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750ml

Received this earlier today from the most generous trader errantnight, thanks again Derek! Over the past couple weeks I've read some reviews on The Bruery's beers and have noticed a lot of people mentioned gushers. I was ready when I popped the top and sure enough I had a gusher on my hands, luckily it was slow and I didn't lose anything. This Belgian-style wit pours very pale golden and appears more straw golden when there's some light behind the glass. There is plenty of tiny carbonation bubbles rising streaming slowly to the surface. The clean white head grew to three fingers on a soft pour and faded very slowly. After about 5 minutes I'm left with a thin skim coat with a moderate ring around the glass. Little to no lacing left behind as I drink.

Before I even stick my nose in the glass I'm hit with big aromatic coriander. I thoroughly enjoy the smell of coriander whether it is in food or beer and this is no different. Bitter orange peel shows up as well. The bottle says to drink this at 45, which is about where I opened it, but when this beer is cold to that degree I get an aroma that reminds me of bologna. I've gotten this aroma out of a couple other wits when I've drank them too cold. I don't know if it's a certain spice used or the wheat. A nice layer of snappy wheat lies down in the back and shows it just long enough to let you know it's there.

The flavor comes together nicely. Tangy wheat lays down a solid foundation and is always right around the corner. Coriander is big again in the flavor just like the aroma and orange peel makes a solid showing as well. The basics of this beer are really well put together and the spicing is right on but there is something out of place. The finish brings very mild rubbing alcohol, which isn't bad at all, but also something that reminds me of rubber. This out of place flavor is faint but it is there and I'm not so fond of it. The good thing is I only get it occasionally.

The carbonation is on the higher side of the spectrum and keeps this beer cruising along. The body is on the light side of medium and finishes dry. The carbonation is snappy enough to leave a tingle on the tongue.

The drinkability is hurt a little bit by that strange rubber flavor on the backend, but like I said it is faint and besides that this is a good warm weather brew. The thirst quenching ability is there in full force.

This is my first sampling from The Bruery and it's a solid beer. Not my favorite of the style but good none the less. I would pick this up occasionally if it was available in my area. Thanks for the bottle Derek!

Reviewed: 8/29/08

Served In: Weizen Glass

Picked up this 750 from Hop City out in Atlanta. The description on the bottle caught my eye, so I figured what the hell. I think the bottle was about $9.00 or so. Served up in a tulip.

A: Pours a very intersting light yellow in color, almost champagne like in appearance. The head was a good 3 fingers of fluffy, foamy whiteness. That falls somewhat down to a finger of lasting foam. Held to the light, the body lightens even more, just the palest of yellows. Very nice looking. The body is hazy, had a little amount of debris floating around in here. Carbonation is heavy and active, with tons of movement. I like what I see.

S: The nose is almost overwhelming at first. Just a really awkward first sniff for me. Once I take a minute and re-evaluate what I am smelling, it starts to make a bit more sense than my first impression (which was trout with a lemon sauce, btw). The lavender smell comes out first and foremost. Lavender can be a little overpowering if not careful, but it works here. Very floral aromas kickin in here. Smells like a florists shop at times. The wheat (really bready wheat) and oats have a bit more of presence than I expected, wasn't expecting as much from the grains. Then you get that hefty does of lemon zest and a little bit of honey. At times it kind of smells like a wet napkin that has been infused with lemon. It is very interesting, but took some getting used to.

T: This works for me, but it is complex and a bit difficult for me at times. I feel weird saying that for some reason. The lavender comes through again, not as pungent as in the aroma, just even more subtle and pleasant. Coriander rides that train in as well with a rather large wheat presence. Amazingly bready for a Wit. A huge amount of wheat gives a bit of hearty quality. Lemon zest and meat come through, with touches of orange and grapefruit. Citrus rules the fruit profile here but pear does jump out at me from time to time. There is just a touch of a chalky flavor at times, but nothing to kill the experience. Tasty stuff.

M: Light in body, but not saying this doesn't have a weight to it. The carbonation is heavy and crisp. Incredibly refreshing. But this beer finishes pretty damn clean. This is impressive considering all of the flavors in here. ABV does hit with a little bit of heat on the back of the throat. Aftertaste is minimal, but is best described as that lemon wet nap type presence.

D: This beer kind of freaked me out a bit in the aroma and flavor departments, but it came together for me. The flavors and aromas are a very strange combo for me, and it took some getting used to. With that said, there is a very good and refreshing beer in that bottle. I have a good impression of this beer but it doesn't stand out as crazy drinkable. I am not going to pound glass after glass of this, but if I want a complex beer with refreshing qualities I will turn to it. Interesting brew.

T:

Served In: Pint Glass

A - Pour produces a big white head that's about 2 inches tall and super fizzy. Medium sized bubbles fizz away fro a while, but the head really still has amazing staying power for all that fizzing. Body is a hazy yellow.

S - Very citrusy. Sort of spritzy lemon. Crisp wheat, if that is even possible. Flowery.

T - Flowery is right. This beer is like eating the smell of fresh wild flowers. Honey and pollen. Spritzy lemony flavors. There are some light pleasant spices going on here, but I can't seem to place them. Light wheat and hay.

M - Light and crisp. Super fizzy. When you start to swallow, the fizzy carbonation just wipes your palate clean.

Overall - At first I didn't like how fizzy this brew was, then I became enamored as to how much this carbonation just cleanses your palate over and over, making you want to take sip after sip to remember the pleasant light flavors again. This beer could literally be used as a palate cleanser. I think my mouth even feels cleaner after drinking it. Super drinkable and different from the norm.

Served In: Tulip