beer more in the past year since learning about the difference between the classic, German style of wheat beer, weissbier, and the more American style of hefeweizen.
Months ago in this tasting project I picked up a four-pack of Erdinger Weißbier on a whim and really enjoyed it. That whim, BTW, was, Hey, this is on a really good sale, I might as well try it! 😅I'm glad I had that whim because I've enjoyed the Erdinger. I've bought a few more four-packs since then, even when they're not on sale. 🤣 It's a mild, pleasant beer, great for times when I want to drink a quality beer without accompanying food. In particular, as a weissbier rather than a hefeweizen it doesn't have the yeasty character or flavors of clove, banana, and other fruits that American style hefeweizens feature.
The difference, BTW, is right in the names. Weissbier, or weißbier, means "wheat beer" in German. Hefeweizen is "yeast wheat". They're different categories. It's just that in the US they're usually conflated, with yeasty, fruity hefeweizens being called "wheat beer".
Alright, enough with the language lessons. Time for tasting notes!
➢ The Blue Star wheat was great to drink on its own. The character is light, but unlike many "light" beers it's still flavorful. There's no icky aftertaste as with "light" beers, either. Blue Star is enjoyable as an on-its-own sipper.
➢ Next I tried it with dinner. Remember, trying it with a meal is where it came up short last time. This time I was surprised! The Blue Star paired just fine with a takeout pizza I bought.
➢ Finally I tried Blue Star compared to Erdinger Weißbier. Another surprise— I like Blue Star better! The difference is that Erdinger does have slight notes of clove and banana still, like a hefeweizen. I never noticed that before because it's so much cleaner in its flavor than a hefe. But Blue Star wheat beer makes it clear what a clean, wheat beer should be.
North Coast's Blue Star is my new easy-drinking, lighter flavored beer champ!
