Williamsburg AleWerks White Ale

Brewed by Williamsburg AleWerks
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Williamsburg, Virginia USA

Bottled. Poured clear, very pale golden with a short-lived cap of white head. The aroma picked up sweet honey and toasted wheat capped by a very fine array of spices (orange peel and coriander led, with dirty white pepper behind).. tangy and enjoyable. The flavor found more of the honey and tart wheat at the core, with the expected spice hit (coriander and white pepper mostly) around.. orange peel showed on the back-end with an impression like the inside of the peel.. finished spicy, but a little tacky. Lighter-bodied with heavy spices and not enough base to support ’em.. decent overall.

My parents stopped at the Williamsburg AleWerks brewpub and picked up a bottle of White Ale. From a 12-oz bottle pours a clear golden straw colored brew with a decent white head that has some nice retention and lacing. Aroma of Post Fruity Pebbles or Kelloggs Fruit Loops. Some golden grain malt, coriander, banana and a hint of cloves. Taste is light to medium bodied, soft carbonation with flavors of golden grain malt, coriander, a hint of yeast and some orange zest. Finish is semi-sweet with a short lived yeast and coriander aftertaste. A touch lighter than most witbiers I’ve tried.

Bottle shared with maniac. Pours a very hazy dull yellow with decent white head and some lacing. Nose is lemon and coriander. Flavor is a bit on the medicinal side, and lots of white pepperiness. Not all that great, but about average for an american attempt on the style.

Serving: Draft. Appearance: Pale yellow with a foamy white head. Aroma: Light, but with notes of yeast, wheat, and some citrus notes. Flavor: A little short in the flavor department. Some citrus, yeast, and light wheat notes, but just not enough to make this a great Wit. Palate: Medium carbonation with a light mouthfeel and a short finish. Overall: I would skip this one in favor of some of their other brews. If you want a Wit, you are better off grabbing a Hoegaarden.

I have had MUCH better, and much worse. The body seems a bit thin, and there is a hint of bitter lemon that I don’t normally associate with this style of beer. There is nothing wrong with it per se, it is just lacking. Don’t let this get you down though as there are many other great beers from this tiny brewery.

Growler from Williamsburg AleWerks. Murky gold with a tall foamy white head. Aroma is very citrusy/lemony with strong wheat notes, spice and yeast. Taste is sweet malts, spices, delicate yeast, light lemon, wheat and floral hops. Body is light, crisp and bubbly. Ends with more lemon cirspness, floral hops, wheat, yeast notes, sweet malt and softer spice.

First rating! Growler from the brewery on 8/25/09. Pours a beautiful, slightly hazy, yellow with a touch of orange and a half inch, pure white head. Aroma is pure springtime with fresh notes of lemon zest, orange pith, rose petal, coriander, light, biscuity malts, and hints of straw and grass. Flavor is very nice as well with dry, grassy, and very floral hops, lemon and navel orange citrus, and a touch of spice up front backed by nutty malts, belgian yeast, and hint of sweet vanilla. Palate is light bodied, crisp, and very refreshing with solid carbonation and a lingering, dry, citrus finish. Overall, an excellent warm weather brew and another solid new offering from AleWerks.