Newport Storm – Summer Hefeweizen

Newport Storm – Summer Hefeweizen

 By Eric Cioffi

 

Last night my self-guided tour of the world of craft beer brought me to Newport Rhode Island with a sample of Newport Storm’s Summer Hefeweizen. I love Newport and have spent many summer weekends at Sully’s, The Irish American, Christie’s, and the back bar of the Mooring when it was still an open deck. Though the craft beer revolution had not started back then, and Newport Storm Brewery had not been founded, looking at the nautically themed bottle with the Newport logo brought back some very fine memories.

  

Coastal Extreme Brewing (or The Newport Storm Brewery as it is known by many) was the dream of Brent, Derek, Mark, and Will; four guys from Colby College. Information was gathered, plans were written, investors were begged, and skeptics were grown as the founders pressed forward with their dream. In April of 1999 they moved into their 2500 square feet brewery in two garage bays in the Middletown Tradesman Center, and on July 2nd 1999, the brewery’s first beer, Hurricane Amber Ale, was released.

Since then, the brewery has continued to slowly build itself and its reputation. In 2002 the brewery expanded an additional 1000 square feet. In 2006 they started Newport Distilling Company to make Thomas Tew Rum. Perhaps the biggest event of all came in 2010 when the brewery and distillery built a brand new facility in the North End of Newport which increased their square footage to 8,000 and they built a beautiful Visitors Center and tour deck. These guys are all still great friends and the brewery is still growing. Through it all, the focus continues to be making quality, unique, local beers.

Now to my tasting. The beer was poured into a standard weizen glass and was a cloudy golden yellow with a large foamy white head that lingered.  Fresh and delicious looking, I could hardly wait to take my first sip.

A true hefeweizen should exhibit strong fruity esters consisting of banana, citrus, and possibly vanilla. There should be very little hop essence and no malt notes in the aroma. The Newport Storm was very citrusy with a subtle banana presence. It tasted wonderful, the body was light and the carbonation was crisp making for refreshing experience.  Lemony citrus, with the typical tartness from the German yeast and with hints of biscuit from the wheat.  Very little bitterness or hops. This beer is tasty and goes down easily.  It is a good representation of the style.  It was fun to drink this beer and fondly remember my summer weekends in Newport with good friends.

 Hefeweizen - Summer Wheat Ale | 4.5% ABV

 Rating: 70