t IJ (Scharrel) IJwit

Brewed by Brouwerij ’t IJ
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Amsterdam, Netherlands

bottle from de bierkoning, amsterdam. pours hazy gold with an good head. aroma is typically for ’t IJ with some wheat. taste is different than the most belgian white’s. it took me some time to get used to it. beer get’s better allong the way. would like to try this one again.

330 ml bottle. hazy orange colour. small white head. wheaty, citric taste. okay for a biobeer.

Pretty hazy light copper coloured body with a amber tint along with some gold and a super-thin white head - interesting for the style. Aroma of yeast, caramel, oranges, pears and strong malt - once again, not common for a wit. Medium-bodied; Strong yeast flavour up front with malt and wheat tucked into the taste, mostly covered up by sweetness and sugars. Aftertaste shows more yeast, sweetness, a tiny bit of spice and a coriander seed freshness. Overall, this isn’t a wit, and it’s not entirely good, but not horrible either. I like the brewery, just not this beer - I did not get this one from Holland, however, so maybe it’s been around for a while? I sampled this 33 cL bottle purchased on 12-July-2008 from Oliver’s Beverage in Albany, New York, sampled on 28-August-2008 at home in Washington.

Pale marmalade, small tight head. Big fruity and spicy aroma, lightly wheaty, some coriander and citrus - a very ’belgian ale’ feel to it though. Slightly harsh carbonation in the mouth, accentuated by the sharpness of the seemingly hallertau-like hops. Yeasty taste, even though poured with minimal yeast. Some vegetal aspect to the hops, which are pretty prominent. Closer to a belgian ale than a wit, as such. Leaves a long spiky hoppy finish, with a little bit of alcohol too. Didn’t quite do it for me, but not bad.

Pours a darkish gold with a very small head. Aroma of wheat and citrus. Flavor is slightly sweet. Nice palate.

Bottle: Cloudy yellow orange, big white head. Aroma of IJ yeast, some banana, wheat. Taste is very smooth, spicy, some banana, wheat. Full mouthfeel. On tap @ IJ brouwerij: Somewhat sweeter and a bit sour. Bottle has more flavours to uncover. Somewhat different for the style, but definitely a great, if not the best, wit.

On draft at brewpub 6/18. Pours cloudy orange with a light, frothy head. Nose of spice, wheat, and banana. Has a fair bit of citrus and spice in the finish. Very nice wit.

Draft at brewery. Pours a very cloudy orange yellow. Aroma is nice wheat- coriander and sweetness. Flavor is very wheaty but coriander and lemon bitter finish.