On Tap.

Rabbit Hole’s Tweedleyum Strawberry Hefeweizen Wasn’t The Pairing We Hoped.

Welcome to On Tap! Each week in this recurring feature, we'll take an in-depth look at one of the many beers now available in the suddenly crowded North Texas brew scene. The goal here is to look at these area beers without our local goggles on and to wonder aloud, “Is this beer good or do I just like it because it's local?” Should be a fun experiment, no? Cheers to that!

This week, we sipped on Rabbit Hole Brewing Company's Tweedleyum Strawberry Hefeweizen.

Fast Facts on Rabbit Hole's Tweedleyum Strawberry Hefeweizen.
Style: Strawberry Hefeweizen (IPA).
ABV: 5.5 percent.
International Bitterness Units (IBUs): 16.
Color: Cloudy Orange.
Availability: Limited Release.

Overview.
Designed for Texas' spring months, Rabbit Hole's Tweedleyum Strawberry Hefeweizen is the first of the brewery's “Tweedle” wheat series, which is fully designed and brewed around a wheat base.

Although a wheat series may seem like an unusual concept, the Justin-based entity behind it is no stranger to bold ideas. Earlier this year, Rabbit Hole released Off With Your Red and Dark Snark as part of its “Season of Fear” series that showcases beers of greater strength. You might also be familiar with Rabbit Hole's year-round and signature Kölsch-style beer, Mike Modano's 561, which is inspired by and brewed with former Dallas Star great Mike Modano.

Now, by drawing inspiration from Lewis Carroll's famous writings, Rabbit Hole continues to reinvent its beers with fun mythical twists — this one starring those delightfully belligerent fat twins, Tweddledee and Tweedledum.

Today, we see if this fruity, fabled spin on the authentic German Hefeweizen is enough to keep our attention all season long.

Background on Strawberry Hefeweizens.
The fruit beer category in the BJCP style guideline is kind of a catch-all for what can encompass a wide variety of beers. Because of this, the boundaries aren't very rigid. Basically, the fruit used should be showcased in a way that complements the base beer style. Fruit additions shouldn't taste or smell artificial. And they probably shouldn't be too overpowering either.

Appearance.
Tweedleyum serves a cloudy orange with subtle grapefruit ruby highlights. This is perfect for the style considering the beer is unfiltered, not to mention the addition of 100 percent fresh strawberry puree. Its one-finger head slowly dissipates and leaves a healthy trace of lace on the sides of the glass.

Aroma.
The aroma is a big and bready one, smelling really wheaty and with lots of yeast. Speaking of which, the yeast brings with it some lemon, orange, banana and a hint of citrus, too. Heavily searching, you will indeed find the faintest notes of strawberry, too.

Flavor.
Tweedleyum opens with subtle, sweet flavors of bubblegum, banana and candied sugar, all mixed with citrus and a strong wheat bread taste. Most of these create a base flavor for the brew with only the candied sugars fading as the taste advances. With the loss of the candied flavors comes an increase in a yeasty flavor, which actually grows rather strong, and is further enhanced by slightly spiced flavors of coriander and clove. Towards the end are very faint notes of strawberry and more yeasty wheat flavors to linger. The finish leaves a strange, chalky and somewhat dry aftertaste.

Mouthfeel.
This beer is medium-bodied with medium to high carbonation. It makes for a smooth feel, which is rather appropriate for the yeasty and bread-like flavors of the brew.

Overall Impression.
The idea of a strawberry Hefeweizen definitely sounds like the perfect spring creation — a light, refreshing and fruit-forward drink that's not fruit-dominant. And while Tweedleyum hits on some of these notes, the overall execution seems to have slightly missed the mark.

I commend Rabbit Hole for using 100 percent fresh strawberries, but I was hoping to have a lot more strawberry come through than what I experienced. Tweedleyum is a decent German Hefe, but to call it strawberry beer may be a bit of a stretch.

So, no, Tweedleyum may not be end up as your go-to spring beer. But it is sure to quench your Hefeweizen craving, especially if you're patio-hopping, pub-crawling or pool-lounging.

Its lifespan will similarly be fleeting: Tweedleyum will be available through June in North Texas and Austin bars, and on draft only.

