White Thai - Westbrook Brewing Co.

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

light golden hazy hues with a thick but fluffy white head that persists until the glass is gone.
Aroma is of pilsner malt and hay mixed with lemon and slight fruity Belgian esters.
all components come through in this beer especially the sorachi ace hops that I think meld very well in this beer with the lemongrass and ginger. It finishes dry and clean.
this beer does exactly what its meant to do quench your thirst and keeps you wanting another sip. pairs very well with food and great for sunny days by the pool

Serving type: can

05-09-2013 23:16:08 | More by MRsojourner

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very hazy pale lemon yellow in color with light amounts of visible carbonation and some pale golden yellow + light orange highlights. The beer has a finger tall sudsy white head that quickly reduces to a medium to large patch of extremely thin film and avery thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of lemongrass and light amounts of ginger. There are light amounts of citrus/lemon from Sorachi Ace hops.

T: Upfront there are very light notes of wheat with light notes of ginger spiciness. There are moderate flavors of lemongrass along with some lighter flavors of herbal and lemon/citrus hops. Light amounts of bitterness in the finish which linger along with the lemongrass.

M: Light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: I found this beer to be easy to drink and fairly refreshing. I thought the southeast asian influence of the lemongrass and ginger was really nice.

Serving type: can

05-01-2013 22:31:03 | More by dbrauneis

BWED

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. can poured into tulip

A- Hazy pale yellow with a minimal, yet lacy white head.

S- Strong citrus/fruit, with a bit of a spicy earthy/grass note.

T- Citrus, slight spicy hop, but very delicate overall.

M- Light body, light carbonation, with a clean finish. Very slight bitterness in aftertaste.

O- Subtle, interesting twist on Wit. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it does have that asian influence. A really good drinker, it has such delicate qualities.

Serving type: can

04-29-2013 16:22:46 | More by BWED

metter98

New York

3.91/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is quite hazy light pale yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of lemongrass and lemony Sorachi Ace hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and is dominated by flavors of lemongrass. It has some hints of ginger and herbal hops towards the finish that linger into the aftertaste.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I enjoyed this beer because it was easy to drink and the taste—particularly the lemongrass—was very unique for the style.

Serving type: can

04-26-2013 01:00:08 | More by metter98

zac16125

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Westbrook White Thai
12oz can into a hefeweizen glass
canned on: 12/21/12

A: Pours a hazy light straw yellow with 1 fingers width of bright white colored head. Good retention but leaves almost no lacing.

S: Smells like a standard wit, lots of clove, and some banana. Hints of citrus, a fair amount of ginger. Some bready malts. Quite nice.

T: Fair amount of spice, and lots of wheat as is expected. There is a rather interesting sweetness, thats not the normal wheat like sweeness, but I cant place what it is. Like the nose there is a fair amount of clove and ginger. Hops are noticable at times. Pretty tasty.

M/D: Medium body, carbonation is on the lower end of the spectrum, but is appropriate. Drinkability is good.

O: Overall, a pretty good beer. Witbier's are certainly not my favorite style, but I enjoy this brew. Id drink again, but I doubt its something Id go to often. Certainly not going to replace Westbrook IPA as a standard in my fridge.

Serving type: can

02-03-2013 00:35:58 | More by zac16125

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

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

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

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

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

chinchill

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

served in a peroni glass.
Pours a hazy golden-yellow, with a good bit of visible carbonation and a moderately durable white head. Good lacing.

The appealing fruity-bready aroma is quite subtle compared to the flavor which is stronger and much more yeasty.

M: medium-light body with rather aggressive carbonation. a bit dry on the finish.

O: refreshing and good for style.

Serving type: can

09-16-2012 20:17:45 | More by chinchill

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

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a cloudy straw color with a thin ring of foam on top.

S: Aroma is of lemongrass, slightly yeasty, some of the Sorachi Hops come through with a small note of nwheaty malts.

T: Taste is quickly a bitter lemongrass which fades to a bready yeasty flavor and then changes again into some spicey blend of ginger and coriander.

M: Mouthfeel would be of a fuller bodied beverage with a smooth slick oily coating on toungue, chewy and creamy.

O: Overall a very drinkable brew with a great finish and awesome flavor combinations, semi complex with a good bit of things happening in here!

