Struise Witte

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

Tasted 07/12/08, poured from a bottle.
Pours blonde with a fizzy small white head that reduces to a nice tight bubbled ring leaving some lacing. On the nose, slight tartness, hints of honey, apples, grape skins, brett spiciness, wheat, floral aromas. To the taste a little tart, sweet, wild flowers, grapes, a pronounced impression of grape skins, and an Orval-like spicy/warming brett. Drying finish, well bodied.

bottle. Appearance: bright clear golden yellow color. Half inch fizzy white head bubbles up pretty quick, clears to leave a nice ring and thin layer. Aromas of thick, sweet wheat grains, notes of coriander and orange spices, and a thin, yeasty twang. Flavors of sweet, grainy wheat bread, sharp yeast notes, sharp citrus lemon and orange, slight notes of fruity tartness. Palate is very full flavored, full bodied on the palate, with some lingering sharpness and a bit of a slick finish. Overall an Interesting and tasty brew, a better witte than many. Sharpness detracts a bit.

33cl, from Geers Oostakker, easy to drink, yet complex Belgian White, cloudy, small head, good brew

33cl. bottle at home: Surprisingly crisp and clear for a Wit. Perhaps it just settled out well in this bottle. Just a faint haze. Aged straw color with a foamy (large bubbled) white slowly diminishing head. Surprising malty sweetness on the aroma just under a coating of lemon drops. Oatmeal cookie character from wheat I assume. Lemon drop character turns to fresh orange zest as the aromas blow over. Malt drops and is replaced by wheat. Tongue first picks up on citrus peel and a drop of lemon juice sitting on top of very light brown bread. A low herbal note winds its way through the citrus offering a slight bitterness. Could be from hops? The wheat, with the citrus, starts to turn tart towards the end on the sides of the mouth. Then running to the middle of the tongue, the tartness mixes in with some bread dough. Orange peel. Faint touch of malt (almost toasted malt) on the very end. Slight phenolic note on the aroma as the glass is finished.

Had at Delerium Cafe in Brussels on June 22. Pours a cloudy gold with a frothy white head. Aroma of citrus, sopice, and banana. Taste has a sour element to it, and the flavor is not quite as bready as other beers. That being sid, it was both enjoyable and interesting. I also enjoy style busters.

Bottle, poured a cloudy yellow color, big carbonated head of course. Smell of fruits and yeast. Taste is a little different then most witbiers. First a tart fruity flavor followed by a sweetness. Light and easy to drink. It is an ok witbier.

Bottle at Ons te Huis, Diest. Hazy golden with a rich offwhite head. Really complex nose of exotic fruits, even citrus, but especially orange zest and mild herbs. Like a mild Speyside malt. Sweetish and fruity flavours, held back by appropriate bitterness. Maybe slightly light-bodied. Complex and nice. Though it is not the only time I have wondered if the Witte bottle actually contained a Blond and vice versa from Struise.

33cl bottle from Kingdom Liquors (Tampa, FL). Pours a semi-clear dark golden color with a thick and frothy white head that settles slowly and heavily laces the glass. Aroma is citrus, honey, wheat, spice, hints of caramel and brandy. Interesting and much stronger than most witbier. Flavor is sweet and tangy with notes of wheat, honey, caramel, orange peel. Light to medium-bodied with lively carbonation and a generally quick finish. Nice witbier but pricey.