Struise Witte

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

Bottle... Poured a hazy, golden/orange with a slightly, off-white fizzy head that dissipated quickly. Aroma of tart, buttery tones, date fruits, apricots, and honey-like notes. Most noticeably in the brew is the raisin like, fortified wine character which are really nice. The malts shine through in the finish. Grassy and earthy all the way through. Really solid witte. One of the best I’ve had.

330 cl bottle brought to me from Belgium by my daughter. Hazy light gold pour under an impressive white head with good staying power. Very yeasty, bready aroma with hints of citrus. This has somewhat more body than most Witbiers, there’s a refreshing effervescence, and some nice mouth cleansing acidity. Interesting interplay between honey sweetness and a lemon like sourness, and just the faintest touch of soft bitterness for a clean , dry finish. A very superior Witbier. I wish I could get this all the time.

[Any clue to vintage lot B - 3 - BB? rated 2-11 and 3-13-08] Smells like vinegar & spice. Pours light golden with a thin white head. First taste is vinegar, sweet apples, green grapes, lemon, acidic, sour yogurt, lots of different spices, sweet metallic finish. Lots of different flavors, but I can’t tell if mines skunked, or just lots of fermentation... surely not the 5% it says on the bottle. Maybe this is supposed to be ultra-sophisticated or maybe its crap, I can’t tell yet. The body is very nice though, not too light, and the carbonation tickles just enough. Maybe its a berliner weisse? 5.4.8.5.15 [Rerate - lot B-3-BB rated 2-18-09] Pours a slightly hazy clear glowing yellow golden with a fizzy white frothy head and sparkling champaign bubbles. Funky aroma of sour green apples, sweet apricots, aged hops, french soft cheese. Taste is similar to previous description, green grapes, lightly tart, touch of lemon and green sour apples, lightly spiced finish. I respect this beer a great deal now. Really great balance of subtle wheat, spices and sourness. It is more tangy and citric than sour though. Fantastic body, medium light, super fine sizzling sharp carbonation that isn’t too abundant or airy but fantastically crisp. Great brew. Long sour green apple aftertaste.

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. Slightly opaque golden yellow pour with a thick frothy head that thins out quickly. Aroma of belgian yeast, wheat, sweet malt, coriander and other spice, and some citrusy notes. Similar flavor with more maltiness than I’m used to in wits. Medium to light body with good carbonation. One of the better wits I’ve had recently.

Very complex with that sets aside the sweet perfumy fruit and spice character for a more sour and tart finish and less spiciness. Citrus and coriander were lighter than most wits, going more for a sour peach and tropical fruit flavors. Pours hazy yellow with a long lasting head.

Snap, crackle, burp! You can head this across the room. Fizz a-go-go. Beige color and foamy head. Yeasty, citrus nose. Vanilla tastes and a citrusy middle. Spicy end. Medium body. Strong, characterful, good wit.

500ml fliptop bottle from the Biertempel, Brussels- best by 06/2008: poured a cloudy grapefruit juice yellow with a big thick white head. Aroma is of apples and a little lemon. Flavor has some apple, some spice, a touch of walnuts. Mild sourness followed by a bit of sweet bitterness. Well carbonated and really full flavored. Very nice.