Updated and bettered 2010 Imperial White recipe of glutinous golden-browned ‘wheat ale brewed with spices’ takes unlikely stylistic route, forgoing rudiment banana-clove-coriander expectancy for boozy malt-driven tropical-fruited 10% alcohol elixir. Bright hop-spiced, peach-brandied, nectarine-pineapple tang picks up bittersweet cherry-pureed bruised orange viscosity and minty tingle as whiskey-tinted caramel creaminess thickens.
Iconic moderate-bodied white ale with hazy golden viscosity, cumulous pearly head, and daisy-like floral aroma receives earthen wood-toned herbal spicing. Clove, coriander, ginger, nutmeg and allspice bedeck rosebud-dandelion-lavender bouquet to wheat-flaked mandarin orange finish. Mild banana flourish seeps into tertiary lemon zesting.
Fabulous straw-hazed meringue-headed witbier embeds soured grapefruit, lemon rind and orange peel tang with lively white-peppered coriander-clove pep to candied malt finish. Oncoming apricot-grape-quince tartness and floral hop scamper noted on third passing. Well balanced, thickly viscous, crisply watered summertime perfection. On tap at brewpub, serene hazy golden moderation spreads fruity phenol waft across candi-sugared banana taffy sweetness battling back dry fizz-hopped lemony orange souring and slight clove-spiced herbal minting. Biscuit-y wheat bottom secures soft effervescence
White wine presence overrides herbal-spiced banana-clove-coriander passivity and muted vanilla subtlety to buttery wheat base of cloudy pale-toned bottle-conditioned Belgian moderation. After initial carbolic ticklishness subsides, honeyed orange souring softens silken dry-hopped sequence to lean, flat, citric-squelched finish, retaining understated complexity. Refreshing as a soft drink and perfect as a crossover for light-hearted American golden and pale ale drinkers.
Peculiar turbid yellow belly aligns fruit-spiced malted hops in offbeat manner. Tangy orange peel luster, zesty grapefruit-lemon pith tartness, and black-peppered coriander-clove seasoning embittered by hop-spritzed grain persistence. Grassy hay-leather component found on milder second passing. Better choice than Celis White Ale as toned down carbonation, mountain water briskness, and softening citric finish illuminate better. Perfect with spicy foods or barbecued meat.
While pouring former Blanche des Honnelles, heavy carbolic fizz overflows sour yeast eminence. In fine tradition of grape-vinous white-wined Belgian ales, cloudy rust-hued full body submits aromatic citrus tang to spicy floral hops and herbal mint tinge.
Turbidly golden pearly-headed oak-aged white ale maintains lively peppery hop zest, tart lemon pith sourness, and floating yeast particles. Dry orange spritz rushes through center where unripe banana snip picks up spicy dalliance.
Unique juniper-influenced Belgian-styled white ale maintains spicy citric liveliness. Advertised coriander, orange peel, juniper, and peppercorn illusions align lemon peeled bitterness that overtakes gin martini reminiscence. Cotton-candied orange cream soda midst and wispy floral snip sweeten the honeyed wheat spine.
Deliciously appealing flagship ale conquered the Eastern seaboard by 2010. Sourdough yeast sinew clouds this otherwise clear-hued wheat-fortified ‘interpretation’ of light Belgian-styled witbier. Zesty lemon-juiced tangerine tang entangles floral-hopped coriander-clove-chamomile-peppermint tingle and white-peppered lemongrass herbage. Tempting for open-minded drinkers or fans of Hoegaarden White Beer.
Nearly fluorescent khaki-beige Belgian-styled ale offers tart gueuze-like pucker intermingling extremely sour lemon pungency with leathery oak-aged white grape esters. Lively yeast stirs up green apple bittering, herbal earthiness, peppercorn seasoning, and coriander nicety.
Summery light-bodied golden-clouded Belgian-styled wheat ale brings easygoing ‘orange-lemon-lime peeled’ tartness to daintily coriander-spiced sour-candied malts. Its watered-down fizzy-hopped orange soda flow softens astringent raspberry-strawberry-soured backend. On tap, cloy sugar-candied finish prompted 7-Up comparisons when herbaceous notion flittered away.
Viscous White Ale (with speckled yeast sediment dotting tan head) places brisk orange tang over lemon-limed berry-melon-cantaloupe illusions. Bittering hops thin out by fruit-doused crisp-grained finish.