Tioga-Sequoia 'Half Dome' California Wheat with Stone Fruit. 4.7% abv. 17 IBU. Pale straw yellow color. Hazy. Thin white head that falls to a sustaining collar and scattered surface. Fair retention, nice lace.

Nose of berry, light honey, wildflowers, white bread. A mild spice aroma emerges as the temp rises. Front taste of sweet melon, light grapefruit, banana, faint floral hops on the back end. Aftertaste is fruit resin, treacle, candied lemon peel, white wine grapes, with a dry finish. Light body. Mouthfeel is cool, round, resiny, juicy.

This is the second version of Half Dome, and like its predecessor, it serves as a wonderful session beer, a cool, relaxing, refreshing, and easy-drinking brew. It's perfect for backyard barbecues, or as a first beer to start off a nice eventing craft vertical. Mild and light, but pungent and flavorful, it's just rich enough in body and taste to satisfy both the newcomers to beer and seasoned craft enthusiasts. A crowd pleaser.

If you have a friend who has only had big corporate factory beers, but is looking to explore the world of craft beer, this is the one you hand them as a way to ease into a world of aroma, body, and flavor, a solid "bridge" beer superior to most. Well recommended.

NOTE: This version of Half Dome is its second recipe, one that is brewed with stone fruit from the San Joaquin Valley. Check out my review of the brewery's original recipe. Cheers!

From the brewery:

"Half dome in Yosemite National Park is one of the most iconic and recognizable images in California. Like the magnificent granite dome, our half home california wheat is an original. It has evolved over the years, and finally reached its peak through a partnership with the Fresno County Farm Bureau, which provides the locally sourced stone fruit that makes half dome so unique. go on an adventure with this smooth, refreshing and juicy wheat beer, flavored from the heart of California, and take your taste buds to new heights."
[source: tiogasequoia.com]

Strand Brewing 'Harvest Ball' Orange Wheat Witbier. 4.8% abv. Pale hazy straw color. Bubbly white head. Good retention, good lace. Nose of faint citrus peel, floral.  Front taste of mild grapefruit, orange, distant bitter floral hops. Aftertaste of orange rind, wheat bread, dry finish. Light body. Mouthfeel is thin, resiny, tangy, clean on the finish.

This is a good light brew, a subtle wheat beer with citrus flavors that are mild yet always present. It's a nuanced summer beer in a category that is known for lighter fare to begin with. Drinkable and subdued are words that come to mind. If you usually want robust flavors that grab your attention, look elsewhere. If you like your flavors light with a body to match, this is your beer. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Harvest Ball - Beyond the northern reaches of Los Angeles County lies the quaint ranching community of Fillmore, where growers have been quietly raising oranges for generations. Each year, as the summer falls into autumn, the Slo-Lee Ranch celebrates the coming harvest with a sacred gala. Family and friends gather, illuminating the night with food, drink, and laughter."
[source: bottle]

New Belgium Brewing 'Snapshot' Wheat Beer. 5% abv. 13 IBU. Hazy, pale straw color. Pencil thin white bubbly head. Low retention, some lace. Nose of light malt, mild citrus, wheat notes emerge as the temp rises to room. Front taste of tangy citrus peel, slight grapefruit. Aftertaste of mild wheat bread, grapefruit, sweet herbal. Thin body. Mouthfeel is cool, watery, a touch clingy.

This is a good mild wheat beer, a crisp, refreshing outdoorsy brew best served over the running Tecumseh engine of your lawnmower. You could easily drink six of these. Next to other similar sessionable beers, this one is easy drinking while still having a pleasant taste. It will likely prove too mild to most craft beer drinkers, but it still has its place and is better than many in its category. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Snap! You just captured an unfiltered wheat beer full of refreshment and a flash of tart at the finish. Smile-inducing aromas of citrus hops jump from the nose, accompanied by the sweetness of coriander and grains of paradise. Brewed with wheat and pale malt, Snapshot beer pours a hazy, lemon-yellow with bright-white lacing. But the real enticement is the snap of tart. New Belgium’s affinity for sour beers led to the in-process blending of lactobacillus to pucker up Snapshot’s base. An extra step to acidify and beautify and get this beer ready for its close up."

[source: newbelgium.com]

Hangar 24 Brewing 'Orange Wheat'. 4.6% abv. 17 IBU. Hazy lemon yellow color. Thin bubbly white head. Low retention and little lacing. Nose of citrus-lemon peel, white bread. Front taste of bright citrus, mild lemon-orange, sweet bread, distant grapefruit on the back. Aftertaste of sweet light malt, light fruit, biscuit. Light body. Mouthfeel is cool, bright, tangy on the back of the tongue.

