Spanish Peaks Summer White

Brewed by Flying Dog Brewery
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Frederick, Maryland USA

Poured a murky lemon yellow very little head. Aroma of lemon and oranges, some wheat. Has a strong lemon flavor that over powers just about everything else. I can taste the smallest bits of hops and some wheat if I really try. Refreshing but dull.

Bottle. Pours light straw, with flakes of something floating around. Large, billowy white head. Lemony aroma, with some yeast and malt. Tangy wheat-lemon flavor, with cinnamon as well. Might be refreshing on a very hot day. But, tastes too much like a malternative for me.

This is the third time I have picked up a bottle of this beer. Spanish Peaks has never interested me before, particularly because of their crappy fruit-wheat concoctions. However, a few weeks ago I just needed an extra single to fill in a mix 6 pack, so I got it. Two times back to the store and each time I got it again. I don’t know, is it possible that Flying Dog combined with Spanish peaks could actually make something good. But on with the beer...
It pours a dusty yellow, by dusty I mean its a clear beer, not hazy but it presents a lot of tiny dust-like particles suspended in the body. The beer has a small head with a slightly sticky lacing and a few bubbles that shoot through the beer. Interestingly enough, the bottom of the bottle pour really muddies the beer, which is surprising since I figure this to be highly filtered. Aroma is present with a doughy sweet yeastiness (just what I like in anything light, golden, and Belgian). Also, as the description states, just a touch of [herbal] coriander. Taste is light Belgian sweetness with more of the coriander aspect than the aroma suggests but neither flavor one-ups the other. A very nice meld of flavors to go along with a light-medium body that has a soft palate with just a few little spikes hitting the cheeks here and there. I don’t know what it is about this beer but it just resonates so well with me. Jez, I am really going against the curve with this one. Quaffable, recommended, and returnable.
12oz bottle, new 10th Anniversary Ommegang thinner elongated goblet glass (just got it in a gift pack and wanted to use it).

On tap at City Beer Store. Almost totally clear pale yellow color, didn’t pour any head. Lemony ’wheat beer’ aroma, some banana-- quite strong aroma all in all. Taste is comparatively restrained with lemon, yeast, bitter finish, very watery. It was good until I started thinking too hard about it.

Tap at CityBeer. Pours with a very hazy, light yellow color. Great flavors of mainly coriander and some tart citrus. A slight hoppy bitterness in the finish. Iliked it but I would suspect that it may be overspiced for some people.

This is like watered down Blue Moon. All the usual traits of a Belgian White but just less...a LOT less. Not the best Witbier I’ve had by a long shot.

12 oz bottle. Poured a cloudy yellow color. Head was white with pretty good retention. Pleasant aroma typical of a wit; yeasty/buttery bread dough, orange, a touch of malty cereal grain, and the requisite coriander. Very nice. Slightly sweet on the tongue with flavors following the aroma. There is a nice combination of orange, corinader, and subdued sweet vanilla that lingers. Seems like most breweries that make wits do a decent job, but this one is right up there with the best.

Aroma is a sweet yeasty scent with banana esters. Color is a very hazy orange/yellow with good carbonation and a nice tight head. Taste is creamy and sweet. Starting with a medium body it goes down with a creamy feel. Finish comes in with sweetness that has wheat, Belgian yeast and a hint of coriander to it then end with a crisp yet faint citrus taste and just a tiny bitter nip on the tail. This is a nice White and better then most I have tried.