Clementine - Clown Shoes

UCLABrewN84

California

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a murky orange with a foamy tan head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, wheat, spices, yeast, and some citrusy aromas. Taste is much the same with a citrus zest flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is light and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 03:32:04 | More by UCLABrewN84

Zorro

California

3.29/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Cloudy golden colored beer with a medium sized white head.

Smells spicy with a lots of clove and coriander scent. Chalky yeast aroma. Slightly medicinal in scent.

Starts out dry with a mineral water taste up front. Wheat cracker malt and herbal hop. Little bit of clove in the flavor but not a lot smells stronger than it tastes.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall just an OK beer, can't say this is any better than a Blue Moon.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 01:38:50 | More by Zorro

dar482

New York

4.53/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Now this is what I’m talking about. Strong fruity flavors, but still finishes with hops. Not too intense, but light enough that it’s a great summer beer and extremely drinkable. A great example of how to brew a Witbier and finally I've found an American brewery that can do it well with some identity compared to the German breweries.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 20:51:37 | More by dar482

drabmuh

Maryland

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

At the time of this review, this is #40 on the "Top Beers - Witbier" list on beeradvocate.com. Again, not a great standing but there are plenty of witbiers made that didn't make the list at all. I thought it was OK, I'm curious to try the 1.5 version next.

Beer is yellow with a slight haze, thin head, low retention, no lacing, moderate carbonation.

Aroma is yeasty with some citrus, nice bouquet of stuff happening, I like the aroma.

The taste falls a little flat, very estery, pretty sweet, oddly dry finish, not a lot of citrus in the beer overall. It is an OK beer but the overpowering yeastiness makes the beer, at times, feel solventy. I don't think I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 16:27:07 | More by drabmuh

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

tasty wheat brew with a ton of citrus funk. the pour is cloudy and bright sunshine color, glowing loudly, with a tall white head with excellent retention. the nose is real orangey, i cant specify clementines exactly, but maybe tangerines or some kind of orange. zesty more than juice in the smell, with some sour sainson-esque yeast. the flavor is equally interesting, with the orange throughout, bitter and acidic at the end. the yeast is more spicy than i think it needs to be, as the fruit would be more enjoyable as a standalone dominant note in this one, but i appreciate the use of something non generic. somewhere between a saison and a hefeweizen i think here, its a cool take on this style. the wheat malt provides some body, but its flavor is outshined by the fruit. solid feel, a little too sturdy from the sediment to be as refreshing as it might otherwise be, but the carbonation is awesome and the finish is really cool, with the acidic sting of the orange peel and the sweetness of the fruit itself, combined with a funky yeast. overall a very pleasing beer at a fair price. this is one i will look forward to trying again if warm weather ever comes back...

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 19:41:13 | More by StonedTrippin

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured this beer into a tulip glass and got about three fingers of foam. I really like the orange color on this orange, wit bier. The foam is decently sticky, which lead to decent lacing on the glass.

Off the top I really enjoy the mix of clementine orange and witbier. There is decent sweetness from the orange. There is also the good spice presence from the wit. I like the balance in there.

There is very good presence to this wit. I like the flavoring mix and balance there. This beer has a very good flavor profile.

I really enjoyed this beer. I will definitely pick up more the next time I see it on the shelf.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 01:27:59 | More by ummswimmin

Gobzilla

California

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: poured a murky pale golden straw yellow in color with pale white highlights and a nice finger of head that left some good lacing sticking to the glass.

S: definitely had plenty of citrus character upfront in the aroma with sweet bready yeasty notes, mild hoppy presence, spice such as coriander, slightly grassy and earthy as well.

T: the coriander spice character was more prominent on the palate alongside orangy citrus accents, some grassy notes, sweet yeasty bready character, signs of pear fruit and a touch of piney hops on the back end.

M: the brew was medium in body with a good amount of carbonation which had a sweet, semi bready, spice, slight fruity, mildly hoppy and prickly finish.

