Wheat wine (barleywine with a significant portion of wheat) by Adept, a young microbrewery in Winksele, in this case collaborating with De Vlier. Noteworthy in being a raw beer, i.e. with the wort never cooked (though still heated), something which was probably more rule than exception many centuries ago but survived only in the remote fringes of traditional beer territory, such as the Scandinavian farmhouse ales which have received a lot of attention in past years, after having been all but completely ignored for generations. At LIBF. Snow white, moussy, medium thick, slowly opening head, near-clear yellow blonde robe with ochre-ish tinge. Aroma of green pear, calvados, white bread, unripe banana, bee wax, raw dough (so a ‘raw’ element indeed), withering grass, cold French fries, damp cloth, hint horseradish, gin. Sweetish onset with primarily ‘green fruit’ impressions, such as unripe banana, green pear and green apple, tingling and fizzy carbonation, full and rounded, slick mouthfeel; wheat slickness clearly edging a white-bready and cereally, even somewhat grainy core, the whole feeling ‘thinner’ and lighter than it actually is, with that typical ‘raw’ aspect (raw dough) returning, probably linked to unmalted wheat as well as being uncooked. Some residual yellow-green fruity sweetishness in the end as well as a touch of grassy hops (low in bitterness though) and warming, calvados-like alcohol. Slender and not very ‘layered’ for a beer of this strength, this needs a lot more vinosity and complexity to pass for a true wheat wine, though in itself enjoyable enough, and quite unique (just try to name another Belgian-brewed raw wheat wine…). Perhaps I need to start following this Adept project a bit closer.