Redhook Wise Cracker Wit - Redhook Ale Brewery

KLAYNE87

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Purchased a 12-pack while visiting the folks in NH. Brewed on April 20th from their facility in Portsmouth. Really excited to see a new Redhook for the summer.

Pours a hazy yellow, not much lacing. Really good example of the style. I pick up light citrus (lemon more so than orange) that doesn't assault the tastebuds. I wish I could have more ginger, but I can't be complaining.

Perfect summer beer no doubt about that. Highly sessionable at only 5.3% ABV. This is certainly going to be one of my go to beers this season.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 02:21:41 | More by KLAYNE87

DJW

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

new at the TJ's in Redmond, WA. Poured into a New Belgium goblet. 1 inch head, mild lacing, fine carbonation that just keeps coming. Color is a lemon-gold, cloudy as per style. Nose is light citrus, wheat malt and a tad of that belgian yeastiness. Taste is light wheat malt, that yeast again, and the slightest ginger note (might not have been able to pick it out if the brewery hadn't indicated it was brewed with ginger, but with that in mind, you can taste it - but it's very subtle.) Mouthfeel is freaking gorgeous - smooth, medium light body, and highly drinkable.
Overall - I'm so glad I grabbed this one on the way home. I'm drinking it with bacon and eggs at 2AM, but it would have gone just as well with pizza, cheeses, or summer bbq fare.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 09:03:33 | More by DJW

TexIndy

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle (liking the new shape of the bottle) into a pint glass. Bottled on date of 4/28/11 on bottom of front label. Was a cloudy, palish yellow color with good carb streams. Had a good sized white head that settled into a collar and covering film. Good quick sliding lace with a bit sticking.

The aroma was good with the usual wit elements of yeast, coriander and citrus. It also had the added element of the ginger which added some depth while not overwhelming the rest of the aromas. Good mix on it. The taste follows the aroma closely. Really good wit base with nice added touch of the ginger that makes for a very refreshing drink. Mouthfeel was just a tad watery, even for a wit, but had good carbs levels and good aftertaste.

Overall, a really good wit that stands out from the crowd with the great addition of a touch of ginger. Only issue I see is if the ginger builds up over several and keeps it from being a true session beer. Only picked up the single so time will tell. I really enjoy a good wit especially on these absurdly hot Texas summer days and this hits the spot. Just arrived here in TX market. Rotation - makes the wit rotation as 6 pack. It's labeled as seasonal so not sure how long it's around though. [R;Y;wit6]

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 23:51:57 | More by TexIndy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bright golden yellow then came out of over me.good three finger high head of white foam that only very slowly faded away,

nice light fruits, hints of banana and apricot, lots of cinnamon and nutmeg really far in the back, with a touch of a pepper like smell as well. really crisp, clean feeling. The first flavor to come over was the light grain, and a touch of yeast, some banana poking around in there as well, with a sparkling quality to it. Nice touch of bitter grapes toward the finish, giving that little bit of a hoppy touch to dry out the finish and get you ready for another sip. Not a hint of alcohol in here what so ever, as this was really solidly put together.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 04:40:09 | More by mikesgroove

Cavanaghty

Maine

4.1/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap during brewery tour at the Portsmouth location.

Appearance: Golden and slightly cloudy. Decent head and head retention.

Smell: Citrus and wheat, but not overwhelming.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Smooth and light bodied. Taste of citrus and ginger with a bittersweet taste in the backround.

Overall: Good brew, I enjoyed this one and bought myself a bottle after the tour was over.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2012 20:22:19 | More by Cavanaghty

carolinahophead

North Carolina

4.06/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Decided to try this Spring/Summer seasonal offering.
Poured with little wit head with a nice unfiltered light yellow color.
Good aroma ... Ginger spice , a little citrus , and maybe white pepper.
Let's say the taste is on point with a whit beer. Nice carbonation with refreshing taste.
Medium mouthfeel and a pretty good finish.
Overall this is a good beer by Redhook . Great summer beer by the pool or on the patio cooking on the grill.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 22:56:13 | More by carolinahophead

rowew

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz, new style bottles - like the new labels, don't like the bottle shapes. Date is ink jetted on the bottle, orange label. "Made with ginger, but still digs Mary Ann."

Appearance: Poured clear til I shook up a bit of the sediment for the last bit, then clouded to a nice orangish haze, average head.

Smell: A bit of ginger and orange peel, some coriander - spice and citrus.

Taste: Decent amount of ginger flavor, a bit of citrus - the other spices don't come through in the flavor as much. Nice mouthfeel, smooth wheat with a bit of carbonation to it.

Overall impression: Very drinkable, a nice twist on a summer favorite. This would probably pair well with quite a bit of food.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 21:58:17 | More by rowew

1234Jack

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A good beer. Pleasant. Subtle smell.

Crisp (maybe just barely too much so) carbonation.

