Redhook Wise Cracker Wit - Redhook Ale Brewery

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +16.1%
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

womencantsail

California

3.1/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a rather clear golden yellow color with a finger of white head. Kind of a weak nose. Some cereal and grain sweetness, a bit of bread, a light orange peel aroma, and minimal spice or yeast. The flavor is a bit more spicy. Ginger, coriander, and orange peel dominate. Some sweet bread, a cereal/grain flavor, and a hint of yeast. Just a faint touch of banana on the finish. Very light bodied with medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 19:38:10 | More by womencantsail

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle - $1.49 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Bottled On: May 26, 2011. The packaging for this one is pretty good; I like the bottle, I like the label, though good packaging don't necessarily mean good beer.

Appearance: Pours a hazed, pale orange body with a scant, white head.

Smell: Not the most effusive nose in town, but it still yields notes of wheat malt, sweet, juicy citrus peels, and, though rather lightly, ginger powder.

Taste: A lightly tangy, lightly sweet taste of malted wheat greets the imbiber on the opening sip. Small zip and zing of citrus zest with the smallest amount possible of added coriander. Light ginger character. Near nil bitterness. Fruity, sweetish on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. Medium-low carbonation.

Overall: Fairly decent, I think the choice for a bit of ginger was a good one and look forward to possibly trying this one on draft at some point.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 14:44:47 | More by ChainGangGuy

UCLABrewN84

California

3.23/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottled on 5/31/12.

Pours a murky orange with a 1/2 inch foamy tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, yeast, and spices. Taste is much the same but very mild and slightly watery. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer that smells pretty good but the taste is lacking in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 04:47:57 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.03/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

While the accepted spice additions for Witbiers have been corriander and curacco orange peel, those have been surplanted by ginger in this surprise twist of a summertime refresher.

Pouring a deep golden color with an expected haze, the beer's initial foam stance of fizz and foam struggles for any retention or lace, and then quickly falls to a thin string around the edges. Seeming heavy with a dull visual weight and lack of life in the head department are all somewhat dissapointing.

Ginger aromas make an impact immediately. Ginger ale sodas, a musty grain scent, overall fruity character and sugar cookie dough scent all swirl into a sweeter and perfumy aroma.

A blend of malty sweet and grainy sweet flavors give a decidedly sweet balance to taste. Decorated by ginger spice, orange peel, light lemon, and honey all show glimpses into a varying flavor spread that all seem on the sweeter and unbalanced side. Low on bitterness or hop presence, and the acidity struggles to balance the beer in the presence of such sweetness and eventually make the flavors yearning for more complexity.

The sweet start leads to a sticky and tacky feel that lessens just a touch in the finish as the minty alcohols create a cooler dryish sensation, but the beer leaves the palate feeling much the same as when finishing a soda pop.

Lacking the complexity, depth, and powdery dry finish of classic Witbiers, this one may find satisfaction with those who are just venturing into the world of craft beers, and for those who prefer sweeter beers in general. The ginger character is somewhat a savior that gives just enough intrigue to keep the beer from becomming a train wreck.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 04:28:34 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

But how does one distinguish the wise crackers from the average, run-of-the-mill saltines? Anyway, this stuff pours a lightly cloudy brass topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises orange zest, coriander, cracked wheat, light cardamom, and a hint of ginger in the background, not causing much of a stir at all. The taste brings in more of the same, though now everything is vague, muddled, nearly bland, but there's still a strong sense of orange-ness. The ginger certainly makes itself known, but only with a twinge of characteristic spicy heat near the finish. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a decent wit, but nothing I'd eagerly reach for again.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 19:12:00 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The beer pours a hazy golden color with a thin fizzy white head that quickly fades to spotty lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a crisp and refreshing pale and wheat malt scent along with a touch of ginger. The witbier yeast provides a crisp fruitiness, but the beer clearly lacks coriander and orange peel. The taste is decent as well. Yes, it's crisp. Yes, it's refreshing. The yeast character is present, but the traditional witbier spiciness is lacking. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a nice summer seasonal, but a weak example of the witbier style.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 00:12:29 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours a hazy straw color with a white head. The aroma has a lot of wheat and orange peel notes, with some ginger thrown in. The flavor is pretty much the same, with some grainy wheat notes being the dominant flavor. Light, watery mouthfeel and soft, medium carbonation. Overall, the beer is fairly flavorless and doesn't have anything that stands out and makes you want to have a second one.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 02:47:09 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +9.9%
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

