One might think
it amazing how many of our founding fathers were brewers in their spare
time. Samuel Adams was one, as Boston Beer would have it. George Washington
loved his porter. Thomas Jefferson was known to brew. And James Madison
brewed lots of beer on his estate as well.
Really though, this should not surprise. Beer was (and is today, if you’re
taking about real beer) a foodstuff. That being the case, brewing beer in
colonial times was as natural an activity as baking bread or canning
preserves. Today, we’re fairly spoiled; we can just run down to the package
store or supermarket whenever we run out of brew. Such was not the case in
the late 18th and early 19th centuries, however.
This being the Fourth of July, I’ve just popped a bottle of a special brew
made by Boston Beer to celebrate America’s brewing heritage. The beer in
question is James Madison Dark Wheat Ale, made with malt hand smoked
over an oak wood fire. Boston Beer took out all the stops here, too: they
didn’t use just any oak wood, but red and white oak culled from a forest in
Virginia. The forest is on land Madison once owned, and the thinking here is
that he might have used the same type of wood to kiln his wood two centuries
ago.
Boston Beer says Madison was a backer of a national brewery scheme as
president. In fact, the idea was that a national brewery would be
established on the same level as the treasury or post office. The government
would be responsible for brewing our beer, and the hope was that this would
promote temperance and moderation, since beer has a lower alcohol content
than wine or spirits.
James Madison Dark Wheat Ale pours to a cloudy dark amber brownish
color with a light creamy head formation and a spicy, smoky wheat nose. The
palate offers up a tasty combination of spicy, tart wheat flavor with a hint
of chocolate and smoky malt flavors. The smoke is subtle and not at all
overpowering, but it’s definitely there.
The finish isn’t really bitter but it is tart from the wheat, even a bit
sour from the smoke. That makes it a very refreshing brew indeed. One
caveat: let this one warm a little before drinking. It’s best enjoyed cool,
not cold, to fully appreciate its complexity.
Currently only available in the Brewer Patriots four pack, I find it
a tad less interesting than the other three beers: but still a very nice
beer to be sure.
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.