Falling in Love Again: Wheat King Wit
Starting in 2017, we are running a “Falling in Love Again” series where each month we will feature one beer from our year-round lineup to re-introduce each beer with some new background info that you might not know. Our Taprooms will also feature special promotions connected with the monthly beer.
This July, we’re taking a look at one of our light and memorable beers: Wheat King Wit.
Wheat King Wit
Wheat King Wit is the evolution of Wheat King Ale, a beer previously in our year-round lineup. Taking a peek at Bryan’s recipe notes, we can see that first time he experimented with the Belgian Wit yeast was back in September of 2013. At that time, he simply made a seasonal beer that was a yeast-swapped Wheat King Ale. However he ended up liking the results so much that in 2014 Wheat King Wit was introduced into our year-round lineup, nudging out the previous Wheat King Ale.
The retro Wheat King Ale
This beer primarily uses wheat in the grain bill, which does not have a husk. This makes brewing with it difficult and the high protein content creates difficulties when filtering, which leaves the final beer hazy. However, at Baird Beer we value minimal processing and feel that a bit of haziness only contributes to the overall beauty and depth of the beer’s color. Plus the proteins make for a better head of foam, contain nutrients, and add a slight kick to the beer that I really enjoy. Wheat King Wit is a great beer for those who want to explore the flavor of wheat in beer, or especially those who just want a beer that will quench their thirst.
One of the biggest things that sets Wheat King Wit apart from the commonly know Belgian Wit style is that we do not use any fruits or spices in it. The lively fruity punch comes completely from the wheat and yeast. When you think white beers, Weisen is probably what springs to mind, but Wit has a lower phenol flavor and we recommend it to people who don’t do well with more bitter beers.
Let’s finish off this month with some label talk. Bryan was raised in the south-western part of Ohio. This is an area characterized by gently rolling hills and fields of corn. This label depicts the type of natural beauty you would find in the western areas of Canada or in Bryan’s home state of Ohio. The naming was inspired by famous Canadian singer-songwriter Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip’s song “Wheat Kings.”
The rolling fields of Ohio
Like Wheat King Wit, every Baird Beer has a back story. Personal tales, historical tales, tales of beer styles, these beers are steeped in stories. We hope that you, those who enjoy these beers, do so in a way that compliments and becomes a part of your lifestyle and experiences.
Sayuri Baird