Ding Points: 70.00

Pour: 70.00, Nose: 70.00, Palate: 70.00, Mouth: 70.00, Global: 70.00

Tasting Notes:

22 oz bottle, tanks go out to @lnashsig for the opportunity to try this one.

At first glance this seems like an unusual combination. A rye based Witbier? Odd. As I have said on more than one occasion in the past, rye is not my favorite thing, but I do like a good Wit, so I am intrigued.

The first thing I notice on the label is a large picture of an orange slice – that strikes me as a promising start, we’ll see.

On opening, there is a good citrus whiff amongst the gentle gunsmoke. Nice. The pour is a hazed, mid-orange affair with some medium white head. The lace is pretty scant, and the retention only average, but given several factors including ABV it’s all quite acceptable.

Witicus

Initial tastes reflect some of the orange/Wit elements, and it’s very enjoyable. The sweetness backs away in the finish, and a few more, bitter rye-like elements start to kick in. It finishes slightly peppery, and this is a typical rye response.

There are plenty of pineapple based ester character traits as well, but the normal sweetness associated with such character is constantly pulled back by the rye. The citrus sweetness fights this constantly – interesting sure, but it seems to be distracting. DEFINITELY more Wit than Rye, and I’m very happy with that.

Mouthfeel is quite creamy.

The blurb

This is certainly a unique beer, and I like it, but it seems strangely unsatisfying. I don’t mean to say that it is ‘bad’, it isn’t, but in typical American fashion, the conflict of elements seem to subtract from what the beer could be.

I think I would like to try this beer in hot weather. My guess is that it would be even more enjoyable then.

Other: Witbier, 8.70% ABV.