Wiley Roots x Wren House “Temporary Residents: Leisure World (2019)” Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Wheatwine

Name: Temporary Residents: Leisure World (2019)
Brewers: Wiley Roots Brewing Company, Wren House Brewing Company (United States)
Style: Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (Base Style: Wheatwine)
ABV: 12%
Review Year: 2020

Arizona meets Colorado with Temporary Residents: Leisure World (2019), a rye whiskey barrel-aged Wheatwine brewed by Wiley Roots Brewing Company and Wren House Brewing Company. Laws Whiskey House (Colorado) Secale Straight Rye Whiskey barrels were used to condition this beer.

STYLE GUIDELINES

This beer is being evaluated as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (33B) with the Wheatwine (22D) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.

TASTING NOTES

Clear deep amber with no head. The nose evoked cola and bourbon aromas in medium intensities with faint accents of oats, mint, and something akin to cardamom; very low to no hop aroma. Medium-light-bodied; low carbonation. The flavor profile suggested a highly potent, malt-forward beverage: think of smooth boozy rye whiskey with a sweet-malty backbone and hints of cinnamon. As with the aroma, hop flavor was likewise almost nonexistent; low bitterness (still within parameters). A familiar blend of spice, rye whiskey, and cinnamon was noted in the aftertaste; finished slightly sweet. No banana or clove aromas; not syrupy; no optional oxidative/ vinous flavors; and no optional supportive oak character.

THE VERDICT

This is the first Wheatwine we have reviewed, (all) the more so one that had been aged in rye whiskey barrels; therefore, we don’t have firm benchmarks for this style. However, evaluating solely what’s in the glass vis-à-vis the style guidelines, Temporary Residents is a smooth, sweet-malty beer that showcased a myriad of characteristics such as rye, whiskey, cinnamon, and cola. For some, this Wheatwine is even reminiscent of Jack and Coke. It’s a sipping beer. Note that any hop presence may have been tempered given that this beer was reviewed almost a year since it had been released.

As a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer, Temporary Residents, in our opinion, balanced the rye whiskey qualities with the rich and complex base sans any tannin-derived astringency (associated typically with beers conditioned with wood). This, ultimately, contributed to the smoothness of this beverage. Overall, we think it’s a very good concept and made us look forward to reviewing more Wheatwines. Lastly, we’d imagine this being enjoyed over BBQ ribs.

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