Witch's Wit - The Lost Abbey

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

25.4oz bottle received from largadeer. Thanks Chris! I've been curious to try this one. Love me a good wit. Into my Duvel tulip, it goes

A: The first pour is a clear yellow with a solid white head that slowly recedes to a disk. Steady carbonation, very pretty

S: Wheat is prominent up front with a definite honey-like sweetness. Spicy with a hint of cardamom and white pepper. Refreshing,

T: Excellent spicy flavors are prominent on the palate as I take a sip of this. Pepper and cardamom flavors tickle the palate and is followed by a solid wheat flavor with a mild sweetness. Light in body, this beer dries up on the finish
*edit* - The second pour with some of the sludge from the bottle adds some delicious yeasty flavors to this beer and also improves the mouthfeel a hair.

M: Maybe a little watery but the carbonation and the finish are great. The spices and the citrus qualities linger on on the finish.

D: I'd easily drink more but this is my only bottle. Plus, at 8$ a pop, it's a little pricey for what it is. Great label work, though!

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2008 01:21:27 | More by DefenCorps

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright lemon yellow with sunshine colored trim. A controlled pour created a cotton white crown that is beginning to paint the glass with impressionistic lace. It would be great if subsequent pours added a little yeasty haziness to the proceedings. Note: they do.

The nose is classic witbier, which is odd since the ingredients aren't classic. Most brewers don't add honey, grapefruit peel and cardamom to their wits. WW smells wheaty, citrusy and modestly spiced. It also smells good.

Witch's Wit doesn't taste as exotic as its ingredients would suggest. It's still a very nice example of the style that is beautifully balanced and sneakily complex. I would expect nothing less from one of the best breweries in America.

Never mind the Brewer's Log on The Lost Abbey website because grapefruit does not come through loud and clear on my palate. Not compared to a C-hopped IPA anyway. There's mostly lemon and orange, along with a hint of back end sweetness that is probably the honey. And there's more coriander and clove than cardamom.

The body/mouthfeel seemed too light initially (even though it's a witbier meant for warm weather consumption). With time, it's becoming lightly silky smooth and supple. Don't make up your mind too early.

It's hard to get too jazzed about a 4.8% witbier, but then it's always exciting to pop the cork on a Lost Abbey ale. Witch's Wit is proof, as if any more was needed, that Tomme Arthur is a world-class brewer who is able to hit the bull's eye on any style he sets his sights on. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2008 21:17:24 | More by BuckeyeNation

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle, big thanks to GregMcQ for sending my way!

Pours a lightly cloudy dark amber orange, pretty interesting colour, thin white head forms, quickly settles to a thin ring around the glass, some lace spots stick, looks alright. Smell is neat, some light toast, banana, sugary sweetness, wheat, orange peel, coriander, some frutiness, lightly yeasty, smells good. Taste is great for a witbier, very dry and toasty, oats, wheat, banana, spices, coriander and orange, pepper, tropical, quite malty too, nicely balanced, really nice for a witbier. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to high carbonation, insanely dry and toasty in the finish. Usually not a big fan of witbiers but this one is great! Thanks Greg!!

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 00:05:30 | More by Viggo

bashiba

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a clean golden color with a thick and sticky white head.

Has a big cotten candy and bubblegum smell with a bit wheat.

The flavor is light and fruity with the bubblegum(bazooka joe) coming through strongly along with a bit of spices and a long wheat finish.

The mouthfeel is light and refreshing with a good bit of carbonation.

Very drinkable, I like it. Excellent belgian white.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 01:08:30 | More by bashiba

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My buddy Blake brought this one back for me from Philly (along with the entire LA lineup) last week. Blake, as soon as you join BA (or at let me know your BA name), I'll let the whole community know what an awesome dude you are!

A: Poured, a VERY cloudy apricot orange color, with a one finger head, and moderate carbonation. Yep, I could have pegged it as a Witbier in a lineup!

S: Overripe citrus fruit (actually in a good way), honey, with funky yeastiness, and a little more than a twist of lemon.

T: Ahhh.... very refreshing.... which I feel is the #1 goal of this type of brew. It has a nice full and fruity body. This brew narrowly escapes what I feel is the trap many Witbiers fall into: they have kind of a vomit, or stomach acid kind of taste. Thankfully, this brew is definitely more on the thirst-quenching, alkaline side.

M: The carbonation is bubbly and refreshing, and since the ABV is extremely low, this allowed the fruit, honey, and spices to fill out the palate. They do that very nicely!

D: This was sessionable for sure at 4.8% ABV. The Lost Abbey continues to impress me.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 04:31:52 | More by Chaney

notchucknorris

California

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy yellowish color with a thin white head.