This is a nice session beer, great for summer barbecues (which is where I enjoyed this one). Light, refreshing, with a citrus profile that is ever-present but not cloyingly sweet and syrupy. In the categories of wheat beers, summer beers, and session beers, this one doesn't stand out, but it's still a pleasant brew around the grill. Worth your afternoon. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"Crisp, Tangy, and Refreshing. The citrus aroma, light airy mouthfeel, and tangy finish are this unfiltered beer’s trademarks. This is accomplished by adding whole locally grown oranges throughout the brewing process, which perfectly coalesce with the wheat and barley base."
[source: hangar24brewery.com]

21st Amendment Brewery 'Hell or High Watermelon' Wheat Ale. 4.9% abv. 17 IBU. Hazy pale-straw color. Finger of bubbly white head. Good-fair retention, moderate-low lacing. Nose of biscuit, flowers, faint watermelon. Front taste of watermelon, wheat, lemongrass, herbal, citrus peel on the back. Aftertaste of wheat, notes of punchy grapefruit, white bread, bitter fruity hops, coriander in the sustain. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, bright, carbed.

This is a nice, highly drinkable wheat beer that's perfect for summer outings. The promised watermelon taste is delivered, as is the wheat, though I would have liked to sense them more in the aroma. It's a unique spin on a summer ale, though not outstanding by any measure. It's surely worth trying, if only for the watermelon taste. Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Like Lady Liberty, we stand for independence and perseverance. In the pursuit of innovative beer, there is no obstacle too great. No journey too long. No fruit too gigantic. This American wheat beer is brewed with real watermelon, for a flavor that’s surprisingly crisp, dry and refreshing—summer in a can. Hell or High Watermelon Wheat is our summer seasonal beer available from April through September in six pack cans and on draft. We start by brewing a classic American wheat beer, which undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon. A straw-colored, refreshing beer with a kiss of watermelon aroma and flavor."

[source: 21st-amendment.com]

Petaluma Hills 'Big House Blonde' Belgian-Style Blonde Ale. 6.4% abv. 24.7 IBU. Hazy honey color. Thin white head. Moderate retention, very little lace. Nose of light malt, floral, flat grain. Front taste of grassy-herbal grain, wheat, bitter hop back. Aftertaste is yeasty, earthy bitter hops, sustain is harsh grassy. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, dank.

This beer starts out well enough but is plagued by an unpleasant yeast taste that's present throughout, particularly in the aftertaste. It makes for a beer that's overly earthy, almost like soil in flavor. The brief head and almost zero lacing do not help the overall impression. Disappointing.

My friend took a trip to Petaluma and bought this beer for me, from a small nano-brewery across the street from the mighty Lagunitas Brewing. Based on this beer, it seems that Lagunitas has nothing to worry about. Pass on this one.

From the brewery:

"This Belgian style Blonde Ale is made with Belgian pilsen and Belgian aromatic malts plus lots of East Kent Goldings hops for lots of flavor. However, it's the Belgian Abbey yeast that defines this ale, adding a spicy bonus to a crisp, clean taste."

[source: petalumahills.com]

Lost Coast Brewing 'Great White' Ale. 4.8% abv. Hazy golden color with a finger of white bubbly head. Good retention, moderate lace. Nose of earthy hops, wheat, bread, faint citrus. Front taste of sweet biscuit, light malt, hop bitter, coriander. Aftertaste of wheat grain, light sugar, spice on the sustain. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is chewy, slightly sticky, bubbly.

This is a very good wheat beer. The aroma is hoppy with a touch of spice, followed by tastes of sweet breads and an aftertaste of fresh wheat. There are other wheats out there that stand taller than this beer, but it's still an excellent example of its category and worthy of your glass. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Crisp beer with a hint of citrus, made with two-row malted barley, unmalted wheat, a secret blend of Humboldt herbs, crystal clear mountain water and ale yeast."
[source: lostcoast.com]

"This light, citrus like beer is made with two-row malted barley, unsalted wheat, coriander, a secret blend of Humboldt herbs, crystal clear mountain water, and ale yeast. To serve, we suggest you pour all but the last two fingers of beer into your favorite glass. Swirl the remaining contents in a vigorous circular motion, chant the affirmation of your choice, then pour the delicious, nutrition yeast into your glass. Enjoy! Keep refrigerated, serve while fresh."
[source: bottle]

Saint Archer Brewing White Ale. 5% abv. 12 IBU. Hazy light yellow color. Bubbly white head disappears quickly. Low retention, no lace. Aroma of white bread, grapefruit peel, coriander. Front taste of bright citrus, cloves, faint floral hops. Aftertaste of grapefruit, spice, biscuit. Thin body. Mouthfeel is bright, effervescent, dotted with sediment.

