St. Bernardus Witbier - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

beauweaver

Massachusetts

4.72/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I am a regular Hoegaarden drinker and this was my first shot at this amazing white Belgian beer. They served it from the bottle in a Leffe glass. It was a hot summer day and I was conquered by the amazing freshness of the first tastes. I have tasted many a white beers but this one was truly exceptional. I wanted to have a second glass but they had served me their last bottle. I have to admit that I was disappointed. This beer is truly outstanding and if you are a white beer lover, you have got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2008 00:33:46 | More by beauweaver

johnwarne

Florida

4.72/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A beer haiku for you:

"Champion Witbier;
You stand alone in glory:
How soon is now? Drink!"

The undisputed Witbier champion--perfect taste, pour, palate. A mild citrus hint, eminently drinkable. Among the Witbiers out there--and I have had many in my warm climate--this one stands alone.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 23:31:26 | More by johnwarne

ajwillys

North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Milky yellowish white. Very light tan head. 70% translucent.
S- Yeast. Smells like a bakery.
T- Delicious. Slight banana taste, coriander, yeast.
M- Bubbly, finely carbonated. Definitely bottle conditioned. Palate cleansing.
D- Could drink this all week if I could afford it.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2010 23:59:52 | More by ajwillys

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

4.72/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Gulden Draak tulip glass.

A massive white, foaming head appears as you pour, and then thretens not to leave without some coaxing. Leaves a few mm of head for the rest of the drink and laces the glass.

The smell is summer for me, slightly earthy, but overriding freshness, like a field on a breezy summers day, with the wheat, some floweriness, and citrus tones coming through.

The taste starts of with these fresh tones, a wheaty, yeasty taste which is light and refreshing, then following that some mild spices and citrus flavours can be found, almost warming you up with the alcohol taste infused.

Overall an immense drink, I might go right now and order a whole crate of the stuff!

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 10:03:21 | More by CwrwAmByth

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured hazy yellow to pale gold. The head was white and lasted to lace the glass.

The aroma was orange, citrus and coriander. Also present was soft round wheat aroma.

The flavor was subdued with a complex blend of orange and coriander that melded together in a very well accomplished balance. The soft wheat flavor is also present.

The finish was citrusy and well done. The body was medium.

11.2 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2004 01:35:14 | More by GCBrewingCo

ypsifly

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

33cl bottle with a best before date of 29 05 07 printed on the back label. Purchased at Bello Vino and poured into a pint glass.

Cloudy lemonade under a finger and a half of bright white that settles to a few CMs and leaves thick layered lace.

The nose is a wonderfull blend of Lemon juice, orange peel, coriander and light floral hops. Perfume like and zesty. A five.

Sweet malts upfront with coriander and citrus coming up in the middle. Some bread dough and fruity yeast flavors into a briefly tart finish and lingering spices in the aftertaste.

Full mouth that gets broken down nicely by the spice and citus flavors. Quite possibly the best Wit I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2006 06:50:23 | More by ypsifly

MiScusi

California

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a glowing light gold into a tulip glass, with a two finger light, airy, webby head. It's hard to get a lot from the smell other than a bit of wheaty tartness. The taste is pretty lemony. It's a bit acidic and has generous tartness from the wheat. Not as much spiciness, especially in the coriander department like other wit's. Doesn't finish as dry as other American wit's I've had.

This beer is really what I would expect a good thirst-quenching witbier to be.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2008 18:04:08 | More by MiScusi

Haybeerman

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Cloudy pale yellow/white color. Poured a generous 3 finger white head that persisted. Thin but even lacing. Decanted continuously

S: Very clear citrus zest and spices; sweet coriander and slight peppery clove.

T: Excellent citrus and wit spices. Classic and in perfect balance.

M: Very smooth, light on the tongue.

D: Very, very drinkable. Excellent refreshing summer beer. The best Wit ever (non-German, so far).

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2008 01:57:42 | More by Haybeerman

atpben

Texas

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I gotta start by saying wow. This beer has now become my favorite wit beer. Poured into a Duvel glass. Nice cloudy orange color. Hints of orange and clove? in the aroma. Taste was just sublime with just the right amount of orange in the taste and light spiciness. Very smooth, creamy and easy to drink. I wish I had one more bottle. My wife doesn't like this style of beer but loved this one. Excellent

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2009 01:05:14 | More by atpben

guitarmage

Oregon

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Poured the characteristic cloudy, pale, yellow, nice and vibrant though, thin white foam sits on top. Fairly bubbly.

Smell: Fruity, mango, apricot, wheaty, nice citrus notes cut through, very clean also, a little funky. Complex aroma and very inviting.

Taste: Again, sweet tropical fruits, then the citrus starts to cut through and a little puckering hops clean it up. Also some spice upfront, cloves, but mostly fruity.

Mouthfeel: Thin, rolling carbonation makes this beer go down easily, so refreshing.

