White Thai - Westbrook Brewing Co.

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to instantmessenger for passing on a couple of these in a trade in support of The CANQuest (TM)!

From the CAN: "Ale brewed with spices"; "This beer, inspired by the flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine, is a twist on the classic Belgian witbier style. Instead of the traditional coriander and orange peel spicing regimen, we add fresh lemongrass, ginger root, and a dash of Sorachi Ace hops. The result is a wonderfully refreshing ale with notes of lemon [CAN]dy, citrus fruit, and a slight spiciness from the ginger."; "Best served at 45-50 [Deg.] F in a tulip or wine glass."

As it turns out, I have a tulip glass from Belgian Independence Day (21 July 2012) which I got at the celebration at the Bronx Ale House. Hooray! I used the inverted Crack & Glug and ended up with over two fingers of dense, bone-white head with great retention. Color was a very cloudy lemon-yellow and it looked like a glassful of lemon meringue pie. Nose was zesty with the lemongrass and the ginger seemingly fighting for supremacy. Mouthfeel was soft, like it was caressing my tongue and the melding of the flavors was beautiful. Lemon, definitely, but as to what type of CANdy they were alluding to, I do not know, Lots of nice ginger spiciness also and I was beginning to mull over which dishes I would order at a BYOB with a sixer of this in tow. Finish was very dry and very refreshing. This is just what The CANQuest (TM) ordered!

Serving type: can

09-13-2012 23:13:34 | More by woodychandler

rjknyy

Georgia

4.83/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a tulip glass from a growler.

Nice appearance as it is a light yellow and slightly cloudy. Head is long lasting and creamy white.

Smell has a light lemon aroma with just a touch of spice to it.

Taste is similar to the smell as you really get the lemongrass and ginger with just the right amount of wheat. The mouthfeel is what you expect from the style with just the right amount of carbonation and a light creaminess throughout.

This is one of Westbrook's year-round offerings and it has turned into one of my favorites. It is extremely drinkable at 5% and is a beer that I never get tired of. I cannot wait for this to be canned so I can always have a supply in the beer fridge.

Serving type: growler

08-13-2011 13:16:20 | More by rjknyy

chakazulu352

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Had a can while staying in Charleston. Holy cow! So delicious. On phone, so I'll keep it simple: smoothest, most balanced witbier I've ever had. Lost points for lacking spicyness they advertised. At 5% abv I could see myself drinking plenty of these.

Serving type: can

12-01-2012 02:53:47 | More by chakazulu352

GnarshDarkwatch

South Carolina

4.63/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had on tap at Foster's in Mount Pleasant. Go in and ask for Craig Foster - he knows more about beer than just about anyone in the Charleston area.

A - light and airy in appearance, not as cloudy as I was expecting.

S - Simply gorgeous. Citrus, lemon, and a touch of ginger. Very inviting.

T - Bright and fresh - the lemon and phenolic tang balace well to make this a beer that I could drink a lot of.

M - Nothing exceptional here, fairly light and easy.

D - Extremely drinkable. Smooth, refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2011 22:32:09 | More by GnarshDarkwatch

rachelerin

South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Chose my favorite beer for my first review!

It pours a hazy yellow with bleach white head, lots of carbonation and some lacing.

The smell has a lot of lemongrass, lemon zest, bread, and a little hint of herbal spice.

The flavors are blended very well with some lemon zest, lemon basil, wheat, tonic, and herbal spices.

It has a lot of carbonation for a beer and sits very light on the palate.

Overall, this is an excellent, very refreshing beer that seems to stay very consistent.

Serving type: can

02-03-2012 12:42:24 | More by rachelerin

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour - hazy yellow to gold in color with a not too thick wispy head on top. Sort of soft and opaque in appearance with a good deal of yeasty cloudiness.

Aroma - spicy and sweet, lots of great aromas coming from the glass. Some nice citrus notes along with some hints of ginger and coriander. Very spicy, warm and inviting.

Taste - that first sip is all I need to know that this is a very well put together witbier. Lots of those traditional flavors are present such as the coriander and the citrus notes but the ginger and the lemongrass really bring this beer to another level. Very spicy and refreshing and I can't really say enough about what the addition of ginger does for a beer like this.

