Hello all!! Today we are serving up a beer style fit for summer, the Witbier. Grab a glass and learn a little more about what’s behind this style.
Witbier is a beer style by many names–Wit, White Beer or Belgian White are all alternative titles for this style. By whichever name you choose to call it, it is a Belgian style wheat ale, pale in color, and usually cloudy from starch haze or yeast. A slightly sweet beer with a light creamy mouthfeel, with flavors of citrus, herbs, and spice. Many Wit beers have an addition of coriander, citrus zest, and/or chamomile. The herb, citrus and spice flavors should be subtle and not overwhelming. Witbier is a 400 year-old beer style, that died out in the 1950s. It was later revived by Hoegaarden, and has grown in popularity in the US market. Witbier is a refreshing beer, great for summer. It is often times served with an orange or lemon wedge, but of course certain beer snobs frown upon this. Not me though, hey, who doesn’t like extra vitamin C.
Smell: Yeasty with a hint of orange and camomile.
Taste: Spicy with a yeasty finish. Much more yeast forward than the Witches Wit. This beer is camomile forward, with some orange. This was much more hazy in color than the Witches Wit and less clean tasting, with a lot more spice. This was not my favorite wit beer.
I think we might have gotten a old bottle. It came from Whole Foods, which the one we go to seems to go through beer, so I’m not sure. I feel like it should have been more spice flavor.
Smell: A bit of yeasty spiciness
Taste: Very clean. Clear not very cloudy at all when poured. Almost Kolsch like in flavor, but with a heavier mouth feel. Slight hint of orange and coriander, but very little spice overall. While I feel like it could have used a bit more spice I really enjoyed this Wit. This one would be my buy again choice between the two.
What is your go to summer beer?
Our next Into The Pint Glass is Pale Ales on July 9th. A nice all American beer in time to enjoy for the 4th of July holiday 🙂
