Wittekerke

Brewed by Bavik-De Brabandere
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Harelbeke, Belgium

Can (BB 12/2006)
Typical witbier outlook: hazy yellow-orange color, creamy small white head. Wheaty aroma with lemon and coriander plus hints of skunked hops just after opening the can. Interesting range of spices: coriander, clove mixed with lemony dish water and sugar. Interesting witbier, but do I like it? Not so much.

Initially worried by my can not producing a "hiss" upon opening, my fears were put to rest by the giant, sudsy head produced atop a wheaty-yellow and dense body. Some lint-like floaties visible in the beer make me wonder if I cleaned my glass properly (but I know damn well I let this one air-dry). Dry, floral aromas with lemon, herbs (oregano, bay leaves) and a touch of sour milk. "Floral" taste as well with a dry-wheat quality and a lemon ending. Aftertaste, however, held a light honey-sweetness. Nice.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Beverage Depot, Orland Park, IL<font size=-1>

Can at Taco Mac in Chattanooga. Hazy white amber with moderate white head that diminshed slowly. Moderate citrus aroma. Light body. Moderate flavor of citrus and wheat. Drinkable and refreshing.

Bottle. Big spicy aroma. Little citrus in the nose. Light pale cloudy yellow color. Light palate w/ a little citrus flavor. A really nice example of the style. I think this one is rated too low. Extremely drinkable. I finished this one in no time.

Draft at the Abbaye. This is my kind of lawnmower beer. Cloudy pale yellow ale, thin head, great fizz. Delicious wheat presence, easy on the spices, delicate yeast notes.

This one was a little different. Aroma is citrus and a little spicy. Coloring was almost flourescent, like Mt. Dew. Flavor was mild, lemony, and very pleasing. Very thin mouthfeel, though not overly watery. Nothing special, but I’ve had worse.

(Bottled) Opaque yellow with a smallish, quite tight and white, lacy and partly lasting head. Lemon-limey aroma with mild coriander-spiciness. Strongly lemony-raisiny flavor with wheaty malt, some spices, low bitterness and some acidity. Light to medium-bodied, neutral and somewhat carbonated palate. Reasonably refreshing and not watery, but I still wonder if they’ve copied the recipe for Finnish mead to brew this one... (Canned, was 6-3-6-3-11=2.9) Opaque straw yellow color with a very small head. Very lemony aroma with strong spices (cloves, coriander), wheat and raisins. A bit of a dish-washing liquid feel. Strong lemon and raisins in the flavor, too - very close to Finnish home-made mead that (still some) people brew for labor day. Light to medium-bodied, a bit thin and quite carbonated palate. Ok for thirst, quite harsh as a beer. It’s funny to read people’s ratings of this, spreading through the whole RB scale... :)

A good beer can come from out of a can. Wittekerke proves it. Hazy yellow body with a rich foamy head. It has the sweetness and bitterness of orange rinds. All around, a very pleasing summer thirst quencher.