O: I thought it was a good wit beer and was glad to take a stab at it.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 06:58:33 | More by Gobzilla

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy golden yellow color with visible carbonation bubbling up and a 2.5 finger frothy, pillowy white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

Slightly earthy aroma with zesty spice, citrus fruit and bready yeast notes. Hints of pepper and coriander followed by tangerine, orange peel and lemon zest. As it warns, the bread character really stands out and the citrus fades a bit.

Medium bodied and very heavily carbonated with a strong peppery spice presence that lingers over the citrus and yeast notes into a dry finish. There's a very strong coriander flavor that dominates, slightly overpowering the citrus peel and bread notes. Peppery with subtle orange and tangerine notes. Tart, dry finish. Not bad, but the overpowering coriander makes this beer a bit one-note. Needs some more citrus sweetness to balance things out.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 06:38:55 | More by corby112

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I am a huge wheat beer guy and this ranks up there as one of the best. I will admit that before purchasing this I cheated and read a review saying it was good. Usually I like to go in unbiased and blind.

I bought a large 22oz. Bottle of this and poured into a large pint glass. Very citrusy smell, hence the name clementine. This had more of an organgy citrus taste as opposed to some other Belgians which taste more lemony. This pours to a hazy yellow color, seems to be unfiltered and about 1/3 of white head and 2/3 liquid. Good carbonation. Overall a very awesome tasting witbier. One of the best domestics. Not sure about the other clown shoes beers but this one is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 02:16:54 | More by Ryanm1

KKB

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A – Very nice pale gold with a white head, loose bubbles that dissipate rather quickly. Solid amount of carbonation flowing up from the bottom. Looks rather good overall.

S – Lovely—literally smells like a tangerine. It’s got some grass in there, wheat, and some spices as well.

T – The taste is light but very pleasant. With the first sip I already can tell I could knock out a bunch of these. Very drinkable. It has a lot of lemon in it as well as citrus, not a whole lot else in the way of flavor. Some more of the grassiness in the taste as well. Some light spices. It’s good not great.

M – The mouthfeel is ok, the carbonation makes it nice and playful on the tongue but it lacks some body, even for a light beer.

O – Overall I would call this beer drinkable, and pretty good. If I had a wild hair I would scoop this beer up again, but it definitely isn’t something that I would seek out. Tastes nice though. Refershing. Would be lovely on a summer day.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 05:34:29 | More by KKB

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.85/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 6/2012

A: Pours a clear yellow color with 2 fingers worth of head that sticks around for a couple minutes

S: Get the yeast and wheat malts right off the bat, along with clementine (duh), sweet citrus peels, and coriander. Hops also contribute some citrusy notes. Pretty much as advertised

T: Follows the nose. Wheat malts control things, with the citrusy and spicy notes in tow. Fairly bitter from the summit hops, but nothing too bad

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A good American wit that has some nice citrus (mostly orange) and spice (mostly coriander) character. Fairly easy to drink. Worthy of a try

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 02:09:29 | More by BEERMILER12

acevenom

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy straw colored with a tall, white head that dissipates at a moderate pace. There are visible large and tiny bubbles in this beer. The beer mostly smells of orange, which works as advertised. I also detected the wheat and some mild spiciness in the aroma. The orange flavor is not as strong in the flavor as it was in the nose, but it does blend very nicely with the wheat malt. There's some mild spiciness in the taste as well, which was detectable in the nose. There are some clove, black pepper, and nutmeg flavors. The body is light with moderate carbonation. The finish is not entirely clean due to a spicy aftertaste. The drinkability is good. This is a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 00:57:11 | More by acevenom