A good, pure look with the golden cloudiness. This may be the best part of the beer. Gotta love their stubby bottles and variety of inner-bottlecap messages. Today I got one with just a black image of Washington State.

No real head on this one, but lacing is nice and humble.

The coriander/citrus is noticeable and to be expected, but not overpowering.

They say ginger, but I didn't notice it.

Glad Red Hook makes a wit - my girlfriend doesn't seem to like too many of Red Hook's beers, but I love 'em. Not to mention the prices I can get on this local craft maker. The wit allows me to sneak it into the fridge because she's a fan of Blue Moon, Shock Top etc. ;)

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 04:32:22 | More by 1234Jack

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased at Hannaford in Derry. Pours a cloudy yellow body with less than an inch of off-white head. Smells fruity with lemon and ginger notes. Banana, lemon, orange, spice, and ginger comprise a balanced flavor. Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Very drinkable and refreshing. A nice new Summer seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 20:20:38 | More by MrHurmateeowish

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours amoight orangish yellowy color with a smallmwhite head that recedes fairly quickly. The smell is citrusy win notes of coriander. The flavor follows through with a good citrus flavor and coriander followed by a nice smooth finish bthe mouthfeelmis fairly light decent carbonation and pretty smooth. The beer is overall very good

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 21:44:49 | More by rowingbrewer

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled May 27/11 in some crazy looking bottle. Poured into a tulip with yeast swirled in.

A: Cloudy with a smaller than expected head that went away too quickly. The body of the beer was also a little more to the copper than to the straw yellow end of the spectrum.
S: Coriander, cloves and definitely the ginger they advertise on the bottle. I like the twist.
T: A spicy wit, that is certain wins lingering heat with ginger hanging on to the palate. I like the ginger, but it made the beer entirely too one dimensional.
M: Thickness that I expect from a wit is lacking, and the carbonation seems low.
O: I can see how this would be hit or miss based on the ginger dominating the game. I enjoyed it though...

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 18:06:39 | More by kjyost

BucannonXC5

California

3.93/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12-oz. bottle into a pint glass at my house on Aug. 24, 2012 (picked it up in a six-pack for $6.99 at Kiel’s in San Diego on Aug. 24, 2012). Poured a hazy, straw, grapefruit with light white head that dissipated almost immediately. Weak retention on top and sides.

Smelled corn, honey, lemon, skunk, apple, sour, orange and orange peel. Pretty flavorful.

Tasted similar to the nose, more of a saison feel. Got apple, orange, orange peel, sour and honey.

Light body. Thin texture. Above average-to-heavy carbonation. Abrupt finish. Crisp, clean and refreshing.

A surprisingly decent beer. I don’t know why I wasn’t expecting that much, but I liked this beer. Great for the summer, too.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 07:18:49 | More by BucannonXC5

PhageLab

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a nonic pint glass.

A - Misty bronze colored brew which produced a nice bit of froth. Head lasted a while and even left some washy lacing behind.

S - Coriander up front, with some yeasty and peppery notes.

T - Nice wheat body, with some citrus notes and a bit of spiciness. A little bit of ginger and just enough bite to round out the sweetness come through at the end.

M - Light clean body, good carbonation level, semi-dry finish that leaves an herbal aftertaste.

D - Very enjoyable, glad I picked up a sixer of this. Good rendition of the style. Will hopefully revisit before the season is over.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 14:34:06 | More by PhageLab

Jason

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.

Opted to stir in the sediment as per the style, yields an opaque beige orange color with ample white head on top. From the crack of the cap to the pouring the smell of mild ginger hits the nose, further inspection unleashes orangey aromas, chalky yeast and some breadiness. Spicing is there, right at the edge with enough flavor to be known but no so much to become soapy. Dry maltiness is pleasant with a clean breadiness. Light hopping lets the spicing shine, ginger dances on the palate a bit more than most. Dry finish.

While this might not be at the top of its style for me personally it definitely is riding in the top half of the pack. The ginger won me over.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 02:49:41 | More by Jason

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a hazy, golden yellow color with a crackly white head of bubbly foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled very fruity with yeasty notes and some cracked wheat.

T - It tasted fruity with some sweet wheat flavors. Nice touch of grains and spiciness from the yeast.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - Redhook doesn't get a lot of high praise, but I think they did an excellent job on a style that very few American breweries do well.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 00:03:25 | More by zeff80

Nerudamann

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Pint glass.

Look - pale straw color, murky, with about two finger's worth of almost white-colored foam that dissipates somewhat slowly.

Smell - Somewhat wheaty, but not very strong. A little bit of the ginger can be noticed, but not much.

Taste and Mouthfeel - interesting taste! I taste a good mix of the ginger and the wheat! Nicely balanced, the two seem to fight over prevalence in the taste. Not a strong aftertaste at all. Texture is pretty well-balanced, but leans a little more toward the watery side.

