Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Wheat Beers

Hazy Days

White/Wit Beer

Wit beer is a style of flavored wheat. It is distinctly Belgian in origin and is still very closely associated with this lowland country. Wits employ a proportion of unmalted wheat in the mash, but also have flavor added in the form of Curaçao orange peel and coriander, among other ingredients. Their appearance is marked by a hazy white precipitate and these beers generally have some sedimentation. Typically, these are very refreshing summer thirst quenchers. Their popularity in the United States is growing, with some notable examples to be found.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

96 La Grande Blanche, De Proef Brouwerij (Belgium). 7.5% ABV (6/07)
Hazy golden amber color. Orange peel, mango pudding, and lychee nut aromas are gentle and attractive. A round, supple entry leads to a creamy, fruity sweet medium-to-full body of orange, pineapple, mango, coriander and clover honeyed sourdough toast flavors. Finishes with a sweet citrus, spice, buttered bread, and delicate herb fade. Very elegant and masterfully spiced.

92 Wit, St. Bernardus Brouwerij (Belgium). 5.5% ABV (6/06)
Cloudy, milky orange amber color with abundant carbonation. Wet grain, clay, herbal leaf, and golden raisin nut toast aromas. A rich, thick entry leads to a dryish full-bodied palate with meringue, salty toast, dried fruit mélange, coriander, and delicate brown spices. Finishes with long savory fade of fruit, nuts, and toast. Deliciously spicy and exotic.

91 Double White Belgian Style Ale, River Horse Brewery (NJ). 7.5% ABV (6/08)
Cloudy pale amber color. Orange soufflé, caramel drizzled dried apricot, and zesty coriander aromas follow though on a round, supple entry to a fruity medium-to-full body with a great interplay of sweet spice and deep dried fruit flavors. Finishes with a long, tangy orange-peach marmalade, wet grain, and praline fade. Delicious and dangerously drinkable.

91 Blanche de Chambly, Unibroue (Canada). 5% ABV (6/08)
Hazy old gold color. Wonderful and delicate aromas of tangerine, banana custard and nut bread follow through on a spry entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body with sensational sweet wheat and orange blossom honey accents. Finishes with a long, quenching creamy citrus, floral honey, and subtle spice fade. Delicious.

90 Samuel Adams White Ale, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.2% ABV (6/06)
Lightly hazy, copper color. Robust, sweet caramel, candied orange and apricot, and delicate spice aromas are deliciously inviting. A rich, frothy entry leads to a fruity medium-bodied palate with dried orange and peach, toffee, coriander, and lemon peels flavors. Finishes with a long, orange marmalade toast and spice fade. Yum!

89 Summer Frog Witbier, Issaquah Brewhouse (OR). 5.7% ABV (6/08)
Slightly hazy amber color. Sweet potato, peach pie crust and baking spice aromas follow through on a buoyant, frothy entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium with zesty accents of coriander and cinnamon bark. Finishes spicy toffee, shredded wheat, and honeyed orange fade.

89 Point Belgian White, Stevens Point Brewery (WI). 4.6% ABV (6/08)
Slight hazy yellow color. Wheat bread, lemon custard, coriander and delicate spice aromas follow through on soft, supple entry to dry-yet-fruity medium body with tangy sweet citrus and pepper accents. Finishes with a crisp refreshing halo of spice and grain. Very nice.

89 Norwegian Frolic Wit Beer, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 4.8% ABV (6/07)
Milky orange amber color with a lacey head. Vibrant orange cake and tapioca aromas are inviting and follow though to a rich frothy entry with a fruity medium-full body of orange cake, delicate spice, and toasted meringue flavors. Finishes with a long fruit, citrus peel, and honey fade. Thoroughly delicious, rich, and very well balanced. Well done!

88 Scandia Ale, Summit Brewing Co. (MN). 4.8% ABV (6/07)
Cloudy golden amber color. Vibrant, almost piney, aromas of cardamom and coriander overlay a bed of honeyed banana-orange bread. A frothy entry leads to a crisp dryish medium-to-full body of vibrant spices, citrus peels, and toasted caraway zucchini bread flavors. Finishes with a cleansing and lingering, dried herb and spice fade. Very interesting in style and flavor with a ton of refreshment. Serve with Thai food.

88 Lakefront White, Lakefront Brewery (WI). (7/06)
Clear, golden amber color. Sweet candied citrus, wheat cracker, coriander, wet hay, and spice aromas. A round, smooth entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to full-bodied palate with orange zest, coriander, honeyed wheat toast, and peppery spice flavors. Finishes with a long tangy fade of citrus and singed spices.

87 Blanche De Namur Witbier, Brasserie Du Bocq (Belgium). 4.5% ABV (6/07)
Hazy yellow straw color. Coriander, anise, and lemon zest tart aromas. A frothy entry leads to a fruity medium-to-full body of floral bath talc, dried citrus peels, clover honey and rich spice flavors. finishes with a creamy and zesty citrus custard, buttered nuts, minty bath soap, and spice fade.

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