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

87 Berghoff Solstice Wit, Joseph Huber Brewing Co. (USA). 5% ABV (6/06)
Lightly hazy yellow amber color. Sweet candied orange and cream aromas follow through to a frothy zest dreamsicle like palate and a orange honey toast fade. Refreshing, if a bit candied.

85 Ommegang Witte, Brewery Ommegang (NY). 5.1% ABV (6/08)
Lightly hazy yellow gold color. Lemon-orange bread, honeyed oat, and delicate spice aromas. A round entry leads to a dryish medium-to-full body of tangy honeyed lemon and orange peels, oatmeal, wet clay, and faint coriander flavors. Finishes with a citrus and, bitter herb, mossy earth fade. An earthy, zesty quaffer.

84 Wit, Bastone Brewery (MI). 5.6% ABV (6/07)
Very hazy sunny amber color. Bright coriander and orange peel aromas. A spritzy entry leads to a tangy medium body of sweet candied citrus, coriander, clove, and pine sap flavors. Finishes with a sweet citrus and spice fade. A pleasant fruity quaffer.

84 Mygarden Wit, Gaslight Brewery (NJ). 5.1% ABV (6/07)
Almost clear golden amber color. Caramelized nuts, toasted pumpernickel, pine, and orange marmalade aromas. A supple, round entry leads to a dryish medium body of clover honeyed dark toast, coriander, and roasted nut flavors. Finishes with a fruity, wheat toast, orange zest and butter fade.

84 Holy Moses White Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (OH). 5.4% ABV (7/06)
Hazy old gold color. Wheat bread toast, clover honey, and faint nut and spice aromas. A frothy entry leads to a dryish medium-bodied palate with banana puree, buttered toast, singed citrus peel, and pepper. Finishes a somewhat bitter and astringent burnt nut and toast fade with honey, herbs, and spice.

84 Abbaye De Saint Martin Organic White Beer, Brasserie De Brunehaut (Belgium). 5% ABV (5/07)
Hazy yellow golden color. Lemon custard, lime zest, and delicate spice mélange aromas. A frothy entry leads to a dryish medium body of nuts, baked oranges, and slightly phenolic mineral flavors. Finishes with a metallic ore dust, salt, and dried lemon fade.

83 Great White Wit, Bastone Brewery (MI). 5.25% ABV (6/07)
Cloudy golden amber color. Pork rind, mint leaf, and citrusy detergent aromas. A brisk entry leads to a slightly flat medium body of brown sugar, brown butter, and baked citrus tart flavors with a quick buttery spice finish. Curious.

82 Saranac Belgian White, Matt Brewing Co. (NY). 5.1% ABV (6/06)
Lightly hazy golden amber color. Orange marmalade, coriander, and honeyed toast aromas. A frothy entry leads to a fruity light-to medium-bodied palate with candied orange peel, honeyed toast, and citrus flavors. Finishes with a quick fade of orange mineral water and faint spice.

80 Belgian Wit, Bastone Brewery (MI). 4.65% ABV (6/06)
Lightly hazy, golden yellow color. Pleasantly fruity orange, apple, peach, wet grain, and caramel aromas. A somewhat limp entry leads to a dry light-bodied palate with faint, savory buttered toast and lemon peel flavors. Finishes with quickly with a honeyed toast and bitter lemon seed fade.

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