Lichtenhainer - Westbrook Brewing Co.

marvin213

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +22.7%

11-25-2012 22:36:53 | More by marvin213

ADTaber

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-21-2013 00:00:16 | More by ADTaber

Liquoric3

Germany

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-02-2013 10:25:08 | More by Liquoric3

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.4%

03-31-2013 21:25:24 | More by mikeincharleston

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to Modernartblues for this bottle.

A: A bit of a gusher upon opening - even fully refrigerated - and the extra foam shows up in even a careful pour as a huge white head atop a clear, bright gold body. Retention is good, but the lacing is a little weak for such a big head.

S: Sourdough bread, light smoke, and lemon juice. Just what the label promised.

T: Sharp lactic tartness up front, followed by some toasty, smoky malt. Dry, clean, puckering finish. Each sip gets more sour and less smoky. I'm a fan.

M: Thin and spritzy. Appropriate enough for the style, I suppose, but less than ideal.

O: This one was bizarre, but in a very good way. The sour and smoky notes went surprisingly well together, and it was by far the most drinkable and refreshing smoked beer I've ever had. As much as I enjoy Rauchbiers I always find them a challenge to drink in any quantity, but this I could quaff at length. Really good stuff.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 23:45:55 | More by woosterbill

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to kkipple for this one, shared with lots of great friends.

As I open it the bottle erupts but we catch most of it. There is a light fizzy head, hazy lemony yellow color.

Nose has light smoke, sour malts, light lemon zest and lemongrass, little tart and hint of wild funk, little yeasty and bready, light smoked bacon like that grows the more I smell it, sweet maple and even a little honey.

Taste has wheat to start, some sour tart lemony flavors, lemongrass, etc. Lots of smoke flavor but not overbearing, smoked bacon again, then some yeast, light funk, smooth light fruity and tart, acidity. Finish is dry, some yeast and hint of funk, acidity, tart lemon fruit, long but light and some smokey bacon.

Mouth is med bodied, lower carb since it erupted.

Overall OK, interesting and some nice characters and decent profile but not an amazing beer like it had the potential to.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 23:06:46 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to JLindros for sharing this bottle.

A - Poured into a stone ipa tulip glass a hazy straw hue super light with a thin head.

S - Aromas of nice light sour aromas and such with gentle smoke notes like a light bacon super light and fresh.

T - Taste is a nice light funky sour with gentle.lemons and subtle meaty funk and smoke. Super tasty.

M - Mouthfeel is very carbonated almost like a champagne which matches nicely with the sour funk.

O - Overall I really enjoyed this beer and I'm glad JLindros shared it. Defijately one of my favourite wiesse beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 03:28:46 | More by rudzud

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

1.95/5  rDev -49.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Bomber to tulip
Sampled 31JUL12
Bottled FEB132012

Thanks to rbradley (a fantastic trader) for the extra!

[A] Enormous pop upon uncorking. The head is strikingly white, foamy & airy and about 3 fingers high. Quick to deflate, the head is reduced to a thin bubbly surface, being sustained only by the persistent effervescence - which is highly visible. The body is a soft golden yellow, rich and vibrant. Great hue. Hazy with low transparency. No lacing.

[S] The beechwood smoked malt stands out above all else - including lacto and Brett. (Although I'm not even sure if the folks at Westbrook used Brett in this beer.) Salty ham, mesquite smoked bacon and some lacto buried underneath. Somewhat conflicting.

[T] The influence of bacteria takes control of the front end flavor. Beechwood smoke settles in next, then the wheaty base.

[M] Violent carbonation bites hard on the tongue. A few aggressive swirls are needed to bring the effervescence in line. Once you get past that, the light body is enhanced by a lemony vinegar-like acidity, providing a snappy refreshment. The intense bubbles add to a dry, very crisp finish. The acidity, however, keeps the salivary glands working in overdrive.

