Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier
Style: Witbier | ABV: 5.5% | IBUs: ~15
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

While my review of Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat didn't go so well, I'm back to give the other the other year-round Sam Adams fruity wheat beer a shot.

Unlike Cherry Wheat, which is just sort of a general wheat beer with added fruit, Blackberry Witbier is brewed with a specific style in mind (guess which one!). According to the marketing, it was brewed as the companies own version of the Witbier, with all of the the classic flavors along with some subtle sweetness and tartness from blackberries.

It was first brewed as part of the Beer Lover's Choice promotion in 2008. In that contest it defeated a coffee-themed Stout by a margin of 60-40 and became part of the regular year-round lineup.

These guys are always generous with the ingredient details, and this particular beer has an interesting roster. Its backbone is built from Two-row Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland pale malts along with malted wheat and it's hopped exclusively with Hallertau Mittelfrueh noble hops. In addition, there are Oregon Marion blackberries and the orange peel and coriander traditional to the style. Everything is brought to life with the house ale yeast.

Here's how the describe the finished product:

The blackberries are brought together with a hint of traditional orange and coriander to complement the malt character and give a smooth finish that’s both sweet and tart.

Sounds good to me. Let's dig in!

Appearance: A nicely hazy golden-honey body with lots of particles in suspension. Certainly a little darker than the average Witbier. On top, one finger of creamy, off-white head that features good retention and lacing.

Aroma: Lots of juicy blackberry over a bit of pale-ish malt and some subtle spiciness. The blackberries are more sweet than tart and somewhat grapey.

Taste: Not quite as berry-like in the flavor profile, but still rather grapey, spicy, and now somewhat sour. Underneath, there's a solid bready malt backbone to keep everything grounded. The aftertaste is grainy and slightly juicy.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and dry with sharp carbonation.

Drinkability: I'd call it about average for a Wit; nicely refreshing.

Verdict: While it's probably more of a Fruit Beer than a true Witbier, the end result is not particularly exciting regardless of style. Compared with Cherry Wheat, this is a much more pleasing proposition.

Grade: B

Harpoon UFO White Review

Brewery: Harpoon Brewery | Beer: UFO White
Style: Witbier | ABV: 4.8% | IBUs: 10
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

Earlier today, I reviewed Harpoon's UFO Hefeweizen and mentioned that it was such a hit that it had spawned a whole new brand. Well, only one of the beers in that line has made it to Houston: UFO White. While the Hefeweizen was rather mediocre, I still have high hopes for this brew.

As the name implies, UFO White is a Witbier. Harpoon doesn't provide any specifics on ingredients or process besides the fact that it's brewed with orange peel and "a unique blend" of spices, but here's how they describe the finished product:

Light, crisp, refreshing UFO White follows in the tradition of spiced wheat beers that have been brewed in Belgium for well over 300 years. UFO White is the perfect choice for a summer’s barbecue, a night out with friends or any time you're thirsting for something a little different.

I'm not sure if I'm quite thirsting for something a little different, but let's crack this bad boy open anyway.

Appearance: A beautifully hazy, golden-straw body capped by a finger and a half of creamy, nearly white head that features good retention and lacing.

Aroma: Floral and perfumey citrus over a mild wheat base. I can almost imagine that this is a fancy candle under my nose.

Taste: Perfumey citrus peel, tropical fruit, mild yeast, and spices (clove and coriander mostly) over a bready wheat base that is much more pronounced than in the nose. The aftertaste is citrusy and bready.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and creamy with sharp carbonation. Dries a little in the finish.

Drinkability: A very drinkable proposition, though the perfumey character might get a little old.

Verdict: UFO White is perhaps a more floral take on the Witbier than most, but still a solid enough brew that's perfect for Summer.

Grade: B

Samuel Adams LongShot Cranberry Wit Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams LongShot Cranberry Wit
Style: Witbier | ABV: 5.0% | IBUs: 22
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

Continuing my late as hell wrap-up of the 2009 LongShot mixed pack is Carissa Sweigart’s Cranberry Wit. A sales representative for Samuel Adams, Carissa won the employee contest in 2008. What's even more impressive is that she had never entered a homebrew contest before. Way to start out strong!

Carissa was inspired to brew Cranberry Wit as a tribute to both the Witbier style and her home town of Cape Cod. As for ingredients, the backbone is built of flaked wheat and Belgian Pilsner malt, Sterling and Golding hops make up the hop bill, bitter orange, cinnamon, coriander, grains of paradise, and Ocean Spray cranberry juice are the special ingredients and everything is brought to life by a combination of Belgian Witbier Forbidden Fruit yeasts.

Here's how Sam Adams describe the finished product:

Carissa’s brew is bright, fruity and refreshing. The perfect beer to sip on a chilly day, this crisp brew is flavorful and well rounded.

Sounds good, let's check it out! (Just a quick reassuring note: the notes below were taken when the beer was still fresh back in 2009.)

Appearance: A deeply hazy, golden-orange body capped by a creamy off-white head that's ever so slightly rose-tinged. The head sticks around a while and leaves good lacing.

Aroma: Bready wheat with some nice spiciness and light yeast character. Essentially your standard Wit so far; not much from the cranberries here.

Taste: Cranberries come alive in the flavor. A splash of moderately sour cranberry juice layered nicely over the bready and moderately spicy Witbier underneath. The aftertaste is wheaty with a nice hint of cranberries.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with good carbonation and a drying finish.

Drinkability: A brilliant session choice (if this were available outside the mixed six-pack, of course), just keep in mind the ABV.

Verdict: Carissa has brewed up a solid enough Witbier with a nice cranberry twist. It may not be an earth-shaker, but I can see this working well as a Samuel Adams Summer seasonal.

Grade: B

Note: While this review is being published in 2010, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh last year.

Dogfish Head Red & White Review

Brewery: Dogfish Head Brewery | Beer: Red & White
Style: Witbier | ABV: 10.0% | IBUs: 35
Serving Method: 750ml bottle poured into tulip glass

Originally brewed back in 2007, Dogfish Head's Red & White is a Witbier with a decidedly Dogfish twist. While most Wits are easy drinking summer-favorites, this is a big 10% ABV monster. My last encounter with big Witbiers, Samuel Adams Imperial White, left me scratching my head a little, I'm ready to give the concept another shot.

Red & White takes a "wine meets beer" approach, and is fermented with Pinot Noir juice. Once fermentation is complete, one fraction is aged in Oregon Pinot Noir barrels, while another is aged on oak staves. The two oaked portions are then blended back into the bulk and the beer is ready for bottling. Dogfish describe the resulting product as "successfully marry[ing] a Belgian-style white beer with the robust complexity of a bold red wine."

Color me intrigued. Let's get to it.

Appearance: A slightly hazy, pumpkin-colored body with plenty of sediment in solution. Up top, two fingers of creamy, off-white head that endures well and leaves decent lacing.

Aroma: Spices (mostly coriander), orange peel, and some booze (not nearly as much as you'd expect given the double-digit alcohol rating). Unfortunately, it's all just a little on the thin side.

Taste: The same orange peel and spice notes with some new grapey notes added into the mix. All of this is over a sweet, slightly wheat-like malt backbone. With the barrel-aging promised on the label, I was hoping to pick up some good oak notes, but I'm just not finding it. Perhaps that's because this is a sweeter beer. As for the alcohol, it's much more present in the mouth than in the nose and adds a lot of complexity without being too overpowering. The aftertaste is boozy and grapey.

Mouthfeel: Nicely thick and sticky with moderate carbonation. The alcohol dries it all out in the end and leaves some definite burn.

Drinkability: Very close to sipper territory, especially given the alcohol content.

Verdict: On paper, Red & White is a brilliant idea and would seem to yield something imminently unique and exotic; however, it's just not that special in the glass. This would work well as a beer to share with friends during dessert, just don't be expecting the most complex beer on the planet.

Grade: B+

Abita Satsuma Harvest Wit Review

Brewery: Abita Brewing Co. | Beer: Satsuma Harvest Wit
Style: Witbier | ABV: 5.1% | IBUs: 17
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

For my first review of an Abita product, I decided to go with something a little oddball, their Strawberry Harvest Lager. Well, it was interesting enough that when I saw another of their Harvest series, I went for it.

This time, it's their Satsuma Harvest Wit, a Witbier brewed with (you guess it) Satsumas. As with the other beers in the series, the star ingredient here is sourced from Louisiana. As for the beer underneath, the backbone is built from wheat, oats, and "the finest barley." Here's how Abita describe the resulting brew:

Pale and cloudy, like the haze on a hot summer day, this white beer has a sweet and subtle citrus flavor with a touch of spice that is cool and refreshing.

Sounds pretty appetizing, let's check it out.

Appearance: A nicely hazy golden body capped with a finger and a half of creamy, off-white head that features good retention and lacing. On point for the Witbier style.

Aroma: It certainly smells like a Wit too with lots of yeasty, doughy and bready notes. There's not that much in the way of citrus, but maybe it will be more prominent in the flavor profile.

Taste: Classic Wit flavors of bready, doughy wheat malt dominate, though it's missing a lot of the spice found in the Beligian originals. In the absence of spices, the citrus character that is usually derived from orange peel is amped up and somewhat jucier. The citrus flavor may be somewhat subtle, but it's there, especially towards the end. The aftertaste is bready with a trace of juicy citrus.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with good carbonation and a dry finish.

Drinkability: Certainly a quaffable and nicely refreshing brew.

Verdict: Satsuma Harvest Wit is a serviceable Wit with a nice splash of citrus, just don't go in expecting a brew that's infused with bold orange juice.

Grade: B

Note: While this review is being published in January, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh last July.

Samuel Adams Imperial White Review

Brewery: Boston Brewing Co. | Beer: Samuel Adams Imperial White
Style: Witbier | ABV: 10.3% | IBUs: 15
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

My first experience with the Samuel Adams Imperial Series was the wonderful Double Bock. Well, it may have taken me a while, but I'm ready to continue my evaluation of the series. Up next, Imperal White, a Witbier with a double-digit ABV. Wait, what?

You read that right, this is an Imperial Witbier that tips the scales at 10.3 percent alcohol. It's potent enough that it actually has the highest alcohol content of the series. Hallertau Mittelfrueh is the lone hop variety, while the backbone is built of malted wheat along with 2-Row Harrington and Metcalfe malts.

Pitched as a "wine substitute," Sam Adams claims Imperial White:

Pushes out the boundaries of a Witbier. While the brew delivers orange and coriander notes, typical of Witbers, it has a bigger mouthfeel and body. It's truly a unique brew.

At this point, I'm wondering who decided to go with a Witbier for the Imperial Series, but let's see how it turned out.

Appearance: Far from white, the body is a rich pumpkin-orange and quite hazy. The off-white head pours very tall and leaves good lacing. Not a typical look for the style, but fetching none-the-less.

Aroma: A variety of spices and a fruits over a sweet malt base. Perfumey. As you'd expect for a beer with over ten percent alcohol, there is a lot of booze here.

Taste: It's much the same in the flavor profile. Lots of spice (coriander and pepper) and fruit (pineapple, banana, and citrus). Nothing as far as hops go, but there's a bit of balance from spiciness. This is rather sweet. The booze character is massive, can feel rather out-of-place, and dominates the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Thick and syrupy. Despite the massive ABV, there isn't too much burn. Dries slightly in the finish.

Drinkability: With the ABV and syrupy body, this is a sipper, which seems bizarre for a beer with "Witbier" in the style name.

Verdict: Imperial White is not a bad beer, but a baffling one. If given this in a blind taste test without knowing the style, I'd have no idea at all what it was—Wit certainly wouldn't be my first guess. To me, Witbiers have always been light and quenching beers perfect to enjoy on a warm Summer's day. Imperial White is just kind of a syrupy, boozy wildcard that just begs the question "why?" Of all the styles to "imperialize," why Witbier?

Grade: B

New Belgium Mothership Wit Review

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing | Beer: Mothership Wit
Style: Witbier | ABV: 4.8% | IBUs: 12
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into globe glass

Sustainability is a matter near and dear to my heart, so I always like hearing about brewers thinking about the future. Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing has always had a reputation for being one of the greenest breweries, so the fact that they produced the first organic beer I've ever tried is not surprising. Their first USDA certified organic beer is a Witbier named Mothersip Wit.

This is also my first time reviewing a Witbier on PintLog, so let me take a minute to explain the style. Witbier, or White Beer, is a Belgian style wheat beer usually spiced with coriander, orange peel, and various other spices. Also usually slightly sour, due to the presence of lactic acid. They are very pale in color and hazy in appearance (due to being unfiltered). Known for their refreshing qualities, these are a summertime favorite.

According to the brewer, Mothership is brewed with "wheat and barley malt, as well as coriander and orange peel spicing resulting in a balance of citrus and sour flavors held in suspension by a bright burst of carbonation." That sounds just about perfect for the style, so this should be a good starting point.

Appearance: Hazy and amazingly pale lemon-drop yellow body. This almost looks like lemonade as it pours out of the bottle. Nice finger and a half of white head that recedes quickly and leaves decent lacing. Great presentation.

Aroma: Intense. Tangy wheat, lemony citrus, and lots of spicy coriander and cloves. With the lemon, wheat, and spices this almost reminds me of a lemon meringue pie in a weird (and good) way.

Taste: Zesty lemon, coriander, and cloves still dominate over a wheat/pale malt base. Thin even for this style, I'd like to see just a little more intensity in the backbone. Not particularly bitter or sweet, Mothership is pleasantly mellow.

Mouthfeel: As you'd imagine as you watch it pour, this is very much light-bodied. Good carbonation and a clean finish.

Drinkability: Suburb drinkability, would quench nicely on a hot Summer day.

Verdict: Although a little thin, Mothership Wit is so smooth, drinkable, and very mellow that it works. With a nice mesh of flavors and brilliant quenching potential, Mothership is another solid New Belgium brew. The fact that it's organic is just icing on the cake.

Grade: B