Serving type: can

08-13-2012 00:58:04 | More by nukem5

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A huge thanks to woodychandler for a great package, including this one. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a cloudy golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of wheat, spice. Taste is lemons, wheat, a touch of ginger. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a unique and pretty good beer.

Serving type: can

08-09-2012 03:28:07 | More by tone77

macrosmatic

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to dogdoc for this one! Reviewed from notes. Poured from can into a CCB pint glass.

A: Yellow in color with some haze, and a two-finger white head that dissipates fairly quickly. Decent amount of visible carbonation.

S: Bready wheat, yeast, and a light spiciness in the background.

T: Wheat bread malt, ginger, and is a little spicy; a little bitter too, but it's not a hop bitterness.

M: Lighter mouthfeel, and a lower amount of carbonation but not bad. Not much noticeable alcohol.

O: Not really my favorite but not offensive. I can't really find anything wrong with it, just didn't do anything to excite me. That said, I have a few more in the fridge, so if a second impression changes my mind, I will update the review.

Serving type: can

08-06-2012 02:38:20 | More by macrosmatic

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

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Can to Founders tulip.

A - Cloudy light to medium orange colour. Half a finger of white head formed and reduced to a ring around the glass.

S - Belgian yeast, cloves, spice, lemon.

T - Big Belgian pale ale flavours up front -cloves, Belgian yeast, light banana and a lot of spice. Some lighter lemon and bready malt flavours in the background.

M -Light to medium body with moderate carbonation. Somewhat higher carbonation that I would like.

Serving type: can

08-01-2012 23:54:36 | More by TheSevenDuffs

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

Momar42

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can into Duvel tulip

A - cloudy yellow, small head that vanishes before I can toss the can.

S - lemon and tea. Very little wit aromas.

T - the wit base is there but it's overshadowed by the tea and lemon infusions. It's a very drinkable if somewhat light bodied brew.

M - light bodied and easy. Finishes clean

O - really suited for summer. Not a full bodied beer by any stretch but enjoyable. Perhaps not for the wit purist, but enjoyable and and fun to try.

Serving type: can

07-14-2012 22:04:20 | More by Momar42

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.15/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce can - $2.25 at Sam's Beer & More in Lexington, South Carolina.

Appearance: Pours out a clouded, dark yellow body with a fairly small, very brief, white head.

Smell: Throws off a full sniff of wheat malt, a little banana puree, and a mingling of spices, dried herbs, and citrus.

Taste: Malted wheat, smooth and moderately sweet. Flash of banana chips. We're mixing things up this go around with the use of lemongrass and ginger. Then, some coriander coming through. Citrusy character from the Sorachi Ace, though also the lemongrass, but not much bitterness, but that's where the coriander and ginger come in. Dry, firmly herbaceous and spicy on the finish with a little half-zip of suds.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation. Very slight creaminess from the wheat used here.

Overall: Tastes like a witbier cut with herbal tea, so a wit that's off the beaten path.

Serving type: can

06-07-2012 22:15:43 | More by ChainGangGuy

jegross2

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Reviewing the White Thai from Westbrook Brewing Company out of South Carolina.
Score: 80

Can code is "1 10 20 A2BM." Served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed 06/03/12.

Appearance: Pours an opaque yellow color with a slight orange hue. A thin bubbly layer of white head at pour settles to a pencil thin ring around the glass. Below average lacing, average retention. 2/5

Smell: Yeasty orange, clove, banana and ample coriander. A little fruitiness, lemon and grapefruit. 3/5

Taste: More hefeweizen-like in flavor than expected. Banana-yeast flavor upfront with modestly fruity midpalate. Ample coriander throughout and in the aftertaste. Light yeast flavor too. 3.25/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, medium carbonation. Juicy mouthfeel. Slightly bitter and malty finish. 3.5/5

Overall: A decent beer for the dog days of summer, but that's about the only nice thing I can really say about it.

Recommendation: I probably wouldn't say no if offered one at a BBQ, but I wouldn't seek this one out.

Pairings: Feta and walnut salad.

Cost: $10.99 for a six pack of 12 oz cans.

Serving type: can

06-04-2012 04:46:50 | More by jegross2

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

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

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

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