S: Wheat, lemon and some clove.

T: Wheat upfront with some hay and lemon curd. Maybe a hint of clove as well. Some prickly carbonation works well with the flavors. A pretty solid wit. Glad I finally got to try this one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 15:28:21 | More by notchucknorris

illidurit

California

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at RBSG at Lost Abbey. Pours a hazy goldenrod color with a dense white head that leaves wispy lacing. Nose is spicy with some nice wheaty ester notes. Flavor is full and complex, with coriander, orange peel, banana, and melon rind. A very fulfilling and drinkable wit.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2008 19:11:45 | More by illidurit

katan

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 mil into a goblet

A - Pours a light golden golden color - very effervescent looking. Not much for head formation, only a light film remains. Not at all hazed like I would expect a wit to be, but this may be a symptom of not dredging up the yeast sediment.

S - A light yeast-like bready scent leads the way, with only the most subtle honey backdrop. No hopping, or any other off-notes present.

T - Starts off with a light malt sweetness that is immediately accompanies by a dry honey flavor. Mid-stream shows only the lightest hint of bittering, no hops. Yeast notes, as well as coriander and orange peel are difficult to find. Finishes with a direct sour-acidic note, indicating some wild yeast introduction. Aftertaste is clean.

M - Moderate to light in body. Comes across dry. Carbonation bite is very light. Clean finish, no after taste or clinging sensations.

D - Very drinkable beer. ABV is easy drinking. Flavors are smooth and well integrated. Sourness is the only portion of this beer which may get just a little bit bothersome.

I always struggle with knowing for sure if the Port/Abbey beers live up to the reputation of their brewer. In this case, I'm very pleased with the results.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2009 03:19:02 | More by katan

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appears a hazy, light gold with a small white cap, which quickly fades into a mild head of silk. Spotty lacing is left around the glass. Plenty of CO2 quickly rises to the top of the glass.
Smell is of citrus, caramel, spices, and lemon zest.
Taste is mainly of citrus notes with hints of cracked pepper, lemon zest, and pumelo...tasty!
Mouthfeel is light bodied, crisp, and easy drinking.
Very nice brew. It went from good to better with this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2008 02:44:12 | More by weeare138

glid02

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to route66pubs for sending this bottle over.

Pours a hazy lemon-yellow color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of orange peel, lemon zest, and sweet malts. All of the smells are spot on, but I would've liked them to be a bit stronger.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though the flavor is fuller than the smell would've led me to believe. Sweet malt flavors hit first followed very shortly by refreshing citrus flavors. Mild spice flavors find their way into the flavor profile right before the ending.

Mouthfeel is very nice. It's got a very nice thickness with solid carbonation that make this go down smoothly.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass and could definitely drink a few of these on a summer day.

Overall this was a very solid wit. Nothing outstanding but a very nice session brew for the hotter months. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2009 02:11:52 | More by glid02

ClassicBrad

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured this 750ml, corked bottle into my DFH signature glass a pale, cloudy, straw yellow. Head fizzled away like soda but left a ring of lace around the glass.

Nose is mostly of pale wheat malt. Not a lot going on with the smell.

Such a crisp and refreshing beer; lacks your traditional coriander spice and orange zest, but makes up with an original burst of wheat malt and a strong suggestions of honey with hints of what I can only describe as dark berry fruit.

Carbonation is vigorous and makes the beer a thirst quenching experience.

Drinkability is average for a beer under 5%, but still feel like I should give it props for being so darn refreshing!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2010 02:41:49 | More by ClassicBrad

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pilsener glass. Poured a translucent gold with copious tiny bubbles effervescing to the underside of the cap. One inch bright white, fluffy head eventually settled into a thin, consistent head. Dense lacing with good legs. Mild nose - wheat, lemon zest and orange peel. Taste follows nose with a slight citrus astringency at the finish. Light-bodied; carbonation is balanced with the body, but a little too soft. Very easy drinking witbier. Lacks some of the spiciness characteristic of the style, but very pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2008 23:58:13 | More by Jwale73

Wetpaperbag

Washington

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- A nice golden yellow with a slight haze to it. The head is non existent. In fact when I popped the 750ml bottle there was very little pop. Kind of sad in a way. The beer looks great though.

S- The smells are subtle, but the clove is there, as well as banana. Honey and a nice spice profile. Smells very light and easy.

T- Very wonderful taste, light, crisp, a hint of lemon, which goes very well with the clove and banana. Despite the lack of a pop and head this beer has a good bit of carbination that helps the flavors come through.

M- Feels good in the mouth, the carbination goes very well with the light feel of the beer. Very tasty.