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew was served from the tap at Tap and Mallet in Rochester, NY. The beer arrived in a fat stemmed chalice glowing a golden orange coloring. It held a half finger head of white bubbles, showing decent retention, and leaving light rings of lacing around the glass. Carbonation appeared active, and the faintest chill haze was noted, without sediment. The aroma sang with huge orange flesh sweetness, lemon peel, wet wheat, robust phenolic clove, and lactic sourness with warmth. Our first impression was that all the flavoring was there and robust, but lacked that warming spice so characteristic for the style. As we sipped, dull toasted wheat, musky bitterness, almond nuttiness, and light metallics started things off. The peak hit with more of the same, but with more booze and phenolic spice. The clove and nutmeg of the phenols really opened up through the end, where black pepper from the booze mixed with bright orange white sugars and flesh. The aftertaste breathed of orange, bitter clove, wet wheat, and more booze than the abv would suggest. The body was medium to full, and carbonation was high, prickling the mouth. There was nice slurp and smack, but little cream, froth, or finishing pop. There was light, slick coating, but no real drying. The abv was appropriate, and beer drank okay.

Overall, what we liked best about this one was the nose. The fruit was there, and so was the spice, but we lost both in the flavoring. The mouth was overly boozy, despite a standard abv, and the orange was sadly absent. This booze even crowed out the typical warming spice of wits, making for an overly bitter, one-dimensional offering.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2012 20:35:24 | More by TheBrewo

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.98/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a sunny, medium orange/yellow color, bit darker than a typical Wit. Head was bright white and rocky. Aroma was heavy on the orange, spices and clove. Might have been some banana-like yeasty esters. Tastes of oranges, clove, bits of banana, some earthy spice and grassiness. The feel had a slight creamy texture, but lighter in body with a slight crisp carbonation level.

This cam off a LOT more like a German Hefeweizen than a Belgian Wit. Either way, it's a tasty wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 20:20:40 | More by EgadBananas

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a really hazy clouded blur with a raging carbonated fizzle that hisses at you as you pour. The color reminds me of a white grapefruit juice with the pulp still in, but the head dissipates almost instantly while the carbonation continues to pock-mark the surface with a torrent of bubbles. The smell is thick with that Clementine and orange-like smell alongside the proper wheat-funk and a slight banana-like smell seems to be there as well alongside some faint spices. The beer tastes banana-like with nice undertones of citrus Clementine and orange, kind of like a banana-citrus smoothie with some wheat cloying and cream at the back of the tongue. The after taste is light with citrus while the mouthfeel is really rough with carbonation and fiercely dry on the top of the tongue with faint bubbling still tingling the tops of the mouth. I was hoping for a little more of a citrus burst from this beer, but overall it just seems like a strong citrus backbone on a white Belgian ale. Overall it’s not a terrible beer, just not quite what I was hoping for, and not wholly memorable.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 04:13:49 | More by Maxwell

Gavage

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: yellowish orange in color with a 2" head. No lace develops.

Smell: orange citrus is strong and pleasant.

Taste: soft wheat tones with loads of orange, and some spiciness. Bitterness is very mild.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp throughout with a refreshing aftertaste.

Overall: definite beer for a warm summer day when you want a pure thirst quencher.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 01:25:59 | More by Gavage

Adrock1011

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Has a nice light taste, despite an above average alcohol content. The clementine taste shows up with the finish, and isnt over powering. Shortcoming is drinkability. Having more than one or two in one sitting would be rare. But this beer would make a nice compliment to a tuna burger, or a spring salad.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 21:45:16 | More by Adrock1011

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Had a bottle at Liberty St. Tavern. Not my favorite wit, but the subtle, earthy (not juicy or artificial) clementine flavor is pretty cool. The wit is too clean for the style, there's not enough Belgian spice, coriander, vanilla, or the like. It's more just a smooth, slightly sweet candied wheat beer. Not a bad wit, and certainly interesting. Worth a try for something different.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 01:19:24 | More by tempest

tdm168

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A -pale gold with a little white head; little retention