Score.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give Rabbit Hole's Tweedleyum Strawberry Hefeweizen a 6.

What's happening in the area brew scene? (Powered by Dallas Brew Scene.)
• April 6-12. Barrel Week at Strangeways.
• Thursday, April 9. Ten50 BBQ's Pork & Pint Night w/ Franconia.
• Saturday, April 11. Big Texas Beer Fest at Fair Park.
• Saturday, April 25. North Texas Firkin Fest.
• Saturday, April 25. Dallas Brew Bus Tour.

Previous On Tap Reviews:
• Peticolas' Royal Scandal: 10.
• Community's Mosaic IPA: 10.
• Peticolas' Velvet Hammer: 10.
• Community's Barrel-Aged Legion: 10.
• Community's Legion: 10.
• Peticolas' Lost Epic: 9.5.
• Community's Ascension Porter: 9.5.
• Lakewood's Temptress: 9.5.
• Lakewood's Goatman: 9.5.
• Community's Public Ale: 9.5.
• Peticolas' Thrilla in Brazilla: 9.5.
• Revolver's Blood & Honey: 9.
• Martin House's Imperial Texan: 9.
• Community's Trinity Tripel: 9.
• Peticolas' Irish Goodbye: 9.
• Four Corners' Block Party Porter: 9.
• Cedar Creek's Belgian Dubbel: 9.
• Deep Ellum's Oak Cliff Coffee Ale: 8.5.
• Lakewood's Rock Ryder: 8.5.
• Rahr's Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer: 8.5.
• Lakewood's Raspberry Temptress: 8.5.
• Cedar Creek's Fisticuffs: 8.
• Lakewood's Punkel: 8.
• Four Corners' El Chingon IPA: 8.
• Martin House's Day Break: 8.
• Deep Ellum's GOURDzilla: 8.
• Peticolas' The Duke (Aged 12 Months): 8.
• Deep Ellum's Pale Ale: 8.
• Revolver's Bock: 8.
• 903 Brewers' Sasquatch: 8.
• Peticolas' Wintervention: 8.
• Armadillo Ale Works' Brunch Money: 8.
• Martin House's Salsa Verde: 8.
• Cedar Creek's Spinning Mule Robust Porter: 8.
• Lakewood's Holiday Bonus: 8.
• Lakewood's Hop Trapp: 8.
• Martin House's Rubberneck Red: 7.5.
• Lakewood's Antigoon's Revenge: 7.5.
• Community's Texas Pils: 7.5.
• Lakewood's Zomer Pils: 7.5.
• Cedar Creek's Dankosaurus: 7.5.
• Shannon Brewing Company's Irish Red: 7.
• Texas Ale Project's Somethin' Shady: 7.
• Deep Ellum IPA: 7.
• Cedar Creek's The Lawn Ranger: 7.
• Martin House Brewing Company's Cellarman's Reserve IPA (Amarillo).: 7.
• Lakewood's Till & Toil: 7.
• 903 Brewers' The Chosen One: 7.
• 903 Brewers' Sugar On Top: 7.
• Martin House's Gateway XPA: 7.
• Armadillo Ale Work's Quakertown Stout: 7.
• Revolver's High Brass: 7.
• Community's Pale Ale: 7.
• Martin House's River House: 7.
• Grapevine Craft Brewery's Sir William's Brown Ale: 7.
• Community's Funnel Cake Ale: 7.
• Audacity's Boss Raptor IPA: 7.
• Peticolas' Operation Collaboration: 6.5.
• Grapevine Craft Brewery's Nightwatch: 6.5.
• Peticolas' The Duke: 6.5.
• Deep Ellum's Double Brown Stout : 6.5.
• Rabbit Hole's Off With Your Red: 6.
• Cedar Creek's Elliott's Phoned Home Pale Ale: 6
• Grapevine Craft Brewery's Lakefire: 6
• Armadillo Ale Works' WunderMelon: 6
• Deep Ellum Pale Ale: 6
• Lakewood's La Dame Du Lac: 5.5.
• Deep Ellum's Numb Comfort: 5.
• Audacity's Sunset Boulevard/a>: 4.
• Shannon Brewing Company's IPA: 4.
• Grapevine's Monarch: 4.
• Franconia Wheat: 3.
• Miller Lite: 1.