Drinkability: Easy to drink, but also complex and tasty. I just had some chili, and this was an odd choice afterwards, but it really cleaned up the palette and made the meal that much more enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2007 20:27:19 | More by guitarmage

alcstradamus

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

There is a cycle that as craft beer lovers we tend to go through. We start with our gateway beers before discovering the world of big bold high ABV stuff like DIPA's and Imperial Stouts. These beers rule our world and anything that doesn't knock our socks off with flavor gets glossed over. After a few years, we tire on these and move back to what we used to consider gateway beers...beers that have a lot of subtle flavor and are easily accessible.

Not everyone goes through this cycle, but I did. And here I am sitting down drinking a St. Bernardus Wit and feeling like I am in heaven. What a clean, tasty, refreshing, subtle, finely crafted beer this is. The flavors have been described many times over, so I do not feel the need to do it myself. Just know that I have never had anything in the style that is better, and I can count on two hands the number of beers that compete with in in terms of drinkability. Amazing beer, a different beast than its cousin Abt 12 but dare I say it an equally good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 17:05:45 | More by alcstradamus

rcmooney

Arkansas

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A- pale hazy yellow. Big white head
A- coriandee, spice, Lemmon zest
T- Lovely smooth citrus/spiced wheat beer
M- High Carbonarion ended with a really nice smooth and creamy texture
O- Not much bad to say about this one. Strait forward in a good way. very sessionable. Bravo

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 01:40:21 | More by rcmooney

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Saint Bernardus Witbeier pours a beautiful cloudy yellow orange with a creamy lingering head. The aroma is coriander, with sweet light malts and a bit of slightly chalky yeast. The flavor is crisp and sweet, with a great balance of spices and malt with just a hint of bitterness. The beer is creamy and delicious, I could drink this all night.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2007 00:07:41 | More by ericj551

gdfan47

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

i have had this before, just poured one tho and wanted to write a review

it pours a cloudy yellow with alot of white head and lace

the smell is awesome, light flowers and some citrus and corriander

its very refreshing, it tastes fresh and creamy. You can taste the wheat and a light corriander

I could drink this one all day, and what a great summer beer

I love beers of this style and this is easily one of my favorite witbiers

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 00:48:42 | More by gdfan47

Anthony1

Colorado

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

poured into a perfect pint.

Sitting outside in the shade of a tree, 95º, not a cloud in the sky. This beer was perfect.

poured a hazy straw color with a fluffy white head. lace is there, but doesnt stick.

Smells of orange zest, banana peels, coriander, wheat, and some lemon. tiny hits of spice.

It tastes very similar to the smell. a nice bready taste with a zesty orange.

by far the greatest thing about this beer is the feel. It was like drinking silk. this beer was so smooth and refreshing. it was perfect for the hot day.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2009 17:26:09 | More by Anthony1

generallee

New York

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: It was poured from a 11.2oz brown bottle into a hexagonal Witbier glass.

Appearance: The body has a yellow tan color and lots of cloudy yeast making it darker than other Witbiers that I have seen. There are lots of little bits of yeast particles floating around inside as well. On top the head is thick and foamy with a creamy off white color. There is also a dusting of light brownish tan yeast on top of the head. This head has good retention and makes some nice slick lacing on the glass.

Smell: The aroma has a full nose filled with wheat, yeast, light grain and some mild hops.

Taste/Mouth: Its flavor has a good wheat malt base with clove and spice notes mixed with some citrus light, fruity/funky yeast (apple and pear notes) and mildly bitter hops. It finishes fairly dry with a touch of spicy hops over yeast notes. The palate is medium bodied with a solid texture and nice soft yet active carbonation.

Notes: This is a very tasty Witbier with a solid texture and deeply hazy appearance.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2009 23:49:17 | More by generallee

jvajda

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Two-finger head perched atop a dark yellow/light brown brew with big chunks of brown yeast dancing in carbination. A truly exceptional appearance.
Smell: Malty and fresh, this one made my mouth water.
Taste: Blissful! A healthy dose of malt begins this one, followed by light hops, wheat, orange peel, and coriander. The alcohol is non-existent. Talk about refreshing!
Mouthfeel: Well carbonated. The smooth maltiness blossoms in the mouth.
Drinkabilty: Super-refreshing and thirst quenching, this is the perfect warm-weather, everyday beer (if you can afford it).

Earthy and bold, yet still fresh and balanced, this witbier is near perfection in a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2004 04:17:15 | More by jvajda

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Foggy pastel lemon with a hint of orange. The crown looks great. It's bright white, a bit on the small side thanks to an uncharacteristically (for me) gentle pour and has a upper surface that looks like rough suede. Some lace shows up on the glass, although it isn't sticky enough to last.

The nose is tremendous and contains all of the requisite witbier scents: sunshine bright citrus zest, spicy coriander and wheat. The citrus smells at least as much like lemon as it does like orange. I especially enjoy the room-filling power of the aroma.

The flavor follows suit. This is one of the most aromatic and most fully-flavored witbiers that I've ever had. There's a beautiful balance between the untoasted wheat base (whose flavor contribution is as important as any of the other elements), the now more orangey fruitiness and the coriander. A Belgian yeast cloviness puts it into another flavor gear and, therefore, another league. Delicious.