Overall - one of the best witbiers I've ever had. Absolutely great beer with such well measured spice flavor and a nice crisp finish. Altogether fantastic. Very well done and cheers to everyone at Westbrook Brewing Company.

Serving type: can

01-04-2012 02:18:59 | More by indiapaleale

jsanford

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Filled at CBX in Charleston, SC. Thanks as always, guys!

A - Pours a hazy light straw with a creamy white head. Retention is very nice, as are the sheets of lacing left on the glass.
S - Bubblegum and bananas, spicy clove and a whole lotta lemon. Very crisp and clean aromas, love the use of Sorachi!
T - Lightly toasted biscuit malt, bananas, bubblegum and more fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Flavors are slightly subdued, but very enjoyable.
M - Smooth and creamy with a medium-light body and moderate carbonation.
D - Really good drinkability, the girlfriend and I had no problem killing the growler. I think with a couple of tweaks this could be a new favorite, I'd love to see the ginger and lemongrass ramped up to play a more prominent role, like the basil in the Bruery's Trade Winds Tripel. Still, very nice first offering.

Serving type: growler

01-19-2011 22:52:51 | More by jsanford

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed a couple glasses of this beer at dinner in Charleston. Really nice beer. Perfect summer session beverage.

Each pint came with a finger plus of bright white whipped egg white head. Fairly decent retention. The beer is a light hazy straw color with a dull tone to it. Very nice rings of lacing. Good looking beer. Spot on for style.

Aroma was fantastic. Bright and fresh. Pale grains, definitely the lemongrass pops, a touch of yeast and spice. I don’t specifically smell the ginger, but there are lots of spice notes.

Very nice bright, lively flavor. Lemongrass and other citrus notes, a touch of vanilla, banana and lots of spice notes. The wheat notes produce a nice light bready aftertaste

Very light and delicate body. Very refreshing. A creamy sense while remaining delicate.

Really enjoyed this beer. Excellent representation of the style and a perfect match for food. Seek this beer out when visiting Charleston in the summer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2011 11:49:59 | More by Reagan1984

beer2day

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy lemon and honey mix with 1/2 finger of fizzy white head. No retention and very little lace.

Spice and ginger are all over the nose. A nice mix. Straw, lemon, and sweet tea round things out. Well done.

Ginger really kicks up the flavor. Fairly dry hit, but gets bittersweet in the finish with crystal ginger, lemon zest, and sweet tea.

Feel is about right. Thicker than expected but stands up well to the taste.

This would do very well on a hot summer day in the Holy City of Charleston.

Serving type: can

08-06-2012 00:37:26 | More by beer2day

ButtonBeer

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had to have a canned beer for a friend's boat and discovered this at Frugal McDougal's in Ft. Mill, SC. Excellent discovery! I recently took a cooler of it to a BBQ festival in Charlotte, NC and it was a big hit. I'm going to Charleston in early Dec. 2012 and have wife approval for a stop at the brewery.

Serving type: can

10-19-2012 23:14:37 | More by ButtonBeer

Kromes

Georgia

4.26/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A cloudy straw color with a thin white head.

It has a nice citrus, earthy, and Belgian funk aroma.

Lots of flavors going on here. A little citrus, ginger, soft wheat, and a nice funky yeast flavor. They all blend together very well and are balanced perfectly. I don't know if it's the name, but the finish is very Asian tasting. An almost rice-like starch with a touch of citrus and ginger. The hop just appears briefly in the finish also with just a touch of bitterness and herbal flavor to compliment the other flavors.

The feel is velvet smooth. Light and refreshing. The carbonation gives it just enough body, but doesn't interfere with the delicate feel of the beer.

My first time trying this beer and I'm a huge fan. It goes over and above the run of the mill Witbier and adds depth of flavor, aroma, and a great feel. Can't wait to crack one of these on a hot summer day.

Serving type: can

01-26-2013 00:19:46 | More by Kromes

UnderPressure

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Westbrook just started canning two of their beers a couple weeks ago. I was able to snag a couple six packs from their first shipment from the brewery.