[O] Lichtenhainer is ABSOLUTELY a food pairing beer. In fact, I wouldn't want it any other way. The label suggests pretzels, wurst, sauerkraut and good mustard. All of the above sounds like the perfect compliment - but on its own merits, the beer isn't very easy to enjoy.
Nonetheless, I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to try this obscurity.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 21:43:36 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

RochefortChris

South Carolina

2.85/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured with a decent white head although it didn't last long. Color was around a four on the color scale with a hint of an orange tint as well as a nice aroma. Smoke flavor was a bit overpowering but the sour wheat was present enough to get a solid taste with a medium mouth feel. As far as the complexity and uniqueness of this beer goes for what it is, it's top notch. As for my personal taste, I was unable to finish. Don't get me wrong, I like sour beers and I like smoke beers but, not rolled into one

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 19:06:24 | More by RochefortChris

TheBigBoy

Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -74.2%

07-18-2012 15:30:06 | More by TheBigBoy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a cloudy pale yellow color with a wispy head that leaves a few dots here and there

Smell: Bready, tart and slightly smoky

Taste: As it smells, tart and bready, up front, with a gentle smoky character that develops, mid-palate, and becomes more discernable in the finish

Mouthfeel: Light body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: Really interesting take on the style (wouldn't expect anything less from Westbrook); very refreshing in the hot weather

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 00:27:28 | More by brentk56

emeline

Rhode Island

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bomber into a Red-wine style glass. Leftover from a bottleshare, I feel lucky to have the chance to try this one!

Pours a cloudy, sunny yellow, with a finger of white head that dissipates slowly into a thin surface of champagne bubbles.

Strong lemon aroma with a hint of smoke. Banana and clove flavors come through, as well as a hint of grapefruit and other citrus.

Aroma and taste combine to bring out more smokiness and a burst of lemon freshness. Citrus dominates, but the smoke is an interesting counterpart. Tart and crisp finish, no dominant Belgian flavors.

Mouthfeel is light, giving the impression of a shandy or a bitter champagne. Leaves a lively and fresh taste in the mouth. The smoke doesn't linger.

Overall, this is a very creative and unique brew. It's easy to drink, despite the bold contrast in flavors. This brew would be excellent with BBQ shrimp or chicken that's been lightly seasoned.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 21:40:50 | More by emeline

ATLbeerDog

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on FEB 13 2012

Pours a cloudy yellow/orange with a small but impressive white head that dissipates quickly. Smells of fairly strong smoke with just a hint of sourness buried in the burnt rubble of a nose. First sip is equally dominated by both sour and smoke and that’s way cool. There is plenty of wheat present supported by bacon and lemon flavors. Mouthfeel is spot on as it is light to medium carbonated which is just fine for this 5% ABV beer. I doubt this puppy would get more sour over time nor do I think it will age well. Not something I would seek out again but I salute Westbrook for pushing the envelope and producing this fairly obscure style.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 19:29:04 | More by ATLbeerDog

aasher

Indiana

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

Courtesy of thagr81us, thanks Calton! Wedding week beer!

This one pours a light bodied and cloudy peachy gold in color. The nose is both lightly tart and has plenty of hammy aromas. It's very hammy. The flavors are truer to the style with light tartness, citrusy acidity, with a more mellow ham presence. It's nice and interesting. I'm glad there is a lemony, citrus presence to combat the smoked beechwood malt. It drinks light but being in a bomber, I don't think I could finish off a bottle by myself. This was another good effort from Westbrook.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 19:52:59 | More by aasher

sweatervest27

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

06-14-2012 04:48:33 | More by sweatervest27

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle - $6.99 at Sam's Beer & More in Lexington, South Carolina. Bottled on: FEB132012.

Appearance: Pours out a yellow body, fairly hazy, and, though an initial flourish of carbonation, no head formation beyond a thinnish, white ring.

Smell: Notes of medium-sized ham cubes, light wheat, lactic acid, and a small sulfury sniff. Now there's something you don't smell everyday.

Taste: Scant wheat malts, with very, very little sweetness upfront. Pass along a forkful of smoked ham bitlets. Pop of sourish lemon juice, hint of farmhouse cider and a creamy, coating lacic character. Well carbonated, puckeringly tart finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium-high carbonation.