S - yeasty, funky, faintly spicy; mainly smells of Belgian yeast

T - funky, Belgian yeast, faint spices, white grapes

M - medium bodied, smooth, little carbonation

This taste much like a Tripel with a lower alcohol content. It's as if they took their Tramp Stamp and laid off of the hops. This has none of the traditional Witbier notes. There's no wheat notes, lemon or orange, and there no coriander. A little disappointing for the style but not bad overall. If this were a Belgian Pale Ale it would be a pretty solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 01:54:26 | More by tdm168

dfwprosportsjon

3.7/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a bright orange with a bit of cloudiness though not a ton as I didn't swirl the yeast into the beer.
S: Spicy notes but mainly the smell was of the belgium wit yeast.
T: Somewhat spicy initial taste as it tasted like a normal wit until the end as the clementine fruitiness lingered on the tongue as a savory aftertaste.
M: It tasted overcarbonated and while I know that is part of the wit style it seemed more excessive than most.
O: Overall it lacked the added punch I expected as it's essentially just a standard wit with a little more spiciness and a very nice aftertaste but somewhat bland outside of that. A pour mouthfeel tipped me over the edge and dropped it lower as by the end of the beer I went from thinking it was kind of good to very average.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 00:21:37 | More by dfwprosportsjon

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

This is my first one by Clown Shoes.

Bottled last week of January, 2011:

Into a pint glass:

A: transparent bright yellow body yielded a very bubbly yet foamy large white head that lasted a good thirty seconds. Fast rising carbonation fed that head very well.

S: centered around the orange and some clove.

T: orange and the clove with a peppery sort of taste packed with light coriander.

M: light to medium, decent amount of carbonation hitting the tongue pretty hard. It leaves a dry finish.

O: I believe this is good for the style, but for me, eh, maybe only again on tap. Maybe I tried this too late, note to self, try this again fresher next time.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 23:19:14 | More by kangarooAdam59

mactrail

California

3.73/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

quite beautiful cloudy golden with lots of lacing in the wine goblet. Nose of cloves.

Tart but full of malty flavors. Rich and mouthfilling with very nice carbonation. Not so intensely orange, but quite flavorful. A wheaty mouthful of flavors with the banana and clove. The yeasty Belgian flavors are quite refined and add just a little bitterness at the end.

After having just had a Elder Betty from Magic Hat, it was interesting to taste another big fruit beer. This one wins for the remarkably nice sudsy and creamy mouthfeel. On the sweet and spicy side if you're in the mood. From the 12 oz bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 03:24:49 | More by mactrail

oberon

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a chalice a hazed tangerine color with a nicely formed 1/2 finger white head atop.Alot of yeasty phenols in the nose mixed coriander spiceed notes,Iam not sure if I have come across a wit with that much of a yeasty phenolic presence.flavors have a nice clementine orange presence upfront then the yeasty phenolic spiced flavors really pretty much take over,a light smattering of coriander in the finish.It's not bad but it;s a little yeast heavy handed in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 13:26:40 | More by oberon

EtOHMD

Massachusetts

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

Tried at a tasting by Clown Shoes at Social Wines in South Boston which convinced me to buy 22 oz brown bomber bottled 4/2012

A: warm hazy golden orange with thin white head.

S: orange, clove, grass

T: orange, clove, mild pepper

M: good amount of carbonation up front. Mild chewiness in middle and dry finish

O: very good witbier. Straightforward but solid. Would certainly try it again. Also paired well with a spicy dish.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 23:18:56 | More by EtOHMD

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pale golden orange with some haze. Hardly a head to top it. 3.5

Peppery aroma with coriander and a smidgen of lemon zest. Some straw and husky wheat with an earthy hop character. 4.0

Crisp, dry spice flavor with some coriander and white pepper. A happening, yet dusty, farmhouse yeast with some piquant character and subdued citrus. Clean finish with some citrus rind and bitterness. A very refreshing witbier. 4.0

Spritzy and crisp. Medium-light body. Best served cold. 3.5

My first Clown Shoes brew. A refreshing summer witbier with saison yeast character, low ABV, and exceptional drinkability. I’ll take this with me during a hot weather outing anyday. 4.0

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 01:36:18 | More by thecheapies