The White Thai is a pale, cloudy yellow color. It pours with a white one-finger head that quickly melts into the beer. It's pretty weird to pour a beer like this out of a can.

Belgian yeast and light spice in the nose.

More spice comes through in the flavor. Spicy up front, then (Belgian) yeasty with a malty, sweet, spicy finish. A little bit of crisp citrus comes through, but more like citrus zest than citrus juice.

A nice mouthfeel. Smooth, light to medium bodied. The carbonation is just right for this style. Perfect mouthfeel for this beer.

This is a really cool beer. I think it has somewhat of a non-threatening, mass-market potential, even among non craft beer drinkers. But at the same time, I think people who enjoy and appreciate full-flavored beer will enjoy and appreciate this beer for what it is.

Serving type: can

11-19-2011 18:51:08 | More by UnderPressure

kkipple

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First up: Hats must go off to Edward Westbrook and his very newly (December 2010) launched brewery in Mount Pleasant, SC. My current home state gets another brewery! Excellent... North Carolina has gotten far too much love of late. Ed launched with three beers, this is one. It's a Witbier, and I have to say, there are only a few styles I'd rather drink year round on the Charleston coast. Introduction aside, let's dive in and see if this is any good.

I should add that White Thai is brewed with lemongrass, ginger, and Sorachi Ace hops, among others.

A. Pours a hazy wispy yellow into my Cantillon tumbler, this is one of those beers that is darker in the middle than on the edges. A long lasting, wheaty head sticks around and falls, pitted, after some long minutes. A bit of sticky lacing remains. Looks good to me. The head is tight and compact. Nice.

S. On the soft side, but the expected coriander and lemon are there, plus the spicy yeasty notes I've grown to love. *Maybe* some ginger in the nose, but very slight if so. Gently sweet and spritzy with a fresh, wheat-heavy nose. I like it.

T. Solid. Easily on par with most American Witbiers - the wheat is engaging and almost fruity, while the spice is in level check and the coriander and hops play together quite well. A gently bitter, dry finish makes this quite re-approachable, and the lemon adds some fun tartness. Not sure I can taste the ginger. Works very well as a Witbier, less so as a WitbierPlus. But this is a beer in progress.

M / D. Light bodied, fully carbonated, and a pleasing, semi-dry, light citrus bitter flavor lingers into the finish. It works well and is very easy to put back. I can only imagine how quickly a growler of this would vanish during a Summer Charleston Zehner Deck Party. (SCZDP)

White Thai is a solid Witbier, no doubt about it. I'm really impressed with the fact that this is literally the first batch of this beer to leave the brewery and it only needs (in my mind) minor tweaks to get exactly where it needs to be. Personally, I'd up the ginger a tad so it creeps into the nose and dial the hops down so the finish doesn't linger so bitter... but these are minor quibbles.

The real bottom line is, White Thai is a better Witbier than some of the Big Dogs (Avery, Ommegang) and is brewed in my home state! I look forward to putting back a few dozen more of these and seeing how it evolves. Nice work, Westbrook.

Serving type: growler

01-04-2011 02:09:26 | More by kkipple

brentk56

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear straw color verging on golden; the rocky head hangs for a while and leaves the occasional strand behind

Smell: Ginger, lemongrass and clove waft atop the bready backbone

Taste: The spices jump right out, with the lemon and ginger tones being joined by the clove at mid-palate; the bready malts linger underneath to serve as a platform for the spice; the finish is almost puckery it has so much lemon and ginger in it

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Looking around for a summer beer with a difference? Look no further than this gem, even if you aren't a big fan of Wits

Serving type: can

03-07-2012 01:08:06 | More by brentk56

Reaper16

Alabama

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. can served into a nonic pint glass

Pours a cloudy pale yellow color. There's a hazy glow to the body, like sunshine pouring in through cloth drapes. Two fingers of gorgeous, cloud-fluffy white head, and lots of lacing to boot. A fantastic looking witbier.

