Sterkens White Ale

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

Brewery: Brouwerij Sterkens
Date: 08/12/1999
Mode: Bottle
Source: Wild Wing Cafe, Marietta

Appearance: hazy yellow,
Aroma: sweet citrus aroma,
Flavor: slightly sweet flavor, slightly tart,
Overall: no big whoop

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Opaque yellow. Plastic on the nose, with a hint of spice. Malt accented. Light, bland, lacking in notable hop or yeast.

Poured a medium hazy yellow with a huge, huge head. Some small floaties. Aromas of citris, lemons, yeast, bananas and light spices. Great smelling, too bad the taste was a complete let down. Tasted like water with very subtle citris. How can a beer that smells good taste sooo bad!

Murky, straw-colored ale. Medium-sized, creamy, white head. Mostly lasting with a thick web of dripping lacework. The aroma is very spicy with notes of baked pears w/ cinnamon, banana and coriander. The flavor is of white fruit with plenty of coriander, underripe banana and zest of orange. Well-balanced. Light-bodied with a watery mouthfeel and fizzy carbonation. Not at all my thing, but a fairly good wit nonetheless!

(Bottle) Pours a cloudy yellow body with a small white head. Aroma of toasted grain, grassy hops, mustiness, and banana. Flavor of spicy yeast, buttery, and malty.

Pours orange/yellow and somewhat cloudy with a small off white head. Smells appley with only the vaguest aroma of vanilla. Taste is of anise and some yogurt qualities. Watery on the finish.

Fizzy like grape juice with a slight citrus bitterness like lemon juice. Tastes and smells like Fresca. Not all in a bad way - kind of refreshing and uplifting, but certainly not a deep or complex beer.

I could tell by the musty aroma and the volume of yeast chunks suspended in the brew that this must be OLD... and that’s not really something I look for in a wit. So I check it out here on RB and find out it’s been retired. (This is the 2nd Sterkens beer that I’ve picked up in the Chicago area that’s been retired. What dastard is behind this?!?) That being said - - - The musty aroma has a nice lemony spritz to it. The flavor is spicy with cloves and white peppers. The chunks add a light fruitiness to it. The finish is a bit dusty. This was probably a decent ale in its prime.