Tokyo - Brouwerij St. Bernardus NV

womencantsail

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The pour is a lightly hazed golden yellow color with a huge white head. Really a great nose. Tons of sweet bread and biscuit malt, coriander, yeast, and banana. There’s some pear and apple along with a mild citrus peel aroma. The flavor is pleasantly sweet with a strong biscuit malt character. Good fruitiness of pear, apple, and particularly banana. There is a light citrus note and good spices, particularly coriander. Nice high carbonation to the beer, too.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 20:53:08 | More by womencantsail

DerekMorgan

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-12-2013 01:50:38 | More by DerekMorgan

jdawg80

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-10-2013 14:09:13 | More by jdawg80

Momar42

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-10-2013 01:35:28 | More by Momar42

Stugotzo

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-07-2013 21:27:40 | More by Stugotzo

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a teku)
Brewed Feb. 13/12
A- This beer has a hazy deep yellow body with a cobweb head that fades away but is supported by a sea of micro carbonation.

S- The delicate aroma of fresh rain ester and wheat dough has some classic dried citrus hints blended in the finish.

T- The slightly sweet club soda and soft wheat bread flavor has some nice citrus hints that turn more apricot in the aftertaste.

M- The light mouthfeel has a crisp fizz that complements the finish taste of the beer

O- This beer is delicate with nice wit flavors of wheat, esters and citrus, making it a great session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 16:39:51 | More by rhoadsrage

SStein

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-07-2013 08:38:45 | More by SStein

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

03-30-2013 22:13:58 | More by t0rin0

Sparky44

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

03-23-2013 22:40:40 | More by Sparky44

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle - $10.49 at Bullock's Wine & Spirits in Woodstock, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a delicately hazed, pale honey-hued body with a tall, white crown of suds. Little bits of lace on the way down.

Smell: Soft wheat aroma, lightly bready with mild notes of sliced apples, banana, fresh-cut flowers, lemon zest, and spicy yeastiness. Razor thin sliver of perfumy alcohol.

Taste: Honey-brushed, bready wheat malt and pils. Big gulp of apple juice. Then, light, likable tastes of florals, bruised banana, citrus, and spicy, peppery phenols run together making up the bulk of the flavor present. Modestly musky yeastiness, particularly on the later pours picking up the lees at the bottom. Drying, wheat-laced, smooth-yet-sudsy finish with just the tiniest amount of alcohol warmth.

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

Overall: Is there even any citrus peel and spice in here? Sure doesn't seem like it. Not that I minded, as I found it to be an exceedingly drinkable, quaffable beer wheat ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 23:23:59 | More by ChainGangGuy

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.2%

03-06-2013 02:43:36 | More by BostonHops

beergoot

Colorado

4.19/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Light gold body topped with a persistent, thick, chunky white head; lots of carbonation dancing through the body. Sweet-sour fruit-like aroma; citrus-y with lemon and nectarine notes. The taste is softly bread-y and sweet with hints of banana and light grain flavors (i.e., banana bread). The feel comes across soft, dry; overall light and smooth.

This is a nice, delicate yet complex tasting beer. Subtlety seems to be the best way to describe the overall character and feel of this beer. There is a superb balance throughout and does justice to the easy-going character of a wheat-styled beer. I hope this is available during the warmer months. I could enjoy this beer while reading some Bukowski poetry out on the back patio as a summer afternoon fades into a quiet evening...

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 02:13:51 | More by beergoot

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Semi-hazey copper and brass color mix. Just shy of two fingers of head. OK bubbling. Great lacing, nice and sticky.

Some chalky dry yet Spring-likefruit aromas. Toasted sweet crackers and a little roase petal and grass aromas.

Dry, gypsum palate. Fruity, nicely toasted malt bill. Very well balanced hop, yeast, and malt flavors. Crisp and refreshing snap to this palate. The hops keep the malts in a place that makes them just the right amount of sweetness. This is one of the most flavorful session wits in my opinion. What an awesome beer!! Highly reccommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 22:25:15 | More by scruffwhor

jwalter381

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

02-18-2013 06:54:18 | More by jwalter381

jsanford

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

02-12-2013 01:41:08 | More by jsanford

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Binny's, Glen Ellyn, IL
Date: Best by 08/24/2013
Glass: Tulip

An interesting take on the brewery's classic witbier recipe, focusing more on wheat malt and yeast-produced esters and phenols than fruit peels and spices. This is more of a Belgian take on a German hefeweizen than a witbier, and as I taste more of this, I'm reminded more of the former and less of the latter. Regardless of style, this was good, something I'd revisit again if it wasn't $13 per bottle.

