St. Bernardus Blanche (Witbier)

11-Oct-07 (750 ml corked and caged bottle: Purchased 08-Aug-07 for $6.99 at the Pizza Port Bottle Shop in Carlsbad, CA) With so many microbreweries jumping on the Witbier bandwagon these days, the truly great examples of this style really stand out. St. Bernardus Wit shows the complexity and balance that most others lack. Begin with a gorgeous pour where the cloudy, golden-yellow beer is capped by a tall, fluffy, foamy head that is white in color and long lasting. Delightful aromas of sweet tropical fruits, tart orange and yellow citrus, sourdough, tart funk and a hint of herbs. Tart lemon, tropical fruitiness, and a dash of coriander, with a wheaty and bready base that doesn’t dominate the finish like so many others. This beer is more tart than most Belgian Whites, which might turn some people off, but the tartness adds complexity and makes the beer all the more refreshing. The beer is medium in body, heavier than some of the traditional whites like Hoegaarden, but not too heavy for the style. It’s well carbonated and somewhat burpy, but not prickly on the tongue. The refreshing, moderate tartness remains prominent well into the finish, ensuring excellent drinkability. While most domestic examples of this style are far too heavy on coriander, pepper, or lemon peel, this beer demonstrates perfect balance despite added complexity. It’s a wonderful, perfectly crafted beer across the board.

06-Feb-06 (330 ml bottle, Best Before 03-Mar-08: $3.49 at Bottleworks in Seattle, WA) Lots going on in the flavor, much to my delight. Wheat and yeast provide a solid, flavorful and medium-bodied base for the fruit and spices to build on. Mildly sweet orange citrus, but balanced by a gentle tartness and slight bitterness toward the finish. Mild coriander is present, but I notice the peppery nature more. Well-carbonated, to the point of being burpy, a drying, winelike mouthfeel, very clean and refreshing, this beer couldn’t possibly make the palate stale or tired. The small, pockmarked, white head dissipates quickly because there isn’t much head to begin with. Pale golden-yellow and fairly cloudy in appearance. Once again, a wit beer from Belgium that pairs beautiful complexity with superior flavor. Very pleasant and enjoyable. (7, 3, 7, 4, 15 = 3.6)

Hazy orange with medium head. Aroma has coriander, orange peel and wheat. Same goes for the flavor. Somehow the taste doesn’t suit me.

Bottle @ Lowlander. Pours hazy pale yellow with very small, quickly disappearing head. Aroma is spice / coriander / banana. Taste is smooth / sherbert. Palate is creamy, finish is long lasting.

Pours cloudy yellow with a small head. Fruity nose with wheat, raisins and banana. Taste of banana, coconut and wheat and pleasing alcohol. Nice soft mouthfeel lightly carbonated. Very nice.

Bottle. Pours cloudy, hazy, murky orange color with thin off white head. I didn’t think I agitated the bottle but there’s a lot of goddamn particles in here. Aroma is yeasty, with orange and corriander, some sweet banana. Thicker on the tongue than others such as hoegaarden but with a light fizziness that is not unpleasant. Flavors are sweet and wheaty, yeasty, with orange peel and coriander. Finish is zesty and moderately acidic, lightly spicy. Pretty nice, loses some points for texture but everything is there, and good, and damn refreshing.

Bottled from Ghent. My favourite Abbey brewery working with the Godfather of wheat beers, sounds like a good combo! A hazy orange colour with a good head. A spicy aroma & citrusy taste. One of the best wheat beers I’ve ever had!

Hazy yellow colored brew. Aroma is full of citrus. Very creamy and thick white, nice smooth malty flavor. Overall a nice white from St. Bernard.

From bottle : Pours a very light cloudy yellow color with a big white foamy head. Aroma of vanilla, citrus and spices. Palate is a little thin i think. Taste is lime and spices, not much though, a little watery i think. But not bad.