Shock Top End of the World Midnight Wheat

They’ve been building up to this all year long. As anyone that has been to the Shock Top website this year doubtless knows, the home page has featured a countdown to the 21^st of December, the day the Mayan calendar ends (though not a day upon which they predict the world will end, contrary to popular belief). Still, I was certainly puzzled by the correlation with Shock Top beer.

Spying Shock Top End of the World Midnight Wheat a few weeks ago at Kroger, the mystery was instantly solved. The hype, of course, was all leading up to the intro of this new brew. I had to say that I was intrigued enough to snap up a six-pack, and getting it home, to give it a whirl.

I’m sure the end of the world part needs no explanation, but how about the Midnight Wheat? Midnight Wheat is a new offering from Briess Malt & Ingredients Company. They claim it adds a dark color to the brew of which it is a component without adding bitterness many dark roasted malts impart.

Just for fun, this beer also includes chocolate malt, spices and chilies as ingredients. Alcohol is fairly moderate at 6% by volume.

Shock Top End of the World Midnight Wheat pours to a light mahogany color with a thick and creamy tan head formation and an enticing chocolaty, gently smoky nose. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body and doesn’t really remind me of a wheat beer all that much. Perhaps a touch of breadiness is there reminiscent of the latter

There is a bit of richness from the chocolate malt, and the same imparts a pronounced bittersweet chocolate flavor. The label says the beer is brewed with spice as well, but I can’t really pick any out. I do get the chili at the end, adding a bit of flavor and a very subtle heat. The latter is more pronounced as the beer warms, but even then it’s just enough to register on the palate. Not much more.

I like this one. As chili beers go it’s not going to blow you away, but it certainly has flavor to it. And at $6.99 a six-pack it’s a good bargain, too. To be sure, I’d like it better with a little less smoothness and a bit more roastiness; more chili heat would definitely be welcome, too. Still, I can recommend it to newcomers to the chocolate-chili beer style.

Best hurry, though. One way or another, something tells me Shock Top End of the World Midnight Wheat won’t be back in 2013 (at east under this name), even if the world is.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.



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