Lost Coast Great White

Brewed by Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Eureka, California USA

(12 oz bottle: Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA) No date on the label, but I just bought the beer today at a reliable store, so I know it’s fresh. While I generally like the Lost Coast array of beers, this is a mediocre Belgian style witbier, one that certainly emphasizes coriander, but that’s in part because the other flavors are pretty thin. I’m not really picking up any citrus notes and no other spices except the coriander. Very mild bitterness doesn’t make any real impression either. And unfortunately, the wheat malt base takes on an almost bready character toward the finish, which I why I mentioned that this beer is fresh. A little more citrus in the nose, with coriander being pretty light as well, though still in control. Light-medium bodied, even the finish shows a heavier mouthfeel, and there isn’t enough crispness to keep the palate lively. Pale yellow in color, but given that this is an unfiltered beer, I find the near perfect clarity rather odd, as well as the fact that there is no sediment in the bottle either. Not much carbonation or heading on the pour, and retention isn’t great either since the head fairly quickly dissipates completely. Just not a very good example of the style in my opinion, a beer that is one dimensional, boring, light flavored, not very enjoyable. Oh well, can’t win ’em all I guess.

From the bottle, pours a very pale yellow, semi-hazy and almost white. Not much of a head at all. Smells like a Belgian. Citrus, some orange and lemons. Flavors of lemon rinds and other citrus, pretty smooth going down. Not bad, though not the best Belgian I’ve had.

(01.13.06) 12 oz brown bottle purchased from DiCarlo’s, Mundelein, IL. Hazy golden yellow beer with tiny white head. No discernable carbonation. Clean fruity aroma. Light bodied beer that starts with light malt sweetness and fruity (grapes), coriander, and citrus flavors. Finishes dry with light bitterness. A good clean and refreshing drinkable summer beer.(17)

POured with a deep gold colored body and a slightly off white head. The aroma is rich and grainy with tangerines and kiwi. There is also some herbal character. The taste has some light corriander with a hint of tangerine. There is also some herbs that are almost medicinal in the finish. A wit that is certainly unique for the style. Fairly thick mouthfeel.

Pours clear. Herbal, beery, citrus aroma. Fine white head. Not much white ale flavor, but lots of citrus which label says was added. Label also says unfiltered, but doesn’t seem to be that way. Not bad, not great. Might be better chilled more and drank on a hot day. Had it from a bottle in Bodega downtown La Crosse.

This was my only disappointment, and it was not bad, just basic and average. Zesty, lemon and clove hints with lots of citrus and almost has a lemon water finish because the malt character is so bland.

The aroma of this beer consists of yeast and hops blended with citrus fruit. It is a light golden color with a thick white head. This beer enters the mouth with a taste of yeast which has some undertones of lemon that enter and fade fast. This poses no threat of vagrancy.

Cloudy light yellow beer with an average white head. Typical wit aroma with yeast and coriander. Flavor is also pretty much the same, yeasty, wheaty, and lightly spicy. A little bland, otherwise pleasant and refreshing. $7.99 for a six at Broudys, Orange Park FL.