White Thai's nose is immediately recognizable as a witbier, even though close scrutiny reveals that the usual witbier notes are not at all present. This is not a beer that uses orange peel or coriander! Instead, it achieves an unmistakable witbierness through ingredients inspired by Thai cuisine. The spices here are lemongrass (lots and lots of it) and ginger, primarily. Not used in the actual brewing of this beer, but registering to my mind when smelling it, are basil and maybe even fennel. No lemon peel, as far as I know, but this is a very lemony beer. It's got the infamously lemony Sorachi Ace hops, and they play very well with the lemongrass. Some sweet, light malt aromas are here too, but they are background players at best. It actually reminds me of Boulevard Collaboration No. 2 - White IPA. See, the Boulevard-bottled version of that beer was heavier on the lemongrass & sage than the Deschutes-bottled Conflux No. 2 (which is now available from them as Chainbreaker White IPA). It's less hoppy that that beer, but the impulse is very similar. Fantastic.

The malts are stronger on the palate, for sure. White Thai has an easy-drinking wheaty malt backbone. It's full of the lemony Sorachi Ace hop flavor, but it isn't at all bitter (I wish it had more hop bitterness, as I kind of want it to be a White IPA moreso than a Witbier). The ginger might just be the strongest flavor here, though the lemongrass does a good job of balancing it. There's a bit of a phenolic aftertaste here that isn't unwelcome.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and soft. I think it could use a bit more prickly carbonation (or perhaps more a typically-Belgian attenuation level), but there's nothing to complain about.

Overall, this is a fantastic Witbier. It's original and refreshing. I'd love to pair this with Thai food. It's also a perfect summer porch-drinking candidate. I'm impressed with Westbrook after having their two year-round beers, and I wish I could try their more limited offerings.

Serving type: can

07-16-2012 00:21:03 | More by Reaper16

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this one with my dinner during my birthday dinner with a few friends. Served from tap into a nonic. Poured a hazy golden yellow with a minimal white head. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, banana, fruit, floral notes, and spices. The flavor was of sweet malt, banana, bread, floral notes, and subtle spices. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. I had heard lots of people in the area talking badly about this beer, so I jumped at the chance to try it for myself. I found it quite enjoyable and easy drinking. It was pretty much spot on for what you would expect for the style with the addition of a few subtle spices to give it a little kick and stand out from the rest. A definite must try if you get the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2011 15:23:14 | More by thagr81us

pburland23

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Bar at Husk, Charleston, SC.

Served in a pilsener glass.

Beer pours a bright, light, cloudy yellow with a thick and lingering bright white head.

Smell was mostly lemon and other citrus notes, not much spice or pop in the aroma. The taste is where all the action was. The lemongrass was again up front with some notes of ginger. You can definitely pick up the lemony zest from the Sorachi Ace hops. A very nice tasting beer.

The mouthfeel was light and very refreshing. On a warm Charleston evening, a very nice, tasty, refreshing spin on the tradition witbier.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 13:12:26 | More by pburland23

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz can poured into a pint glass at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Pale gold color with a 3-finger white frothy, bubbly, pillowy head. Really nice retention and lacing. Has the slightest bit of haze with a good amount of bubbles.

S – Wheat with some traditional banana and coriander aromas and some unique lemon and ginger aromas. The ginger aroma really shines through as the beer warms. Very nice and different.

T – Starts off sweet with wheat, lemongrass, and orange flavors. Spicy ginger and peppery yeast flavors come through mid-taste. Subtle lemon hop bitterness shines at the end.

F – Medium-bodied with good carbonation, a sticky and creamy mouthfeel, and a slightly spicy, slightly bitter, and dry finish. Peppery yeast spice and lemon hop bitterness linger nicely.

O – Another tasty beer from Westbrook. I like their twist on the traditional witbier style. I think the ginger adds a great deal to the aroma and a nice little bite to the taste. A very drinkable beer. Don’t sleep on Westbrook. They don’t make bad beers.

Serving type: can

10-05-2012 00:31:10 | More by BlackBelt5112203

nrpellegrini

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is more than a Witbier. With the amount of spices it has, its in a category of its own. And at 5% too, I'll take a 6 pack of this any day.