Though this beer is technically true to its category, I found its flavor was greatly overpowered by citrus and its spices offered an odd earthy taste that struck me as dulled and unpleasant. I kept thinking of the other great white ales out there, which is never a good sign. Not recommended.

From the brewery:

"Brewed with high quality Pilsner and Wheat malts, generously spiced with coriander and Fresh orange peel. Belgian yeast provides the traditional refreshingly tart, spicy, and fruity flavor profile. Wheat protein and yeast gives a customary hazy appearance and contributes to the flavor and mouth feel."

[source: saintarcherbrewery.com]

Mike Hess Brewing 'Jucundus' Orange Honey Wheat. 6% abv. 24 IBU. Pale yellow in color. One finger of white head that slowly recedes to a sustaining collar. Good retention and lacing. Nose of honey, crackers, floral, faint citrus background. Front taste of honey, sweet light malt, some bitter hop notes. Aftertaste of honey, lingering citrus peel, orange. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is bright, bubbly, tangy.

This is an excellent honey beer, with the honey very present from the aroma on down, and the citrus flavors shining through in the aftertaste. It's easy-drinking without being watery, and approachable without lacking in flavor. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Conjure up a warm, sunny day with this crisp, light bodied American wheat beer, brewed with one kg per barrel if 100% U.S.A. orange blossom honey and California orange peel. This refreshing ale brewed with spices has a smooth, citrusy finish - a delightful session-worthy beer."

Mendocino Brewing Seasonal White Ale. 5% abv. 13 IBU. Hazy light honey color. One finger of white bubbly head. Moderate retention, good lace. Nose of lime, toffee, grain, biscuit. Front taste of floral hops, lime peel, vanilla, wheat. Aftertaste of smooth sweet citrus, floral hops, spices. The coriander comes through nicely in the finish, creating a pleasant balance of flavors by the end. Medium body. Mouthfeel is thin yet creamy, warm, bubbly.

This is a fine brew that achieves a mild, delicate balance in its flavor profile. The key lime is surely present throughout, the wheat adds body and earthy notes, and the coriander eases in at the finish. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Seasonal - White Ale - This inimitable ale resonates with a chorus of vibrant aroma chords. The first note is the aromatic symphony of wheat and barley malt, counterpointed with a naughty hint of spice. The second movement echoes with tones of floral and citrus hops, followed by a vivacious vibrato in which the exotic key lime takes this White Ale to a magnificent crescendo of taste. Leonine-like straw gold in look and an enigmatic subtle yeast haze makes this opus, pitch perfect in body and soul. Key Lime orchestrates a composition that compliments the traditional spicy, bready middle adding grace to a finish that is clean and bright.  And as the harmony ebbs, you will feel an urge to replay this refrain.  Allow yourself, for it is only natural to do so."

New Belgium 'Accumulation' White IPA. 6.2% abv. 70 IBU. Pale yellow color. Slightly hazy. Thick white bubbly head that holds steady for several minutes before receding to a nice ring. Good retention. Great lacing. Nose of floral hops, grapefruit peel. Front taste is balanced bitter, mild sweet malt, citrus rind. Aftertaste is hoppy, herbal, with a fruity hop flavor that sustains. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, slightly sticky, creamy, oily on the back end.

This is a good IPA with ample hops and citrus notes. I don't detect the 'white' (e.g. wheat), and it's not complex or spicy as the winter-xmas label would suggest, but it is nonetheless a nice bright IPA. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"This winter, IBUs start accumulating like snow in Colorado with our new Accumulation White IPA. Brewing a white IPA was not only a way to salute the white beauty falling from the sky, but a direct revolt to the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for winter. At least that’s what our rebellious brewer Grady Hull likes to claim as he shovels in plenty of new hop varietals and a bit of wheat for a smooth mouthfeel. Stack up a few cases of Accumulation White IPA to keep your long nights glowing blizzard white."

Tioga-Sequoia 'Half Dome' California Wheat. 5.3% abv. 17 IBU. Hazy pale yellow color. White bubbly head was thin, but with good retention and lacing. Front taste of wheat, biscuits, background citrus. Aftertaste is faint malt with light citrus notes that linger. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is bubbly, bright, crisp. This is an excellent wheat beer. Any fan of wheat, hefes, or wits will surely enjoy this brew.

From the brewery:

"Half Dome in Yosemite National Park attracts people from all over with its picture perfect views and great hiking opportunities. Our Half Dome California Wheat attracts people with its unfiltered goodness and lemon zest characteristics."