Hoegaarden Wheat Beer (witbier - biere blanche)

Today I'll be reviewing the Hoegaarden Original Witbier. This is a uniquely brewed wheat beer with added spices including orange peel and coriander. Brewed since 1445, according to some records, this wheat beer now practically owns the market on wheat beer in Belgium, where 9 out of every 10 sold is a Hoegaarden. The brand is owned by AB InBev and is available pretty much worldwide. Hoegaarden is brewed in a 9-step process that starts with Belgium's natural spring water, as is tradition, and through a series of fermentations, filtrations and coolings, it is crafted into a one of a kind witbier. The unique flavor is largely due to the addition of high-quality wheat, coriander and Curaçao Orange Peel. Let's crack one open...


Color: This beer is a very cloudy, almost milky, pale straw-color. It is so opaque, in fact, that when held to the light you can cast shadows in it by placing your hand behind the glass.

Pour: I poured the beer according to the pouring directions on the back of the bottle (that's convenient). Pouring 2/3 of the beer into the glass, swirling the bottle to collect particulate and pouring the rest to form the head. The head was very nice and white, 2 and a half fingers thick and creamy, settling to an island of light foam after a few minutes. There is also a small amount of dark colored particulate that comes to rest at the bottom of the glass.

Nose: The smell of this beer is wonderful. Very sweet and pleasant with hints of citrus and apple accompanied by the rich warmth of wheat and spice showing through.

Taste: This beer hits you with all of it's flavor at once. Rich, warm wheat flavors mingle with a hint of honey and citrus. It becomes a bit cidery, with hints of spice appearing courtesy of the added coriander, as it sits in your mouth and then just as you're wondering if it's too sweet, it hits the brakes with a subtle but effective bite of hops. It finishes with a lingering citrus-like sweetness and a cooling herbal bitterness both sharing dominance over the palate.

Feel: At first, the carbonation (which is subtle) tingles the tongue slightly. The brew is light and drinkable without being thin. It is also very clean, leaving no noticeable residue or slickness despite the (pleasantly) long-lasting residual flavor.

Over-all: What a unique beer! There's no doubt about it, in regards to a beer I can sit and enjoy by itself, this is my favorite so far. Absolutely delicious, not overly filling, both sweet and bitter without compromising either. The experience of the smell, taste and feel all combining as you take a big sip of this beer is one of a kind and I'd recommend it to anyone. That being said, if you're not a wheat beer person, you may not be as into it as I am as it does have certain characteristic properties of wheat beers. Also, if you're a major "Hops-Head" chances are this just isn't going to do it for you. Something about this beer is really festive, the added orange peel and coriander are reminiscent of holiday cider. The most pleasant aspect over all for this beer is that it's a light-colored wheat beer that isn't too thin, and you have to appreciate that. Drink one.



What Am I drinking this week?





That's right, Hoegaarden witbier beats out
Sierra Nevada for this week's favorite.