Overall: Unique. It's a beverage where, at the time of the final sip slipping down my gullet, I wasn't sure whether or not I actually liked it. OK, so, would I do it again? I'm not so sure about that, either. I'm all wingdings and question marks with this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 16:16:17 | More by ChainGangGuy

pixieskid

France

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-30-2012 15:44:18 | More by pixieskid

mrandypandy

Georgia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-18-2012 13:54:15 | More by mrandypandy

tclapper

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-05-2012 02:05:40 | More by tclapper

largadeer

California

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

Pale and milky straw colored body capped by a thin but retaining head. Very meaty, sour aroma, like leftover ham that's been in the fridge for a week too long. There's a bit of raw wheat in the background, but it's faint. Palate feels more harmonious than the nose, with a bigger sour lacto character that brings flavors of yogurt and lemon flesh. There's a grainy wheat undercurrent that lends body and an enjoyable tang. Smoke is present, but it isn't as meaty; it takes a backseat to the grain and lacto. Pretty enjoyable stuff overall. Strange at first, but ultimately refreshing and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 04:22:23 | More by largadeer

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to beerbyrd for sending me out a few bottles of this. Served in a Mikasa tulip.

Pours a slightly-cloudy bright yellow-golden color with a single-finger white head that fades down to a thin collar fairly quickly without leaving much in the way of lacing.

The nose contains a good dose of smoke and wheat, though the smoke isn't completely over the top. It's certainly the dominant component though. As it warms up the smoke gives way to a light woodiness along with some light acidity.

The flavor is a good combination of smoke and wheat with a nice tartness coming through the finish. A touch of lemon in the background. Body is light and crisp with fairly-high carbonation.

An interesting concept and a fairly enjoyable beer. If only the nose were as nicely balanced as the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 18:27:08 | More by Thorpe429

ChrisTHE

3.38/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance-Poured with a decent white head although it didn't last long. Color was around a four on the color scale with a hint of an orange tint.

Smell- A nice aroma for such as strange beer.

Taste- Smoke flavor was a bit overpowering but the sour wheat was present enough to get a solid taste

Mouth fee- lt was about medium.

Overall- As far as the complexity and uniqueness of this beer goes for what it is, it's top notch. As for my personal taste, I was unable to finish. Don't get me wrong, I like sour beers and I like smoke beers but, not rolled into one

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 13:52:25 | More by ChrisTHE

MasterSki

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A smoked Berliner Weiss eh? Thanks Mike (Thorpe429) for the share. Served in a tulip.

A - Quick-dissolving white foam settles to nothing. Hazy pale yellow body.

S - Smoked malts and lactic sourness - pretty much what you'd expect from the description. Some wheat, grain, and sour mash flavors.

T - Taste is a little less interesting, as the smoke tends to dominate the palate. There's only some mild lactic sourness present, but it's mostly smoked meats and campfire. Still, pretty enjoyable.

M - Medium body, lower carbonation, and a mildly slimy texture.

D - An interesting, albeit not totally successful, take on the Berliner Weiss genre. I'd drink this again, but I wouldn't take the time to actively track it down.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 23:35:42 | More by MasterSki

mdfb79

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

From 03/30/12 notes. Bottle shared by Thorpe429 to start off our mini-Westbrook tasting. Poured into a tulip. Bottled on 02/13/12.

a - Pours a murky, pale yellow color with one inch of bright white head and moderate carbonatioin evident.

s - Smells of bananas, smoked malts, fruity malts, and light sour tropical fruits. Interesting mix but pretty cool.

t - Tastes of bananas, smoked malts, sour citrus hops, lemon, sour tropical fruits, fruity malts. Again very nice. A little better then the nose with the citrus.

m - Light, thin body and low carbonation. Docking it a little in the body as it is a bit too thin and watery.

o - Overall one of the most interesting berliner's I've had. Some definite sourness to it, especially in the taste, but not too much as the smoked malts come out a bit as well. Pretty nice, I imagine exactly what they were going for.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 15:42:42 | More by mdfb79

drabmuh

Maryland

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

A smoked berlinerweiss? OK, I'll try it. I think Mike provided this one at a recent tasting. Beer is yellow and hazy with a thin lazy white head of small bubbles, some lacing, moderate to low carbonation, looks OK.

Aroma is surprising, all smoke, it isn't like sniffing a campfire but it is definitely there.

Beer is light in body and the lactic character cuts through the smoke and makes for an interesting beer, notice I didn't say excellent beer, I said interesting, it is definitely worth a look. I think the flavors actually go well together but I doubt this is a repeat for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 19:45:14 | More by drabmuh