D- Easy to drink, would go very very well on a hot day. I do think there are better wits for a lower bottle price. This one was 7.99 if I can remember correctly.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2008 02:18:36 | More by Wetpaperbag

paulthebeerguru

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: snifter. opaque yellow with an orange hue. nice white head. low retention and light lacing.

S: a ton of coriander with some light honey notes. good citrus from the wheat.

T: nice mellow citrus flavors, some honey is present. some coriander spice, light hint of clove.

M: very smooth and mellow. low carbonation level.

D: good rep of style. not outstanding but good, a little too light on the body.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2008 19:05:25 | More by paulthebeerguru

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Hazy yellow, straw hues with moderately low levels of head and lacing.

S: Wheat, citrus, spices.

T: Decent beer, though slightly odd. The unconventional ingredients Lost Abbey use in brewing this witbier give it a distinctive flavor. This is a very complex beer, especially considering the style and low alcohol.

M: A bit thin. Decent feel.

D: An unusual and cool beer unlike the other witbiers I have had. One small serving was plenty for me. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2010 04:47:17 | More by Huhzubendah

DoubleJ

California

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap in a shaker pint glass at Verdugo Bar, on to the beer:

Urine yellow in color, but it has that "glowing" effect, probably from the cloudy body. Head retention is okay, but i was most impressed with the rings of lacing I was getting. This is a witbier the has some lemon sweetness to it, and ground corinador, which while still brings some spice, isn't too much, but rather "rounded". In the mouthfeel, a light bite of carbonation from the beer comes along with a semi-creamy feel. To summarize this beer, a very respectable witbier.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2010 20:15:49 | More by DoubleJ

Gobzilla

California

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a hazy pale yellow with a finger worth of head and left some good lacing sticking to the glass. The aroma was pretty big on citrus and yeast character but also had bready spice honey notes to add to the nose. The taste was also pretty citrusy but the spice was a little bit more mellow on the palate alongside. Some yeasty, bready, and honey like accents. The brew was medium in body with a good amount of carbonation which had a sweet, citrusy, wheaty, and slight crisp finish. It drank very good and was really refreashing while grubbing down on some pizza. Witches wit is a pretty solid wit beer and has been tasty the few times I've tried it.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 19:37:31 | More by Gobzilla

vurt

California

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

750 mL bottle purchased from Red Carpet in Glendale, CA. Poured into a Wieckse Witte glass (a chunky, fluted tumbler kind of thing).

Appearance:
Straw-colored with a little bit of peachy orange added. Very cloudy, as I stirred up a lot of the sediment at the bottom of the bottle. The head is a rocky mound of meringue-like foam, creamy and fluffy. After a few minutes it falls to an enduring skin and collar.

Smell:
Honey and wheat bread up front, sweet and substantial and yeasty. Plenty of spicy phenolics ride on top: warm banana, cloves, and something medicinal and sharply herbal (could be the cardamom this beer is supposedly brewed with, but it's hard to pick out of the mix). There's also a sulfurous component which is strongest right after pouring, and subsides to a mild underlying funk as the beer stands and warms. The orange peel comes across as a slightly oily acidity. There's plenty to enjoy here.

Taste:
It's almost a shame: All summer I've been drinking this beer blissfully cold, and I've been missing out on a lot of the orange peel, grapefruit notes, and cardamom. These really come out after the beer has had a chance to sit and warm a little. The beer starts out bready and spicy, with a little honey sweetness. The citrus is there at the beginning to provide a tart bite which turns into a lightly numbing astringency, like biting into fresh grapefruit zest or a twist of orange peel. But the honey notes soften the citric bite and lessen the beer's crispness. The finish is grainy, dry, and refreshing.

Mouthfeel:
Body is light, tending towards medium. Texture is soft and fluffy, while the citrus and carbonation deliver a good tingle. Very quenching and refreshing.

Drinkability:
The light body, cleansing carbonation, and citrus bite make this refreshing and superbly drinkable when it's cold. But the full range of flavors really come out if you can withstand the summer heat and let this tempting beer warm up just a touch. This beer is very enjoyable when served on tap, but I really prefer the bottled version, especially when the sediment is stirred up and added to the pour. Though autumn is still my favorite season, I'm a new fan of summer if it means this beer will be around.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2008 05:55:32 | More by vurt

magictrokini

California

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

I doubted Lost Abbey could make a light beer without overloading it. I was wrong. Pours clear yellow with a bubbly white head. Fresh aroma of wheat, banana, coriander, grapefruit, and orange peel. Refreshingly crisp taste. The wheat, bubblegum, orange-lemon-grapefruit-citrus flavors are balanced nicely. Dry finish. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 21:17:39 | More by magictrokini

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazed, straw-colored, yellow body with a thin, white head.

