Dogwood Summer Brew

Formerly brewed at Dogwood Brewing Company
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Chalk one up for the home team! Dogwood comes through with a flavorful Belgian style brew. Orange peel and coriander give the aroma and initial taste that extra zing. Natural carbonation makes it easy on the palate and provides a nice smooth finish.

An excellent summer brew. Clovey, fruity, just pure goodness. A definite delight! Could drink this brew year round.

Cloudy orange appearance with a moderate head. Aroma is a citrus fruit basket. Flavor is tangy with some oranges, pears, peaches, banana, and lemons in there. The aftertaste has a little spice kick. This is the first witbier I've been blown away by. Id pick this up over Hoegaarden anyday. Go Dogwood!

Nearly clear golden yellow appearance is very attractive, but is marred by a smallish head that is gone in an instant. The aroma is very spicy with coriander up front and clove backing it up. The taste does justice to the aroma with coriander, orange peel, clove, pepper, and other sundry spices vying for your attention. There is also a lemony tanginess in here. This is an ultra refreshing, and easy drinking beer that is perfect for the summer. The only fault I can find here is the lack of a substantial amount of malts and hops. I know it is a summer beer, but if Victory Whirlwind Witbier can get away with being beefier, there is no harm for Dogwood to try it too.

Was the goal of creating this beer to make a delicious "Summer Brew", as the title suggests? If so - This is a grand success. Was the goal to make "A Belgian Style White Beer". If so - This is a mild failure. The color is of a Golden Belgian Ale, with the clarity of a witbier. The aroma has the grassy, lemon elements of a Belgian White. The flavor is a hybrid between a trippel (smoothness, pepper) and the witbier (tartness, lemon). it finishes with a long lasting tang. On its merits as a "Summer Brew" this is an excellent beer. Try for yourself.

Thanks to aracauna for the trade. This is definitely one of the best Wits I have tried, even if it is not the best example of the style. In fact, many of the elements in a more classic version of the style that I do not enjoy are not a factor in this brew. Pours a murky dark orange with a thin off-white head. Thin lacing. Nicely spiced aroma, with some citrus and vanilla. Light and crisp with a nice citrus aspect, along with yeast, cloves, coriander and other spices. The finish is sweet and lingering. Tbis is an outstanding brew for summer enjoyment.

On tap: Pours a lightly hazy copper with a thick puffy white head. Aroma of sweet caramel malt with a hint of spice. Body starts nicely sweet and full with a well balanced coriander and orange citrus flavor. Smooth and drinkable, with decent complexity and good balance. A very nice Dogwood beer.