Carolyn Fath
Grant Pauly, brewmaster and owner of 3 Sheeps Brewing, says he loves his job, despite the occasional hard day at the office. His Paid Time Off, an imperial black wheat ale, is well-suited to remember, and toast, the recent Labor Day weekend.
What is it? Paid Time Off, a beer in the Nimble Lips Noble Tongue (NLNT) Series from 3 Sheeps Brewing Company.
Style: This is an imperial version of the brewery’s Baaad Boy Black Wheat. Imperial means it’s bigger, stronger and bolder in flavor than the regular version. Despite being called a wheat beer, don’t think of this as a German Dunkelweizen, Hefeweizen or typical light American wheat. This black wheat ale is an American twist, using wheat malt to lighten the body and mouthfeel of certain beers. Brewmaster Grant Pauly uses a variety called Midnight Wheat, which gives the beer a vivid black color without the burnt-bitterness that highly roasted dark malts sometimes provide. American-style black wheats range from 4% to 7% ABV, and an imperial version like Paid Time Off goes up from there.
Background: Paid Time Off is among the brewery’s special limited-run brews that are sold in 22 ounce bomber-bottles. Their black labels signify them to be a subset of special releases in the brewery’s well-known NLNT series. “These are beers we name after things we enjoy — and who doesn’t like to enjoy time off when it’s paid for?” says Pauly. There are three other beers in the line of imperial black wheats: Hoedown, which came out last May, features chipotle chilies and cherries; Midnight Bourbon, which is aged four month in Bulleit Bourbon barrels, will be released later this month; and Uber Joe, a big bold coffee ale that comes out in January.
Some may find that Paid Time Off is beyond bold. Pauly infuses the beer with cocoa nibs, coconut and walnuts. The coconut and walnuts are lightly roasted before they are added to the fermenter. Pauly says he likes to use the black wheat as part of the grist because it’s a soft grain that doesn’t have the harsh burnt bitterness found in many dark roasted malts. It not only lends lots of color, but it allows special ingredients to come to the forefront of the beer’s flavor. With Paid Time Off, the coconut lends a sweetness, the coca nibs are an earthy chocolate, and the walnuts give hints of grainy-nuttiness. The coconut stands out the most in the overall flavor profile. “This was about getting to play around with different ingredients and seeing what people think,” says Pauly. Paid Time Off is a beer that fans of robust porters and stouts should find interesting. It recently won a Gold Medal at the 2015 US Beer Open Championship in the specialty beer category.
Paid Time Off ends up at 10% ABV. It’s sold in 22-ounce bomber bottles for around $10.
Tasting notes:
Aroma: Begins with light roasted aromas, hints of earthy nuttiness, light vanilla, and the sweetness of coconut.
Appearance: Dark color, with a thin, brown head.
Texture: Full-bodied, bubbly and soft. It has lots of warmth, even a slight alcohol burn. Let it warm up and it will get softer.
Taste: Some roasted-coffee flavors are found early. However, the sweetness of coconut and the earthy roasted walnuts blend well to give this beer lots of unique flavor.
Finish/Aftertaste: Sweet hints of roasted malt and coconut, and lots of alcoholic warmth.
Glassware: This is a big robust beer best to sip and slowly enjoy in a snifter.
Pairs well with: This is a good beer to enjoy all on its own. Allowing it to slowly warm up and breathe gets rid of some of the carbonation and brings out even more of the sweetness of coconut and the dry earthy nuttiness. This beer is especially nice for just relaxing in the evening with your feet up on the porch or patio.
The Verdict: Paid Time Off was a great beer to pick up in remembrance of Labor Day, and it’s a clear break from the summer light beer season. It’s an assertive beer with its sweet coconut and earthy walnuts. While strong, it remains smooth and enticing. Its drawback is the 10% ABV; you’ll notice the warmth from the very first sip. There’s even a mild spirit-like burn in the finish. While I enjoyed this beer, it might be better suited to the dead of winter, when all those bold, robust flavors and alcoholic strength are more welcome. Still, it’s a nice nightcap for the cooler days of September.