Overall - a very nice brew, but some subtleties that make it worth trying again.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 06:19:24 | More by Nerudamann

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Light golden orange color with an average sized, foamy, sticky, slightly thick, full, white head. Decent retention leaving a faint lacing.

S - Sweet and spicy aromas duke it out. Sweet doughy wheat interplays with ginger, coriander, and orange/lemon zest.

T - Like the nose suggested there is a mixing of sweet and spice. Sweet doughy wheat and banana provide a spring board for the spices. Ginger is on the forefront with coriander and citrus zest following closely. Maybe a hint of clove. The ginger has a slight sweetness to it too.

M - Light body with above average carbonation. Has a zesty, spritzy feel accented by the spice. Slight drying finish.

D - Nice balance of sweet and spice although the spice is a little strong to down these easily. I like the ginger aspect though, especially with it taking on a slight sweetness with the banana flavors.

Notes: An interesting wit with the spices. Ginger ended up being a very nice addition for me. It was a little too spiced to be very quaffable, but it was a nice change of pace beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 15:57:13 | More by FreshHawk

RJLarse

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I bought a bomber of Redhook Wit in a grocery store. Poured in to a pint glass. Pours a pale gold color with a modest creamy white head.

Smell is a soft fruit aroma, apples, pears and melons.

Tastes like is smells, a fruity flavor with mild if any bitterness. The labels says it is made with ginger, but it is so subtle I am not picking up the spice.

Mouthfeel is light and clean.

Overall a nice light easy drinking beer

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 22:26:18 | More by RJLarse

drumminlogan

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Very cloudy yellow with a decent sized layer of white head.

S - A very light citrus smell that isn't overpowering at all. Nice but could be a bit stronger.

T - Decent citrus flavors, spices, ginger, and a touch of wheat bread.

M - Nice and light mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.

D - Very drinkable beer. Perfect for a hot summer day and a burger.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 23:34:17 | More by drumminlogan

bceagles39

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle at Burton's Grill in South Windsor CT on August 1, 2011.

Pours a nice, slightly hazy golden color. The thin white head quickly dissipated and left absolutely no lacing. Does not look like a Witbier. Perhaps it is filtered.

It smelled of traditional spices, the ginger addition was barely noticable. Very subtle.

All of the flavors were subtle including the ginger, it bordered on bland. I suppose it was well balanced but there wasn't much to balance out as there was virtually no bitterness of hop character. Does not have that bite that a wheat beer would usually have.

This beer drank like a light-bodied lager. The carbonation is low. It is supremely sessionable. I do not think it is true to the style but it was an enjoyable brew. I would gladly have another but would not seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 17:50:22 | More by bceagles39

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a half finger of head on a cloudy, medium straw colored body.
The aroma is a dose of ginger with a little dry grain in the background.
The ginger really spices up the witbier nicely here. A little ginger with a mild bitter, rounded out by soft wheat taste.
The texture is softer with moderate carbonation.
I'm not a fan of witbier but I liked this.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:50:39 | More by Fatehunter

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.73/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap and served in a pint glass, the beer was a cloudy, opaque, yellow-gold color with thin, white, filmy head. Aromas are watered down, but have banana nut and lemon zest characteristics. The body is extremely smooth and round. The flavors are of banana creme and toasted bread...both high marks in my fat-kid book. The aftertaste is puckering sweet and the finish is sharp and abrupt. Very light, but tough to stomach a lot of. Would actually make a decent dessert beer, which I don't normally associate with this style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2011 01:07:58 | More by GarthDanielson

Boto

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Draught @ Portsmouth Brewery. This one poured a cloudy golden color. There was a bit of a white head that lingers awhile and leaves some lacing. Milder but nice aroma Bit of wheat, coriander and other spices. The taste is nice. Medium wheat body, some coriander, citrus. A decent example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2011 15:09:02 | More by Boto

Halcyondays

California

3.7/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a lightly hazy goldenrod with a light white head, solid retention and lace.

S: Ginger and lemon-lime, very fruity. Some orange.

T: Lemon and ginger, some tropical fruit. Nice overall flavour.

M: Light-bodied, crisp at times, but a soft carbonation overall.

O: A solid wit, the ginger is nice touch. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 06:59:18 | More by Halcyondays

Reidrover

Oregon

3.68/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

6 pack from Roths store,Keizer OR. $6.99 Lovely hazy yellow beer, with a great ,rocky,creamy white head. Aroma, slightly spicy a touch of ginger and slight wheatiness. Nice. Taste is very clean..maybe too clean, but after a while nice wheat hints, spice and at the end a nice touch of ginger. Very nicely done carbonation leads to a nice smooth yet spritzy mouthfeel. Overall another simple beer, but will be delightful in the heat of the summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2011 02:44:52 | More by Reidrover