While I am a particular lover of IPAs, wheat beers are high on my list as well, and I tend to seek those out quite often during the Summertime (which lasts six months in Texas). A particular wheat beer that I am quite fond of, and that I only get to indulge in on occasion, is the Tiki Wheat from Galveston Island Brewing. That one is quite popular across the island, and if you can get it on tap (as you can in most Galveston restaurants), I recommend ordering a pint.
Following is the description of the beer from their website: “Our flagship brew is half wheat and half barley paired with coriander and notes of honey sweetness making an extremely refreshing brew.” And this one has been dubbed as the official beer of Galveston.
I find this beer to be a nice change of pace to your typical wheats and Hefeweizens as it is not as wheaty (is that a word?) and it brings a notable richness with a sweet finish. There is also a good citrus kick that makes it quite refreshing, and a particularly good beer to have at the beach. I don’t quite detect the coriander that they mention, but the beer has that little something extra that gives it depth which is likely a blend of that spice with the honey. And this is a beer that will pair quite nicely with spicy foods, with the cooling taste acting as the proper counterbalance to the heat. Calorie-wise this one comes in at 240 cals, meaning that it is certainly far from a lite beer.
I just recently took a trip to the island and indulged in the Tiki Wheat quite often. As mentioned above, you can find it on tap (or at least in cans) in almost every restaurant in town. I also stopped by their tap room (which is just one block from the beach) where you can get pints of the brew for three bucks. And I stocked up on six packs before heading back as I cannot usually find this one in the stores around San Antonio.
Galveston Island Brewing got its start in 2014 and has since become the premiere brewery on the island. They have quite a selection of beers available, with the Citra Mellow IPA and the Causeway Kolsch as additional brews that are worth checking out. Many of their beers (particularly the Tiki Wheat) are available in six packs in the stores in town and around the Houston area. And if you are on the island, I highly recommend stopping by their tap room.
Tale of the Tape:
Serving Size: 12 fl oz
ABV: 5.8%
IBU: 37
Calories: 240