The beer is noticeably sweeter than most other world-class witbiers, a characteristic that I actually prefer. There's isn't much of a hop presence, as the style dictates. Wits are all about the 'holy triumvirate' (wheat, fruit and spice). I'm glad the monks have paid attention to all three in equal measure.

The mouthfeel can only be described as fantastic. Never before have I tasted a wit with this much mouthfilling fluffiness. The beer expands beautifully in the mouth, a characteristic that I've found in only the very best beers (and wines). It's both full and buoyant, an intriguing sensory paradox that makes each mouthful an absolute treat.

St. Bernardus Witbier is my first Brouwerij St. Bernardus beer and it has impressed me to no end. It instantly jumps to the head of the class and is easily the equal, if not the superior, of Allagash's fine version. I love a good wit and I love the way this one excels in all the ways that matter most. Astoundingly good.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2006 14:22:17 | More by BuckeyeNation

blakesell

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served into a pint glass from 11.2oz bottle.

Appearance- A light pale yellow with huge rocky white head and much lacing present.

Smell- Very little, some yeast comes thru but the scent is very light. a smidge of pepper.

Taste- Light and effervescent, slight apple tartness comes thru. Hops and spice on the lips but not sticky afterward. A great summer's day beer. Corriander and some lemon also present in the finish.

Mouthfeel- Plenty of light body and carbonation. Leaves a freshness on the tounge like I just drank a breath mint. But the mint is beer flavoured!

Drinkability-I could drink this all day and still have wine with dinner.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2007 00:40:06 | More by blakesell

skeetermoses

Oklahoma

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Overall I am a sucker for a good Belgium beer this was a very pleasant beer. Considering I only had 5 sips out of it, I would definetly purchase more. This is a great beer to enjoy on a sailboat, on a sunday afternoon, while munching on white chedder and crackers. but that was how I enjoyed it anyway.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2007 08:33:48 | More by skeetermoses

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured with a beautiful large, frothy white head... diminished over time to 1/4-finger size. Nice lacing down the sides of the glass. Body is completely cloudy and opaque, and a beautiful yellow color.

S: Coriander and orange, of course, but hints of other sweetness as well. Not overpowering at all, like some wits tend to be with the spices.

T: Awesome flavor; everything you'd want from a wit, and more. The taste is mild with the orange and coriander being the central flavors, plus hints of lemon/lime. Slightly sweet and extremely refreshing... I could drink several of these without feeling any high acidity like some wits tend to overdo.

M: Medium-bodied and creamy, with average carbonation.

D: Definitely one of the best Belgian Wits I've had, if not THE best. The perfect example of its style, and what all other wits should strive to be.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2009 15:33:16 | More by berley31

Aethien

Netherlands

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is a nice pale yellow colour with a 1 finger white head that quickly disappears and leaves little lacing.
It smells like coriander, yeast and citrus, quite fruity and very refreshing. Already this beer is positively surprising me.
There's also plenty of wheat and citrus in the taste very little hops and the alcohol isn't noticeable at all. It's very well balanced.
The mouthfeel is just perfect, starts off crisp and with lots of carbonation and ends very smooth. I can't think of anything better than this.

This beer is absolutely amazing, totally blew me out of the water.
Definitely going to be my beer of choice for warm weather whenever I can get my hands on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 20:35:47 | More by Aethien

MadCat

New Jersey

4.61/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Cloudy pale straw color, with a thick, creamy, fluffy white head that sticks around for a while, and leaves beautiful lacing

Smell: Banana, wheat, cloves, citrus

Taste: Banana, wheat, cloves, coriander, finishes with lemony tartness

Mouthfeel: Medium body, feels almost creamy, but with good carbonation

Overall: An excellent Witbier, just wish it was cheaper and easier to find. It is great.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 01:19:30 | More by MadCat

trumick

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a murky golden color, with a nice one finger head and minimal lacing.

Scent is light sweet malts with pepper, light citrus and clove. Yeast is quite previlent also.

Taste is sweet initially, yeast, citrus, banana, finishes dry with a nice sweet citrus that that holds there for quite a while.

Mouthfeel is incredible, light, refreshing small bubbles that is almost creamy despite the carbination.

Drinkability is probably the best I have experienced. The scent and the flavor combine to make this beer one of the most drinkable beers I have ever had.

This is definately a top notch beer. I can't think of another wit that compares.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2004 03:25:15 | More by trumick

UncleFlip

Alabama

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice golden colour with a hint of orange. Rather hazy. Head is nice, thick white, mainly tight bubbles- but interspersed with some large loose ones.

Smell is light and a bit spicy, with strong fruity notes. Lots of banana, citrus, and mango.

As you take a sip, the fruityness and spiciness hit right away. The fruitiness has almost a Wrigley's Juicy Fruit quality for a bit, then seems to rotate into banana then orange.

Body is a bit fizzy- first on the front of the tongue, then in the top of the troat. Consistency is medium but not syrupy- just about exactly where it feels right.

This is a nicely drinkable beer which I enjoy immensely. There's just about nothing in it that I don't like.

Be well
-UF

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2005 06:22:38 | More by UncleFlip