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.23/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This stubby pours a turbid peach tea color with minimal pearl colored head. Zero head retention & lacing

S: Grassyness & citrus, both fade quickly

T: Grassyness, coriander & tangerine up front. Slight wheaty tartness as this warms, along with touch of phenolic twang & some golden delicious apple sweetness. Finishes dry, grassy & with just a touch of lemon

MF: Light bodied, low carbonation, Body thickens up as this warms

Not bad, hits the spot on a warm ( thank God, not hellishly hot ) Oklahoma evening. I never really picked up on the gingeruntil I belched, so maybe I call that a well played subtle addition to this brew...

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 03:54:24 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.7/5  rDev +4.8%
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

Jason

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
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

Billolick

New York

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle with brewed on date info on the label

Pours near clear, dull lighter almond amber. NO head, even with a vigorous pour...hmmm...not a good sign....so lace, no film , no nothing.

Slightest nose of some pumpkin sorta spice...meeh, still not very impressed with this one.

Taste consista of wheat malts, more light spice, cinnimon comes to mind. Very marginal wit. Best thing would be to consume on a ver hot day, or put it into a marinade for some chicken or pork. A lot better wit beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 14:02:56 | More by Billolick

Zorro

California

3.63/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cloudy yellow colored beer with a tall white head.

Smells malty and spicy with a little coriander. Powdery yeast smell with some ginger.

Starts out mildly sweet with a good spice flavor. Mostly ginger flavor with the requisite coriander. Slightly sweet after a while. This is a good witbier but not an outstanding one. Easy on the taste buds I could see drinking this on a hot day.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall this is an easy on the mouth beer. Could be more flavorful but it makes a great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 01:24:54 | More by Zorro

DoubleJ

California

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Let's have a beer. A Redhook beer. A witbier, one that was bottled on May 31, arriving in a 22 ounce bottle at the price of $2.49 (now there's a reasonable price on a bomber!). On to the beer:

It looks like beer. Faded pale golden color, no cloudiness on the first pour. A few bubbles rise through the body. The head never really forms on top, just fizzles away. Boring looking so far. (On the second pour, the body has more of the traditional cloudy look. ½ point bonus for that.) The nose resotres some faith. There's a sweet, creamy oatmeal aroma, and some soft spices to diversify the nose.

One of Redhook Wit's strengths is the lovely oatmeal flavor. Soft, creamy, and sweet. This paints the canvas and allows some ginger to come through. No real citurs to speak of. There's a whisper of bittering hops that come around. The beer is light bodied, has a slap of alcohol felt, and offers semi-selzery carbonation.

Redhook comes out with a good wit. A potential sleeper in the American witbier category, especially given its price.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 05:03:54 | More by DoubleJ

plaid75

New York

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a hazy peach hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured light yeast esters and light spices.

The taste consisted of light earhty esters, a light citrus spice and a muted wheat malt. Residual tartness as well.

The mouthfeel was toward the lighter side of the style.

Overall a light bodied and seemingly muted rendition.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2012 03:10:38 | More by plaid75

mactrail

California

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very pleasant Wit in the lighter style. The spices are barely perceptible, a plus in my book, but just a hint of ginger comes through in the aftertaste. Just a little of the Hefeweizen flavors.

