Belgian White Delights
Where it’s fall not winter spring not summer cool not cold
–Chris Thile
As we turn from the warmth to the cool-
ness of autumnal days, from our Köl-
sches and pilsners and light
IPAs, try this flight
Of white Belgians. Delight
In their mellowness, variant glows
That their bright cloudiness can bestow.
Equinoctial weather
Brings flavors together
To pause us between heat and snow.
1
The Original Belgian style White,
This Hoegaarden Witbier is just right
For our time of transition.
It’s bottle conditioned
And balanced for cooling Fall nights.
2
Wish the summer had lingered a spell?
Try this Mango Hibiscus, a Bel-
gian WhiteNitro to pour
When you crave a tad more
Floral sweetness to drink and adore.
3
For a heartier take on the style,
Sip this Einstök White Ale for a while.
With some heft to your liking,
’Tis fit for a Viking–
A witbier for Icelandophiles.
Tasting Notes:
Hoegaarden Witbier. InBev Belgium, Hoegaarden, Belgium. 4.9% ABV
This effervescent brew pours a cloudy honeysuckle color, with a fulsome and bright white head (especially if you follow the bottle’s instructions to give it a swirl before pouring out the last third). The flavor is slightly honeyed but not sweet, with light coriander and orange peel notes balancing the wheat in the finish.
Mango Hibiscus Belgian White Nitro. Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, Co. 4.8% AVB.
This lively pour starts off in eye-catching stripes: a creamy white head atop a thin, orangey layer that floats briefly upon the main pinkish-amber color. The latter two merge into a concoction that tastes like a hibiscus-forward cider crossed with a Hefeweizen. Light mango notes grace the background, yielding a flavor more floral than fruity.
White Ale. Einstök Beer Co., Stratford CT. 5.2% ABV.
Pours a translucent honey color with a foamy, finely-carbonated head. The oats bring fullness to this classically-spiced Belgian style white, balancing the orange peel tanginess in its back-tongue finish. Notes of coriander nimbly steer this brew’s flavor between the sweet/sour divide.
MARSHA BRYANT writes about literature, culture, and craft beer. Her recent essays appear in The Bloomsbury Handbook to Sylvia Plath, the online journal Humanities, and the textbook Impact of Materials on Society. Marsha teaches at the University of Florida. Her Untappd handle is LimerickLady.