The beer pours a hazy golden color with a nice white head, that last for a little but slowly faded. I cant see through my glass. The smell is sweet and spicy, lemongrass, orange, and a hint of hops. It tastes awesome. It says it is brewed with Sorachi Ace Hops which come through just enough to give it a nice spice bitterness, and it has some ginger too. It is still very much a wheat beer but with these other flavors it pulls in some flavors similar to a Belgian style tripel. Mouthfeel is full and smooth, with a good bit of carbonation.

Serving type: can

01-30-2012 18:12:59 | More by nrpellegrini

GPHarris

Alabama

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a - poured a two-fingers thick bubbly white head into a tulip glass that left thin sheeting that was gone about halfway through the beer. the body was a hazy, straw golden color.
s - ginger and various spices dominate this but there is a hint of grassy and citrus hops. hint of yeastiness.
t - sweet citrus fruits with a ginger root finish.
m - medium thickness, crisp.
o - one of the best wits i've ever had. only real fault is i wish the head had stayed around longer.

Serving type: can

02-13-2012 21:16:37 | More by GPHarris

avalon07

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a growler to a pint glass. Had a light yellow color and a cloudy consistency. There was an inch of foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A very sweet aroma of malt, citrus, and spices.

T: Tasted of citrus (particularly lemon), malt, light spices, and slight hoppiness. Like the smell, the flavor is very sweet and inviting.

M: A nice amount of carbonation with a slick finish. Light-bodied.

D: A good take on the witbier. Drinkable.

Serving type: growler

01-21-2011 14:46:17 | More by avalon07

largadeer

California

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Extra from jpmclaug. Thanks!

Cloudy, milky blond body capped by a clinging two-finger head.

Nose of tangy wheat, ginger, lemon flesh. Yeasty and floral, hint of lemongrass. Light but pretty characterful.

Palate is interesting - quite tangy and lemony, full bodied and semi-sweet. Lemongrass comes through more on the palate and pairs well with the more subtle presence of ginger. The spices are thankfully not overdone, taking a backseat to the grainy wheat backbone and floral yeast character. Pretty unique stuff, very refreshing and easy to drink.

Serving type: can

04-20-2012 05:40:04 | More by largadeer

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I am not a wit fan, but still enjoyed this one immensely. Great aromas of bannana and lemon. Taste is yeasty, and wheat, the lemony spicy taste really works. Sorachi hops was genius. Above average mouthfeel. Lacey. Excellent drinkability, lovely summer beer.

Serving type: can

05-03-2012 15:38:47 | More by northyorksammy

Mississipping

Mississippi

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a light, hazy yellow with a medium foamy white head that rises and falls pretty slowly. Moderate lacing left behind on the edges of the glass.

S: Somewhat muted aroma, but there is a good bit of lemon, some banana, coriander, and maybe some clove. The yeast is definitely there, too, really helping it come together and keeping it in line with the style.

T: Starts out sweet with the fruit shining through and then becomes a little spicy with the coriander and clove coming out. Nice bready, yeasty background. Slightly tart/bitter finish.

M: Light-bodied with a good bit of carbonation. Crisp and refreshing. Good transition between sweetness and gentle bitterness.

D: I'm not a big fan of wits, but this is pretty tasty and refreshing. A nice little beer that I'd love to come back to when I'm in SC again over the summer.

Serving type: can

01-05-2012 22:10:48 | More by Mississipping

Phelps

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a tulip. This one's a witbier, but instead of the traditional spices there's lemongrass, ginger root and sorachi ace hops.

Cloudy apricot, totally opaque. On finger of fizzy white bubbles and thin, rounded lace.

Sugared lemon candy, sweet pear syrup, a flash of floral hops. Mild ginger, crackers. Sweet but complex.

More spice in flavor. Ginger is noticeable, as are sorachi ace. Sweet lemon, flowers, pear syrup flashes at the swallow.

Medium light, fluffy body. High carbonation, fizzy.

Not a ton of Thai flavor, but enough to make things interesting, and a solid wit base besides. Nice.

Serving type: can

11-08-2012 03:14:18 | More by Phelps