Victory Whirlwind Witbier

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

On tap at Elwoods Pizza, poured into a pint glass. Pours a clear yellow with a small creamy white head which recedes slowly to a small ring and swirl along the top. There is not much lacing on this one. The aroma is pretty much a mix of bubble gum wheat sweetness and a faint hint of spices. There’s definitely some coriander in there and probably some orange peel as well. The taste follows the aroma very closely and may be just a tad sweeter with the light wheat sweetness really dominating. The spices from the yeast and coriander don’t show up until the finish, and even then it’s not very prominent. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with good carbonation and fairly crisp in the finish. This is certainly not a very complex beer, but it is exceptionally drinkable. It’s tough to put the glass down which is the key determining factor of a great session beer in my eyes.

12 oz bottle purchased at Binny’s in Plainfield, Illinois. Pale yellow in color with very little head. Carbonation was minimal. Hints of lemon and mild spice. This beer is incredibly refreshing.

Bottle purchased at Liquor Mart in Boulder, CO. Pours a hazy pale straw with a fluffy white head that diminishes fairly quickly and leaves behind patchy lace. On the nose is sweet soft wheat, light candy sugar and fainter notes of coriander and citrus; subdued but nice. Light-bodied and softly wheaty on the palate, it finishes with a bit of lingering, dry coriander spiciness. The flavor is a pleasant blend of soft wheat, Belgian yeast, lemon/citrus, and coriander. This is a fine example of the style. While a 3.5 may not seem high on our rating scale, this beer just helps to reinforce my opinion of wits as one of my favorite session styles.

On draft at The Thirsty Monk, Asheville. Poured hazy gold. Clean, crisp flavor of Belgian yeast, candi sugar, and coriander. Some esters peeking through as well.

Bottle 12fl.oz.
Unclear light to medium yellow orange color with a small, fizzy, fair lacing, fully diminishing, off-white to white head. Aroma is moderate malty, fruity old, overripped mango, light to moderate yeasty, gauze notes. Flavor is moderate sweet and light to moderate bitter with a average duration. Body is medium, texture is watery to oily, carbonation is soft. [20090321]

16 ounce pint - $5.25 at Taco Mac in Buford, Georgia. Appearance: Arrived at the corner booth a lightly hazed, dark yellow body with a thin, fizzy, white head. Smell: Mild aroma with a light malt presence, vague touches of unmalted wheat, vaguer hints of citrus, and even vaguer bits of spice. Taste: Light, delicate maltiness with a touch of tangy wheat and an overall subtle sweetness. Meager pinches of lemon and orange zest. Minimal hints of banana and spice character. Tiny blip of hop bitterness. It’s at this stage the body and flavor begins to thin considerably as you approach the light, fast finish with a final showing of wheat. Mouthfeel: Medium-light body that teeters dangerously on the edge of being watery. Medium-plus carbonation. Drinkability: A revitalizing, refreshing witbier that positively makes you want to leap out of your seat with a renewed burst of energy to go find your server and order another beer. It makes a trade-off for less body and overall flavor for an added bonus in ease of drinking and refreshment.

Pours cloudy gold with fluffy head. Aroma is citrusy with lemon and a bit of fruity yeast. Flavor is filled with orange and not much else. Soft on the palate. Great summer beer.

soft yeasty nose with some lemon. mouthfeel is very dry but gives way to softness as carb subsides. flavor is tart even a bit bitter. quite refreshing and more tart then some of the standards.