Wittekerke Review
If you’re looking for a safe entry point into Belgian beers, this might be your beer. Wittekerke is a “witbier” (white beer), comparable to more familiar domestics like Bluemoon (Coors). These types of beers are commonly called “white ales” and are becoming a popular brew in the US, as suggested by the recent emergence of Budweiser’s Shocktop and Sam Adams seasonal white ale.
Wittekerke is a light white ale, with a soft lemon-yellow color with the cloudiness typical to wheat beers. The beer is aromatic with a hint of coriander and orange, the trademark of white ales. The flavor, with respect to these aromas, is more subtle than its American imitators, leaving its footprint in the aroma more so than the taste. The true appeal of the beer resides in the finish - surprisingly crisp and full of pleasant, near flowery aroma. The feeling after each sip is that you want to bring it back for another. Because of its clean finish, Wittekerke leaves the palette refreshed and ready for anything, making it a great beer alongside meals.
Belgian beers are known for their strong flavor and high alcohol content, making them daunting for the average beer drinker. Wittekerke is a safe pick for anyone more familiar with American lagers. And being a true Belgian brew, it provides some context for the wave of American-made white ales that seek to imitate it. I find that, as with most things, the original is the best.
August 11th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Discovered Wittekerke beer at our local Total Wine store while sampling a couple dozen different brews. It’s a great everyday beer. Light, smooth and very, very nice taste. If you drink the typical blue collar beers, like Bud, Miller, Coors etc. Wittekerke is great replacement for those watered-down sour beers.
I typically drink Heineken and Corona’s, but this has moved toward the top of my list.