St. Bernardus Blanche (Witbier)

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Watou, Belgium

Bottle (330ml). Shared with biegaman, my bottle. Murky light orange, small white head. Sweet thick yeasty aroma of apple, pear and peach, yummy. Tastes similary, a little medium sweet white wine character, no linger at all - but pleasant, sweet and fruity. Very, very thin body, not much carbonation, no linger at all - a pleasing wil’o the wisp of a beer.

Bottled. Hazy yellow colour, big white head. Aroma is dishwater, acidic citrus fruit and yeast. Flavour is yeast, dishwater and slight citrusfruits. Quite standard witbier.

Bottle sample at Union Beer Trade Tasting, NYC. Hazy yellow-gold with a small pillowy head. Aroma of yeast with very nice lemon notes. Mouthfeel is soft and full. Flavour - well, the influence of Mr. Celis is definately there, but it also has lots of Trappist-style character as well. It’s soft and fruit, with hints of lemon and apricot, and a full, yeasty finish. Not as refreshing or crisp as other wits, but still a very tasty and unique brew, well suited for mild autumn weather.

Best by 03/03/08

Bottle pours a pale yellow body with the opaque glow of frosted stained glass. A two finger head settles in islands while leaving behind crisp spittles of lace. Yeasts dominante the aroma as bread dough with an addition of lemon and spice. Tart, bready flavor with corriander, cinnamon and orange zest. A thicker mouthfeel helps the flavors coat the mouth while soft carbonation helps it to slowly wash away. This has to be the most satisfying Wit I’ve ever tasted and is as fine a drink now in the cool months of autumn as I’m sure it was under the hot summer sun.

<font size=-4>11.2 oz. bottle from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/frankf Liquors, Frankfort, IL 60423</font>

~12oz. bottle. Pours a moderately hazy medium golden color with a small, white head that never fades out. Decent lacing. First sniffs seem to be quite yeasty, doughy in nature. As the beer sits for a few minutes there is a more earthy and wheat malt presence. Lighter in body and mouthfeel. Slightest bits of acidity are refreshing, definite wheat malt. Lingering finish is lightly tart and pleasant. Tasty wit.

Very nice Witbier, on the same notes as the all mighty Hoegaarden. Nice fresh taste, aroma sweet and coriander citrus. More malt then other Belgium Witbier I think. Sweet bitter aftertaste. All together one of the top three Witbier from Belgium.

On-tap at the Happy Gnome: Holy crap, I was in heaven with this beer. St. B. has done it again to me. OK so the pour and the nose were a little understated compared to what can probably come out of the bottle? But damn if this stuff ain’t awesome for a Wit! Nice golden haze with a small orangey tint at the center. Small but thick capping of solid white froth that keeps for a bit before fading to its collar, where it lays for most of the session. Lacing in some small strings and spots. Aroma is dull and mild of candish lemon, tangerine, and orange. A small smidgeon of pepper spice and floral yeasty esters gradually appear as it sits. Taste is wonderfully full of candy played malts that bring one solid stance of pale lemon, orange, and pineapple. Totally like the Tripel, just a tad lessened in girth and activity. But super f*ckin’ solid for a Wit. Perhaps more malty then most Wits. But man I love it. Thick, chewy, sinking malt tones of favorable candied fruityness of lemon and orange. Yum, yum, candy stuff. Its so well-rounded in a superbly mild dullness of cooked fruity sugars its amazing. Super long lasting and reaching effect in flavors on the palate. Fine touches of peppery dry spice and flints of flowers skip there and fro from about midway all through to the finish. Lovely play of malts with one of the nicest little dispalys of drying spice. Awesome! Feel is immaculately centered around a malted candyish smoothness and chewyness. Thick, full, lush, and devine. So smooth, yet surging onto the palate with immense wanting. It wants to be drank. It just screams, drink me, drink me, drink me, I’m so damn good! And you will oblige to its Kingdom of drinkability with the ease of opening your eyes. Wonderful, wonderful stuff! St. Bernardus is the sh*t!

Pours a murky/hazy pale golden. Aroma is slightly sour/citrusey notes with yeast and a touch of barnyard. Beautiful creamy mouthfeel and flavor. Nice quality thick wheat malt and an orangey aspect with a perfect late, coriander like spicyness in the finish. A quality witbier.