Struise Witte

Brewed by De Struise Brouwers
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Oostvleteren, Belgium

Serve in Tumbler, Weizen

10/27/2007: Struise Witte has a pale straw color with a huge flurry of carbonation. It actually looks like more like champagne, but with a massive, pillowy white head that lass and lasts and lasts... The aroma has citrus, bread dough, and some fleeting spiciness that I can’t place. The flavor is lightly sour at first and has some sweet lemon and fruity (pear and green apple) qualities. It finishes slightly dry and tart with some peppery spice and hoppy bitterness coming through. Although this beer only has 5% ABV, it seems to hit harder for some reason (it is probably slightly higher from sitting in the bottle). This beer is light and bubbly, but not too effervescent. It is very refreshing and fun to drink.

11.2 fl. oz. bottle (5% Alc/Vol.) from Dilly Deli Wines & Gourmet in Mariemont, Ohio ($3.59+tax). Rating #126 for this beer...

This one is kind of odd. It hit me up with a lot of carbonation with an odd array of spices which seem lost. I sense some nutmeg, coriander in the palate, wheat and I’m not sure what to make of the champagne-like finish which rotated between wet and dry at the same time. This could be more flavorful. They should just stick to my favorite beer Pannepot and don’t waste their space for this stuff. I do like Wits so its not a style issue.

Pours golden with a huge white head. Aroma is some sour yeast, some pear, and alcohol. A sourness is the first thing I notice upon sipping this. Has a pear flavor with some fruit rinds, a bit sour, and somewhat thin body.

Pours hazy golden with large head. Aroma has yeast, lemon and wheat. Flavor is sweet with lemon notes and yeast. Taste is strange and not my favorite witbier.

UPDATED: OCT 16, 2010 Fresh bottle from the brewery; Sampled July 2010
A big pour into my Cantillon Tulip glass produces a big, frothy, pale tan colored head. The beer is quite hazy, even opaque and is gold colored with the white sheen required of a Wit beer. The aroma has a nice yeasty, earthy character to it and there is a nice pear-like fruitiness that is backed by hints of coriander and perhaps a touch of baby vomit (that wild Struise character). As the beer warms up the coriander becomes more noticeable.

As the beer first hits my palate it tastes earthy and feel cools and crisp. There are some nice orange zest notes as well as coriander flavors that intermingle with a soft sweetness and a very, very firm bitterness (especially for a Wit). There also seems to be a pronounced (again for a Wit), herbal hop character to this brew. Hay like grain notes as well as some cracker like malt start to come out as the beer warms up.

This is quite an interesting interpretation of a Wit; the hop character in this beer has really piqued my interest and really sets the beer apart from other Wits. Quite nice and I am definitely enjoying this.

Sampled October 2007
6/4/6/4/14 = 3.4
Very well carbonated, the beer pours with a frothy, easily four-finger thick, light tan colored head (the head is actually darker than one would expect in a typical Wit). Without the sediment the beer is an almost clear, full gold color. The aroma is lemon like up front, but has a grain-derived grassiness, a touch of bright coriander and a touch of crushed malt aromatics mixed in. Mostly the lemon-like citrus character is noticeable.

The beer is quite dry up front and it immediately foams up as it hits my tongue. The combination of the light body and ample carbonation almost make this beer seem airy. Tart, with notes of lemon zest being prominent throughout the flavor profile. A very soft spiciness (other than the citrus) is just barely perceptible; perhaps contributing notes of white pepper, Japanese pickled ginger, and a hint of earthy / grassy coriander, and something like stinging nettle that adds a touch of green / vegetal character around the edges. The light malt character also contributes a touch of hay or grass.

This is really the consummate summer refresher, it is so light and refreshing that I could almost see drinking this instead of water, which is a rare comment from me when talking about beer. This has very little palate impact, and I would guess that trying to pair this with any type of food would completely swamp the subtle flavors of this beer.

The label says the word "Struise" can mean robust well for a witte this beer does fit the term. A little more hoppy tan most wittes this beer drinks pretty well, but I will admit that there is a wee bit of a soapy flavor in the finish. I’m not a fan of the style at all but I’d drink it again.

Bottle purchased at Liquor Max in Loveland, CO. Pours clear dark yellow with a small, fizzy, white head, mostly diminishing, spare lacing. Aroma is average malt (straw, hay, meal), average hops (citrus), average yeast (horse blanket, earth) with notes of apple and coriander. Light bodied, sticky texture, lively carbonation and a bitter finish. Short duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity and bitterness.

Bottle picked up from Brewtopia on Omaha, NE
Pours sort of a dirty straw yellow with a big foamy white head.
Sort of a soapy lemon aroma. With maybe a twist of lemon peal.
The flavor is pretty tart. Sort of like half assed SweeTarts.
Very spritzy carbonation. Lets sort of a chalky film behind.
Its certainly interesting, but I’m not sure if I like it as a wit.