It could be considered a hybrid of these styles, and that's why when this beer is ordered at the Great Dane, staff may describe it using a term like 'doppel-hefeweizen-bock.'īackground: Tangerine Dream gets its fruity-citrus flavor mostly from the hops than blend with the fruity esters produced by the hefeweizen (ale) yeast. With Tangerine Dream, everything gets turned-up with more wheat and barley malts, which lend a richer orange-amber color, while the level of hoppiness is much stronger than can be expected in the he hefeweizen, dunkelweizen or weizenbock styles. Hefeweizens fall between 4.9%-5.5% ABV, while dunkelweizens range up to 7% ABV and weizenbocks can reach 9.5% ABV. They are made with more than 50% wheat malt, and typically have very low amounts of hoppiness. These brews often offer a variety of spicy accents like clove, vanilla, apple, banana, and even bubblegum. The hefeweizen is cloudy pale straw to golden in color with a light and bubbly body. This beer actually starts out as an unfiltered hefeweizen before Great Dane brewer Nate Zukas ups all the basic ingredients, and uses three different hops that blend together to bestow the namesake citrus character. But within all that yeastiness is a level of hoppiness that has the personality of a pale ale. It best falls among German wheat beers like the Bavarian-style hefeweizen, the dunkelweizen (dunkel means dark) and the weizenbock. Style: Tangerine Dream isn't easily described within the craft beer industry's judged styles. What is it? Tangerine Dream from the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company of Madison, Wisconsin. It should be available on tap for a few weeks, and is a featured brew at the Dane during celebrations leading up to the Great Taste of the Midwest. It was their encouragement that is responsible to this late summer treat for fans of both hoppy and wheat beers. It was in-house peer pressure that had a lot to do with the recent reappearance of a special wheat beer on the taps at the Hilldale and East locations of the Great Dane.īrewer Nate Zukas says this beer, called Tangerine Dream, has been a favorite among the brewpub's bartenders and servers. Sometimes staff favorites can find way their onto the menu.

When brewers get feedback on their creations, it isn't always from paying customers.

Tangerine wheat beer