I have always had a great fondness for this beer, perhaps
a greater fondness than I have for any of the other beers in the Pete’s
Brewing lineup. Introduced back in the nineties amidst a slew of other new
Pete’s beers (Strawberry Blonde, Pilsner, Etc.), the Honey Wheat is one beer
I was happy to see survive the cutback in the line just before Pete sold his
interests in the brand.
From the label, Pete says:
"Sometimes you‘ve just gotta do things your own way. For years I wondered
why nobody ever thought to brew an “amber” wheat beer with a distinctive
“nutty” flavor and sweet aroma.”
OK well, the Germans brew some amber wheat beers, so I really don’t think
you’re the first on the block to do that Pete. Oh and the honey. It’s a
fantastic touch in this beer, but it’s nothing new. While hops are the
universal seasoning in beer today, that wasn’t always so. The first beers
brewed thousands of years ago by the Sumerians and Egyptians were more
likely to be flavored with dates or honey.
Honey, being mostly sugar, tends to ferment out completely, but imparts some
interesting and rich flavors to a beer. Honey is used as the primary
fermentation product in mead, a rather thick and cloying alcoholic beverage.
Pete’s Honey Wheat pours to a reddish-amber color with a light head
formation and a malty nose. The palate is malty, slightly sweet and rich
from the honey but not overly so, tart and quenching from the wheat, and my
favorite of all, peppery hoppy in the finish. There’s a touch of honey
character in the finish too.
Pete’s Honey Wheat has always had that distinctive peppery finish, and I
think it’s my favorite aspect of the brew. Peppery, yes, but nutty? No. The
beer is unfiltered, meaning yeast is left to settle in the bottle. I like
this beer with chips and spicy salsa.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For
reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft