On tap at Ambulance Brew House, hybridized Belgian wit pairs well with Southeast Asian cuisine as ginger-rooted lemongrass influence, ginseng-honeyed white tea reminder and moderate white-peppered Sorachi Ace hop bittering provide herbal spiced goodness to lemony mandarin orange tartness. Lemon-peppered rosehips, basil and thyme dot the dusty floral backdrop.
Modest summer seasonal witbier (2014) brings stylistic citric-fruited coriander sweetness to Shandy-like orange-candied tartness and Berliner Weiss-like salted lime pucker. Mild grassy-hopped lemon pit souring and vague lemongrass herbage fill the holes.
Sparkling summertime moderation places subtle bukhara plum influence and soft apricot notion beside lemon-juiced tartness. Light crystal malt creaming sweetens limed coriander spicing. Vinous green grape esters provide gentle bittering to tertiary mandarin orange, curacao orange, grilled mango and kiwi undertones.
Thin straw-clouded light body brings lemon-limed tartness and zesty orange subsidy to lightly spiced coriander-clove sweetness. Seltzer-watered carbolic fizz dilutes initial citric spritz before soured lemon rot mires the cracker-like white wheat base, peppery herbal nip and vegetal snip.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, unconventional witbier utilizes pleasingly refreshing kaffir lime-leafed spruce tips and grapefruit zest (instead of stylistic orange-peeled coriander). Floral-perfumed rosebud, lavender and lotus wafts aid herbal peppercorn, rosemary, sage and eucalyptus niche. Nearly perfect moderate-bodied summertime splendor.
Moribund straw-hazed Ukrainian witbier suffers from indecisiveness. Sour lemon-candied navel orange desiccation and corn-malted white wheat blandness depleted by salty hop fizz. Gluey grout aromatics displace murky butterscotch, banana and coriander sentiments.
On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, polite Belgian-styled moderation brings unexpected plastique grouting and floral dusting to typical witbier’s soft-toned lemony orange tartness. Elegantly detailed, its advertised lavender-perfumed ginger herbage and white-peppered coriander spicing reside above the fruitful vanilla-daubed honeyed wheat base (picking up peachy banana-clove-bubblegum wisps along the way). Mild soapstone minerality scratches the surface alongside subtlest rosewater, dandelion and eucalyptus snips.
On tap at Biggie’s Clam Bar in Ramsey, crisp golden-hazed 2024 springtime white ale layers sweet orange peel tang, pleasant banana vanilla wafer likeness and piquant coriander spicing atop grassy-hopped white peppering and wheat wafer backbone. Recessive pineapple, apricot, mango and grains of paradise tropicalia as well as advertised plum and hibiscus notions fall away at brisk fruit-spiced finish. 2015 re-tasting on tap at Roxanne’s-Mahwah: creamily powder-sugared vanilla sweetness tingles tangy coriander-spiced orange peel zesting, lemon meringue tartness, salted mango swipe and red cherry snip. Superb mainstream witbier.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, zesty lemon pep emanates from citric Sorachi hop briskness as crayon-wafted yellow fruiting drapes fresh-cut grass patch. Light pilsner malting juxtaposes peppery Belgian yeast spicing. Graham Cracker-honeyed wheat spine picks up tertiary banana-clove smidge to backup lemony summertime resonance.
Polite coriander-spiced lemon peel tingle and sweet orange peel briskness ride above light white wheat spine. Carbolic Seltzer fizz gobbles up minimal flavor profile. An appealing lightweight.
Casual light-bodied witbier hastily gets watery as faltering sweet ‘n soured orange peel entry picks up ginger-honeyed orange blossom perfuming and mild grassy hop acridity over soft white wheat bed. Lemon-candied raspberry tartness, latent coriander spicing, tangy tangerine respite and wispy curacao orange smidge drowned out by phenol carbolic fizz. Faded fruit-spiced finish lacks sugary punch.
Marginal Belgian-styled witbier with modest hefeweizen-like banana-clove enticement lathering orange-peeled coriander theme. Understated lemon-candied citrus tartness picks up welcomed sourdough snip, but delicate spice-fruited finish lacks resolve.
