Leelanau Whaleback White

Leelanau Brewing Company
Brewed at Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Lake Leelanau, Michigan USA

Very Unique- Found this at Jack’s in downtown Traverse City. Being familiar with Leelanau’s wines combined with the attractive packaging- I was eager to try it. Pale cloudy in color crowned with a robust head from an aggressive pour. Once the head settled the first sip was a HUGE surprise- anything but normal- a bright, crisp citrus flavor- tastes like the Hitachino Nest Beer White ale without being malty, thick or sweet. Really made my summer’s day- will drink again. Viva Leelanau!

Very refined -- almost like a combination between a white and champagne. Light grain and spice flavor behind a wonderfully pungent combination of sourness and dryness. Very unique. Best consumed after substantial aging. Refreshing in an unusual way. This would go well with sushi.

I was surprised to see A leelanau beer, but it is about. Such a beautiful place with such splender and majesty this beer has alot to live up to. At first glance its light and with a personal preferance of dark more heavy beer I was reluctant . First sip is pleasant with a delectable aftertaste a bit tangy but thats not the right word.You could put this beer in orange juice. I recommend this beer for picnics, the beach,or romantic dinner maybe shrimp pasta or pork tenderloin. remarkably refreshing I could put it in my water bottle on my mountain bike. I hope to see many more flavors from the leelanau brewing company. Maybe something with a little more amber color. I also love the bottle!

This beer is incredible and a must taste by all beer lovers! It completely melts in your mouth and is filled with fruity suprises!

tall rocky head. aroma of lemon rind. hints of oak. so dry, so funky. this beer is one of the best ever made.

Let me make this clear - I’m not going to rate this as a Witbier. This is a funky saison. Basically Bam Biere, which is not a bad thing. Pours an absolutely beautiful, almost clear gold with fast moving beads of carbonation. Thick bone white head leaves lacing forever. The smell is chock full of brett and oak. Super funky, with farmhouse, stinky cheese, apples, ginger, pepper, some anise, and tons more. Beautifully complex aroma. Taste funky as all hell! Sour acidic flavors burst forth with apple, pepper, spicy and citrus notes following. Finishes super dry, with long lingering brett acidity, slight hop bitterness and a pleasant nutty flavor. What a beast of a beer! The mouthfeel is a bit over carbonated in my opinion, but overall this is fantastical. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for Leelanau. I’m thoroughly, thoroughly impressed. It’s great to see these wonderful Belgian traditions being reborn in the states. Beers like this make me hope that hoppy was just a fad, and wild beers are here to stay. I’m keeping my fingers crossed..

In short: A smooth extra-bretty slightly spicy and very funky beer. A great Bam Biere alternative
How: Bottle 750ml, consumed 2 months after purchase
The look: Cloudy yellow body topped by a large white head
In long: Nose has typical Jolly Pumpkin funky barrel signature. Extremely bretty, lively carbonation, somewhat lemony, medium acidity, high tartness level, some orange and lemon peels, some coriander, dry sandy finish. This is a Bam Bier but a little less bretty and some added coriander and dry orange skins. A fantastic beer. I’m starting to believe that it’s not the Jolly Pumpkin brewer that is the key, it’s all about the barrels. To me it seems that anything you put in those barrels comes out amazingly pleasurable. How big are these barrels? Cause you see I’ve got this girlfriend…

Bottle courtesy of northerntimber. Pours a beautiful cloudy amber/yellow with a well maintained fluffy white head. Smells of perfumy flowers, dough, coriander, oranges, lemons and lots of untamed wild character. None of the oak comes through on the nose. As the beer warms, some soapy qualities begin to emerge. Taste is of lemons with an underlying sourness. Again, no oak, but lots of interesting perfumy qualities. Some coriander is present but not overwhelming. Some peppery splashes and lemon are present on the mouthfeel. Finish is lightly sour and very quaffable. Well done!