Hoegaarden

Brewed by Brouwerij Hoegaarden (InBev)
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Hoegaarden, Belgium

Serve in Tumbler, Weizen

Bottle 25 cl from La Maladière center in Neuchâtel (CH). There are beers like meetings, some prove exciting. This white has a yellow color opal, compact foam and sparkling forming delight. All the best some wheat, citrus fruits and spices are conjugent in freshness. The balance is perfect. Sweet, refreshing, just what is needed by acidulity for real and honest freshness.

can 33cl. hazy gold, nice lacing on the glass. aromas of citrus and spice. Taste is honey, mild and simple aftertaste, not complex. Lively carbonation, overated beer

From a 330ml bottle on 7/3/2010. Sets the standard for wheat beers. Lovely spicy aroma, with wheat, citrus, coriander and banana flavours bursting through when it hits the mouth. Fantastic mouth feel and the carbonation is spot on too. To top it off, it can be found on special on a semi-regular here in Oz (though at its standard price, it makes for expensive drinking).

Bottle, 330ml. Pours a beautiful, murky liquid, typical witbier colour, but completely unfiltered, thus exhibiting all it’s earthiness. Medium head, quick to disolve. Aroma is of wheat and citric fruits. There’s a nice bitterness to the aftertaste, complemented with a nice acid touch. Excellent.

UPDATED: JUN 2, 2010 A disappointment after all the good reviews. Way too much coriander. 12 bottle into a pilsner glass. Nice white head, pale yellow cloudy color.

One of my favorite styles of beer has been the Belgian White because most beers of the style tend to be extremely tasty and easy to drink. Of course, my frame of reference was American takes on the style, what would an authentic Belgian White be like? Hoegaarden was the beer I turned to in order to solve that mystery and I’m glad I did, because its authenticity was apparent from the moment I popped the cap to the last swig.

POUR, COLOR AND AROMA

Hoegaarden is one of a handful of beers for which there is a type of glass specifically made for it. Unfortunately, I don’t own that glass so I had to improvise. Poured from a bottle, the beer forms a fairly large layer of bright white foamy head which never dissipates and leaves generous lacing on the glass. Not surprisingly, the body is very cloudy with a white color to the exterior and a pale yellow hue at the center. Clove is immediately evident in the nose, as are other spices and yet the beer has a sweet aroma.

TASTE

I wasn’t sure what to expect out of Hoegaarden. From its outer appearance, it seemed to be very similar to an authentic hefeweizen rather than the American-style “Belgian Whites” I’ve been used to. And after my first sip I knew this beer resembled the former rather than the latter.

My first impression of the taste is that of a watery body with a light amount of spices to the palate. Clove, orange peel and coriander immediately stand out giving the beer a slightly citrusy taste, and yet it is not tart or sour at all. The overall flavor is quite sweet, but the intensity seems to be dialed-down a bit. I was expecting an explosion of taste, but the blow seemed to be cushioned by a watery composition.

Still, there was definite taste to be had, rather than just “beer,” and the spices give the beer a bit of a bite.

FINISH

Much like stouts, I’ve yet to encounter a wheat beer that is anything less than smooth. Hoegaaden is absolutely no challenge for a serious beer drinker, and Joe and Jane Six Pack will find it reminiscent of a light lager due to its watery complexion and calm palate.

BODY

Considering how easy this beer is to drink, as well as it’s genuine (but not over-powering) taste, combined with a body that is only 4.9% ABV, Hoegaarden would make an excellent session beer. I drank two bottles back-to-back without feeling overwhelmed in the least, and I doubt many other drinkers would be either.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The only thing that bummed me out about Hoegaarden was that its taste wasn’t as strong as I would prefer. My experiences with American takes on the style are absolutely delicious, but this was more of a true crafty brew, rather than anything gimmicky. At $10 a six-pack it’s a bit pricey, but definitely worth trying.

NOTE: watch the video version of this review at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGu8IOe3liQ

12 oz. bottle. Pours a very light yellow gold, slightly cloudy, which medium-sized foamy white head. Aroma of honey, fruit - citric like a tangerine, banana, clove, other spices. Taste is a crisp bite of spices and wheat, which cleanses the palate somewhat on the finish, carbonation noticeable on the tongue. This is a classic, maybe one of the most drinkable / refreshing yet good sessions there is.

I have been hooked on Blue Moon for a long time, the clerk at the liquorstore suggested this gem and I have been converted! The taste is similar but seems more unique.