Optimal Wit - Port City Brewing

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this one more times than I can count now: On tap at the brewery, growler fills, many, many bottles, and I'm just getting around to reviewing it.

This one has the added benefit of being a brew that my normally beer-hated wife will drink with me. She loves this stuff!

A: Beautiful, milky peach/lemon color, with a massive tighly woven 1-2 finger head after a very hard pour that resembled a nito-tap pour.

S: Hell Mr. and Mrs. white pepper and coriander! The spices actually buried the fruit somewhat on the nose, but I still got a slim smattering of citrus.

T: Despite the spice on the nose, I got a lot of fruit and candy sugar on the mid-palate that resembled a pixie stick dust based concoction. Peppery finish.

M: Creamy, and without even a trace of booze. The sweet elements were very disciplined and the spice content... well, they are extreme, yet justified.

O: I friggin' love this beer! A lot of people go nuts over their porter (which is also good), but to me, this is their crowning acheivement... so far.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 16:23:24 | More by Chaney

jmtpi

New York

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-16-2013 02:36:45 | More by jmtpi

mcaulifww

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

05-15-2013 19:30:48 | More by mcaulifww

cnwillis31

Maine

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-02-2013 21:27:39 | More by cnwillis31

HopAttack3

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

04-29-2013 17:15:06 | More by HopAttack3

IrishColonial

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

04-27-2013 19:37:05 | More by IrishColonial

sgttibbs

Kansas

4/5  rDev +6.4%

04-08-2013 13:18:36 | More by sgttibbs

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.89/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a dark honey gold like lemonade. A small white head caps it off. Light lace left behind. The nose is tart with lemon, ginger, general spicy profile. Crisp body - refreshing. Moderate-to-high carbonation.

This is one of the more fruit-forward Wits I've had in awhile - pineapple is the main player, lemon, tart apple. Common Wit spices noted of coriander and a bit of ginger. This was a refreshing beer, perfect for the upcoming warmer months. I wouldn't mind having a sixer of this around to quaff. A nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 13:16:50 | More by Onenote81

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

3.66/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a hazed golden orange color with a short bubbly white head.

S:Some wheat and fresh apricots up front then some coriander and other mild spices, maybe ginger. Some citrusy hops give a strong note.

T: Citrus, apricot and fresh grains provide a solid start. Coriander comes through and maybe a bit of ginger and they are in good quantity not overdone.

M: Lightly crisp light body and fairly smooth drinking.

O: Solid American wit and certainly not a lot of flaws so it is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 21:48:38 | More by scottbrew4u

Dave1999

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pale straw colour with a small white head.

The smell has strong cloves,coriander,yeast and little hint of lemon.

The taste mirrors the smell with the coriander come through pretty strong. It's light yeasty and wheaty.

Overall a decent wit bier light and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2013 01:06:47 | More by Dave1999

speedvagen

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

03-09-2013 07:41:00 | More by speedvagen

JoeD15

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

03-05-2013 05:09:57 | More by JoeD15

circus_cat

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

02-04-2013 17:36:46 | More by circus_cat

Hoshymoto

Virginia

3/5  rDev -20.2%

01-18-2013 02:32:36 | More by Hoshymoto

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #62 (Mar 2012):

LOOK: Hazy golden

SMELL: Doughy, coriander, ripe plum, orange peel, earthy, floral, yeast

TASTE: Smooth, nutty, biscuity grain, yeast, coriander, mild bitterness, peppery, orange pith, faint saltiness, ripe fruit, spicy, grainy finish

Brewed to style with all the right bells and whistles going off, meaning that it does not taste like you have walked down the soap aisle in a department store. The use of grains of paradise adds that needed depth that most American brewed Witbiers lack.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 03:46:40 | More by BeerAdvocate

ChrisKayler

Virginia

4/5  rDev +6.4%

01-13-2013 21:16:43 | More by ChrisKayler

marlinsfan4

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

01-09-2013 05:09:56 | More by marlinsfan4

TubaManJack

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

12-28-2012 02:03:06 | More by TubaManJack

iplaysmash

4.25/5  rDev +13%

12-22-2012 01:32:33 | More by iplaysmash

archerdc

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

12-21-2012 21:45:49 | More by archerdc

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

12-16-2012 02:30:23 | More by t0rin0

KTCamm

New Jersey

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

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours yellow/golden with some darker tones. Light foaming. Wheaty smell, notes of citrus in the nose. Taste is a rich full wheat flavor with a light citrus lemon mouthfeel. Very smooth. Minor rind taste. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 12:22:31 | More by KTCamm

Dave_Treat

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

12-08-2012 02:20:25 | More by Dave_Treat

e30todamax

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

11-30-2012 20:04:54 | More by e30todamax

KajII

North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

[Suggested Glassware: Weizen Glass]

The pour was a cloudy medium yellow with a large (2-3 finger) white fizzy head that receded at a rather quick steady pace, and produced poor spotty lacing.

The aroma was mild of a light grain malt and a musty Belgian yeast with notes of citrus (orange), coriander and a hint of pepper.

The taste was lightly sweet and citrusy from the beginning, then progressed with a light spicy and mild funky yeast taste and a slight peppery ending. The flavor lasted an average duration after consumption, with a spicy yeast taste fading slowing into the background.

Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a carbonation that was just beyond mild.

Overall this was a very mild Witbier, both in taste and body. Although, it would make a great session beer on one of those intensely hot summer days...

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Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 16:01:19 | More by KajII