Nice appearance in a tall chalice with the cloudy pale amber color and sudsiness. Good mouthfeel with a sprightly but smooth carbonation. Flavors are subtle, but it makes for an ideal quaff. Mellow, light and refreshing. Some sediment in the bottom, but not too much yeasty taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 04:11:56 | More by mactrail

ZAP

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I'm not a Redhook hater and actually find their beers solid and affordable for the craft side of things...this is not one of their better efforts though....it is drinkable...lacks most of the expected wit beer characteristics....it does have a hint of ginger as the label suggests....lacks a yeasty component...don't expect much orange flavor from this either....just more of a basic wheat lale with a bit of light ginger spicing...very light though....definitely a macro drinker cross over beer...not for me..slightly below average for the style...

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 04:55:27 | More by ZAP

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle pours a very hazy, light gold color with a minimal white head and no lacing. I expect a bit more from the head of a wheat beer.

Nose has alot of ginger, which goes well with the coriander and orange peel. Very soft aroma with the spices and wheat tang somewhat muted.

The addition of ginger is a nice change of pace and is subtle, although I wouldnt mind a bit more. Orange accents are lower than most wits and the coriander about average. Body is smooth and creamy, does not have a crisp wheat tang and bubbling carbonation that seems more common than not in a wit. Its a good beer, there are other witbiers I like better...but I will have zero problems finishing my sixer off.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 23:20:45 | More by twiggamortis420

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle from 05/11 into a Duvel tulip.

A: A fairly hard pour still only produces a finger of short-lived white foam atop the hazy pale orange body. What head there is disappears quickly and leaves no lace. Pretty disappointing.

S: Ginger, candy sweetness, and wheat malt. Pretty generic aside from the ginger, and that doesn't really go all that well with the malt. No better than average.

T: A bit better here, as the ginger provides a really nice counterpoint to the sweetness that just didn't make sense in the aroma. The subtle spiciness of the ginger really lends some welcome complexity to a beer that would be pretty boring otherwise. Overall it's both interesting and inoffensive. Not bad at all.

M: Fairly light body with moderate, lively carbonation. Solid.

O: Not a great Wit by any means, but well worth the $5/sixer price in the closeout bin. Quite drinkable, and with a fun gingery twist.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 21:12:34 | More by woosterbill

tdm168

North Carolina

3.08/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - hazy yellow with a thin, fizzy, bubbly layer of white head that fades quickly

S - faintly spicy, warm, white grapes

T - faint banana, faint spice

M - fizzy, bubbly, a bit over carbonated, light bodied

This is a rather disappointing Witbier. It doesn't have great flavor and it's over carbonated. It's like and you can put them away but for any true fan of the style they should look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 02:21:53 | More by tdm168

flagmantho

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip.

Appearance: hazy silvery-gold appearance with a robust effervescence. Head is a thin finger of frothy white foam, leaving little lace as it dissipates. Not too bad.

Smell: light, refreshing wheaty aroma with a hint of sourness. The bottle says made with ginger, but the ginger doesn't really come out in the aroma.

Taste: very wheaty taste with a hint of citrus, but not particularly full of character. It's not too bad, but it reminds me a bit too much of an American pale wheat ale.

Mouthfeel: light body with a big carbonation and a robust, if evanescent, creaminess. Pretty good!

Overall: while it's not bad, I don't think of it as being artfully crafted. It just doesn't rub me the right way.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 17:12:43 | More by flagmantho

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.03/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had a sample of this beer, and liked it, so I took a growler home. Another lesson that you need more than a sample size to adequately review a beer.
The beer was a hazy orange color with a small white head.
Kind of a fresh, outdoors aroma. A little bit of citrus. A minimalist aroma.
Wheaty taste, a little bit of lemon. Again, a very understated approach.
Just not that much to this beer. Yes, it was refreshing, but that was about it.

Serving type: growler

06-07-2011 20:49:28 | More by lordofthewiens

emmasdad

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this one up as part of a mixed six pack today, not expecting a whole lot. I was however, pleasantly surprised. Poured a cloudy amber color with about a finger of white head. Aromas of wheat, ginger and a little citrus. On the palate, light bodied, with flavors of wheat, citrus and a hint of ginger. Surprisingly pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 03:53:59 | More by emmasdad

Reidrover

Oregon

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
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