Smell: Slightly grainy, unrefined wheat aroma with notes of lemon zest, triple sec, wildflower honey, and lastly, a meager pinch of spice.

Taste: Sweetish wheat grains with a touch of honey. Cantaloupe juice mixed with a dash of Cointreau and garnished with a lemon twist. Lightly earthy, citrus hop character with a medium-low bitterness. Minimal yeast spice qualities, quite subtle really. Rebound of orange and lemon citrus flavors on the drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-low carbonation.

Drinkability: Though it could benefit from a bit more crisp carbonation, it was still an enjoyable, immensely refreshing Belgian wit.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2009 19:00:15 | More by ChainGangGuy

jsanford

Georgia

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

750 C&C Bottle poured into a Lost Abbey Pint Glass. Bottled 6/11

A - Pours a clear golden amber with a thin white head that settles to a slight ring and haze.
S - Crisp aromas of wheat, honey, lemongrass, coriander, and orange peel.
T - More wheat, honey, coriander, and a ton of orange peel/curacao. Very citrus-forward.
M - Quite refreshing, with a medium-light mouthfeel and sharp, "spritzy" carbonation.
O - Excellent Wit, I look forward to picking up more of this next Summer!

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 15:07:30 | More by jsanford

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I bought this at Liquor Max in Loveland Colorado.

This pours a bright clear yellow gold with a small head of foam. It becomes hazy after the initial pour and the head retention is good with ample lacing.

The smell has a good nose of wheat with some spice and a sweetness that is the backbone of its smell.

The taste is of honey sweetness, wheat, clove, and grain. More sips in and I get slight notes of pepper and very slight banana. Nice taster.

The mouthfeel is light, the carbonation is light, and it finishes grainy with a slight citrus bitterness. Also, at the very end it becomes a bit watery. Easy drinker though so it'll be no problem to finish the 750. Lost Abbey did a good job here.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2008 22:49:15 | More by Bitterbill

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Lemon color with plenty of haze. Head is perfectly white, with tightly packed microbubbles. Great lacing too, as the tiny bubbles stick nicely to the glass.

Honey and spices it says on the label and honey and spices I get on the nose. Tart, a bit gingery, with a good wallop of cardamom and a meta-smell of honey. Sounds like a nose-ful, but it's pretty de rigeur for a wit these days.

Great balance and complexity for this style, definitely not watery at all, which is my main complaint with witbiers. Definitely a lemon zest flavor that's featured prominently here, alongside classic phenolic notes of clove and coriander.

Hops add an herbal, earthy flavor that complements the honey sweetness.

Two tons of smooth in the mouthfeel department; not too insubstantial so as to be 'simple'. My first thought was that this was a spice-forward take on the wit, but the honey sweetness really opens up and takes control. Not a bad take...not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 01:30:12 | More by BretSikkink

tmoneyba

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by ajsdad06.

A - Poured a hazy yellow color with an average frothy off-white head that mostly lasted with good lacing.

S- Moderate citrus, herbs and yeast aroma.

T - Medium sweet flavor with a medium fruity citrus sweet finish of moderate duration.

M - Light to medium body with a smooth texture and lively carbonation.

D - Refreshing soft brew that met my expectations.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2009 13:44:58 | More by tmoneyba

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Any Lost Abbey beer is a special treat for me since they are not available anywhere near me. I've had this beer a few times- first, on tap at Denver's Falling Rock and most recently from a friend who dragged the beer back from Cali.

The darker golden than usual beer pours with a volumptuous head formation that endures the session while leaving a inordinant amount of lacing on the glass. Impressive despite the dark color.

Aromas fall somewhere between Witbier-meet-American Pale Ale. The initial softer malt aromas are quickly swamped by a moderate dose of piney and citrus American hops. Decorated with spices that easily match the hoppy,fruity notes.

Flavors again begin with a softer malt taste, but the hops, esters, and spices provide an on-slaught of acidic, citric, sharp tastes that I find very nice but clearly out of bounds for classic Witbiers. Spices seem forced; not a complete yeast derivitive, but added later. Fruity flavors of oranges, lemons, and pineapple meet the spices of white pepper, corriander, and clove for a lot of variety, but at time distracting.

Full, rich, and creamy mouthfeel is cut with the sharp hop bitterness and acidity. Again, a very refreshing, crisp, clean beer. But the spices, hops, and overly fruity flavors keep the beer from conveying the silky smooth flavors and textures found, in say... Hoegaarden.

I like this beer in much the same way as I do the Schneider-Brookly experiment Hopfenweiss. Using a base style, but giving a defiant American twist that challenges the palate and bastardized our notions of classic styles.

Thanks Clvand0

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 17:53:05 | More by BEERchitect