What is the Chocolate Wheat from Badger State Brewing?

An experimental test batch brewed on the pilot system by brewmaster Sam Yanda: a straightforward wheat recipe with chocolate malt and cocoa powder, brewed as a lighter-bodied dark beer.

How did Chocolate Wheat pour?

A deep, dark black with a mousse-like dark tan head and excellent retention — more like a stout on nitrogen than a wheat beer, and it was poured from a growler three days after filling.

What does Chocolate Wheat taste like?

Smooth milk chocolate up front, transitioning into a deep dark chocolate like an 80% cacao truffle, with a slight roasted-barley note, a touch of astringency from the cocoa nibs, and a long dark-chocolate finish. Medium body, moderate carbonation.

Was the recipe final?

No — it was still an experimental brew, and changes were possible before it got brewed on the new 15 barrel system.

Does glass shape matter?

Yes — the reviewer noted a radically different head formation in each of the three glasses used.

What was the mash temp?

It was lower so the beer keeps a light body, lighter than a porter or a stout.

Chocolate Wheat – Badger State Brewing

Badger State Brewing, Green Bay’s newest brewery is in the process of brewing a few test batches on their pilot system to expand their lineup a bit and branch out into beers that defy the traditional style definitions. One such beer is the chocolate wheat, a new beer that Brewmaster Sam Yanda is working to perfect. With craft breweries ever in the process of pushing traditional style guidelines I suppose it was only a matter of time for chocolate wheat beers to make their way onto the scene. Since this is still an experimental brew, there may be a few changes to the recipe before it gets brewed on the new, 15 barrel system, but here are my notes.

They Say:

According to Brewmaster Sam Yanda: Chocolate Wheat is a straight forward wheat recipe w/ chocolate malt and cocoa powder added. The mash temp is lower to give it a light body, than say a porter or stout. Real easy drinking dark beer.

I Say:

Chocolate Wheat pours a deep, dark black with a moderately thick almost mousse-like dark tan head that holds excellent retention (although notice the radically different head formation in each of the three glasses…Yes, glass shape does matter). It has the look more of a stout served under nitrogen than a wheat beer with the addition of chocolate malts, the kicker being that it was poured out of a growler 3 days after it was filled. The aroma has subtle notes of roasted barley on the front end with a hint of coffee and earthy cocoa nibs. The earthiness transitions to a subtle smokiness and then a rich, full cocoa powder note on the back end with just a hint of vanilla. The aroma rising off the glass was vaguely reminiscent of a high end hot chocolate.

Enjoying the first sip, I am greeted by an extremely smooth concoction with very strong up front notes of milk chocolate with a slight hint of roasted barley. The subtle barley notes lead the transition to a deep full, dark chocolate flavor, like an 80% chocolate truffle. There is the slightest note of astringency, perhaps from the cocoa nibs. The beer dries on the back end with a long lingering dark chocolate finish. Chocolate wheat is medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation.

The chocolate wheat test batch from Badger State Brewing is a pretty amazing beer. The combination of the chocolate malt and cocoa nibs with a wheat beer base works surprisingly well.

That’s all for tonight, I will get another review up next week! Have a great weekend and Happy Drinking!

Chocolate Wheat – Badger State Brewing

Key takeaways

Frequently asked questions

Sources