Today marks the very first non-wine related article on What’s Worth Drinking. When I came up with the idea of featuring beers and spirits in a way that wouldn’t take away from my regular wine articles, I was really excited, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. Eventually I decided to write my beer and spirits reviews just the way that I would my wine posts.
So, to start off Sunday Suds we’re going to be doing a Belgian Witbier Old World / New World taste off. The two brews we’re featuring are probably two of the biggest names in the category. Hoegaarden, from Belgium, and Blue Moon, brewed in Colorado, are both wheat beers made using the same ingredients and techniques.
Witbier is a traditional Belgian ale brewed with a mixture of malted barley and wheat. To that, fruit and spices are traditionally added, in the case of both of today’s brews this means orange peel and coriander. Witbier, which translates to “white beer”, is typically mouth filling but refreshing, with a somewhat creamy drinking character and appearance, both due to it being unfiltered.
Brew #1: Hoegaarden Witbier
The town of Hoegaarden, Belgium is thought to be where wheat beer was first created. In 1965 a group of local beer lovers came together to form a brewery devoted to preserving the tradition of Hoegaarden Witbier. Hoegaarden is now considered the standard in the industry for classic Belgian Witbier.
The aroma is very intense, with clearly defined floral tones. Cardamom and orange cream blend with mixed spices and something that is faintly buttery and caramelly. It’s exotic and fresh with impressive intensity and a very inviting delivery.
Dense and mouth filling with intense floral tones, orange cream, and vanilla, the palate is very much what the nose leads you to expect. It’s fresh and frothy with a soft, smooth, and supple mouthfeel. It has very nice balance, nearly no perceptible bitterness, and an impressive freshness complimented by a minerally, floral finish. This is a nicely structured brew that manages to be incredibly refreshing while still keeping your interest. Nicely done.
Worth Buying. 88 points.
Brew #2: Blue Moon Belgian White
This “Belgian-style wheat ale”, as it is called by the brewery, is a New World take on Witbier from Colorado. An iconic brand name in the category, Blue Moon was founded in 1995. In addition to their classic “Belgian White” their line also includes four seasonal brews as well.
Definitely driven by orange on the nose, this brew has a very bright quality about it. There is a doughy yeastiness, a bit of mixed spice, and a very strong floral characteristic that comes only second to orange in its intensity. Very inviting, it also shows a touch of stone and just a bit of honey on the edges.
This is a light to medium bodied ale, with persistent, but very subtle backbone of hops. It shows oranges and canned tangerines at first, moving into bread dough and a slightly spiced quality, giving way to a strongly floral hoppiness on the finish. Pleasant, crisp, and enjoyable, this brew has a little more impact than Hoegaarden, showing its hops more strongly and a slightly larger frame, offering a different drinking experience using the same technique.
Worth Buying. 87 points.
Please Leave a Comment:
What are your thoughts on Witbier?
