Ommegang Witte

Brewed by Brewery Ommegang (Moortgat)
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Cooperstown, New York USA

Pale, fizzy pour. Fairly sweet aroma with a dash of citrus and a touch of something unpleasant. The flavor is solid - fairly sweet and malty overall, with a little lemony sourness and coriander in the finish. It is a little weak on the palate. A pretty good wit, but not the best thing I’ve had from Cooperstown.

Hazy yellowish pour with a vivacious white frothy head that lingers nicely. Leaves a thick ring of lacing and presents lively carbonation. Aroma is lemon, banana esters, moderate clove spice, wheat malt and some graininess. Flavor is sweet with banana, some crisp citrus aspects, and a light touch of wheat malt sweetness. Pretty dry and highly palatable. Palate is medium bodied, clean and crisp with a nicely lingering dryness.

Tart citrus, lemon, and wheat in the nose. Appearance is hazy honey with a nice ivory head that left without lacing. Flavor much better than expected...bright, tangy, peppery, orange peel and lemongrass. Medium mouthfeel. Might have to revisit.

Bottle. Light aroma mostly characterized by citrus, also wheat, yeast, pepper. Not much complexity to the flavor, still mostly citrus, with wheat, yeast, and pepper once again filling out the rest. Lighter body than expected- the wheat could do more to help in that department. Smooth, light, and refreshing. Disappointing for an offering from Ommegang.

Pours a hazy pale gold with a white head. This was the first beer I’ve tried from Ommegang and I was really underwhelmed by it. Aroma is light, wheaty, with some spice. I found the flavor very bland and one dimensional for a wit. The friends I shared the bottle with were less kind than me and called it "pee." Has a watery palate. There’s just nothing interesting going on here. I do have a different beer from Ommegang on hand for later, so I’m hoping I have a better experience with them soon.

The aroma is orange peel and lemon zest. Dry but spicy scent. Belgianish, but not overly harsh. Coriander/citron accent. Appears cloudy golden-yellow; the head doesn’t last very long. Nice color and some internal carbonation. The flavor is orange and coriander, fresh black pepper. Hint of earthy cloves. Not at all cloying or saccharine (finally), with no out-of-place banana flavor that some Witbiers so regrettably have. Feels ashy and dry; smooth but substantial. An excellent sweetly dry wit. Damn enjoyable.

12 oz. Bottle. Cloudy yellow color. Light to medium head. Decent Witbier but is lacking complexity which keeps the score lower. Easy to drink.

Bottle. Thin appearance and rather thin flavor. Very dry and clean but lacking flavor. I like it much more 2 years ago from the 750 ml bottle. This one was clean and easy to drink, but with very little character.