Pours a tall, 3cm head of clean, white foam that is made up primarily of small bubbles. The small size of the bubbles renders the head quite dense-looking, very frothy. Retention of the foam is excellent, lasting many minutes in its decline to a 0.5cm cap atop the body of the beer, present throughout the entire session. Lacing is good, substantial, arranged in interesting patterns across the insides of the glass. The body is an orange color, hazy from suspended sediment, about 50% opaque. Light brings out golden orange-yellow hues. Carbonation is visible up the center of the glass, strong and substantial.

Aroma of baked winter squash, toffee, wheat malt, with modest coriander, banana bread, and cloves. Somewhat reminiscent of a German hefeweizen, definitely not a pure, classic Belgian Wit.

Taste is significantly maltier than the "normal" Bernardus version, with some toffee, apple cider, bread, and baked butternut squash flavors quite evident. Front of palate detects yeast, baked squash, wheat malt, banana bread, coriander. Mid-palate is yeasty, baked winter squash, wheat malt, apple cider, coriander, cloves, and banana bread. Back of palate finds sligt bitterness, continued malt sweetness, bread, banana, coriander, and cloves. Aftertaste is sweet from wheat malt base, with yeast, banana bread, and clove being representative.

Beer is medium-bodied, with medium to medium-low caronbation, leading to a smooth, slightly foamy, mouthfeel. Closes fairly dry, with little residual stickiness across the palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 21:29:35 | More by falloutsnow

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.06/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle poured into a nonic pint glass at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Pale amber color with a 3.5-finger bubbly, frothy, white head. Really nice retention and some patchy lacing. It has the slightest bit of haze and a good number of bubbles. After getting the bottom sediment in the glass, the beer is downright cloudy.

S – Grainy wheat malt, orange and lemon zest, and yeasty coriander and clove aromas. There may be the slightest hint of some bubblegum, as well.

T – It starts off sweet with grainy wheat malt and orange and lemon zest. Spicy and dry peppery and coriander yeast creeps in next, with a slightly tart citrusy taste bringing up the rear at the finish. There’s some earthy, almost herbal flavors reminiscent of tea that appear at the finish, as well.

S – Medium-bodied with great carbonation, a smooth and creamy yet crisp mouthfeel, and a slightly tart and dry finish. Citrusy tartness and yeasty dryness lingers on the tongue for a bit.

O – This is a good example of a witbier. It smells and tastes good, has a great mouthfeel, and is very drinkable and refreshing. I may prefer their original Witbier (even if my rating doesn’t reflect it), but they’re both really tasty beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 04:09:15 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Haybeerman

Colorado

4/5  rDev -2.2%

02-07-2013 21:20:59 | More by Haybeerman

eulerthegrape

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

02-03-2013 21:18:48 | More by eulerthegrape

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft at Kraftwork in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a hazy dark golden yellow color with a 1.5 finger, frothy white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring. Streaks of soapy lace left behind.

Slightly zesty aroma that's dominated by bready yeast and banana character.  There's some pepper, coriander and clove but the bubblegum, banana and bread notes overpower things a bit.  Decent citrus presence with lemon juice/rind but I wish it was a bit more prominent.  

Full bodied and more complex than expected.  Strong zesty spice presence up front with lots of ginger, pepper and coriander flavor.  This is countered by bready yeast, bubblegum and banana flavors.  Citrus acidity in the finish with strong lemon juice and lemon zest flavor.  Dry, slightly tart finish.  Very nicely balanced, refreshing and extremely quaffable.  Spice presence is really nice providing lots of zest to balance the yeast and citrus.  Seems like there's a strong ginger character but it's probably just coriander. Really crisp and refreshing and complimented nicely by the citrus acid. Bready yeast adds fullness to the body and banana flavors round things out.  Really nice example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2013 22:19:14 | More by corby112

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into a St. Bernardus Watou chalice (proper!). Poured yellow-orange with a one finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wheat, spice, earth, fruit, bread, banana, and subtle bubblegum. The flavor was of sweet malt, banana, fruit, spice, wheat, earth, bread, and bubblegum. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. I really enjoyed the drinkability of this brew due to it being light in flavor and light on the palate. It was rather refreshing and the hint of bubblegum on the followthrough was very interesting and inviting for each additional sip. I have yet to have anything bad by this brewery and based on past experiences, I doubt I ever will.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 11:59:48 | More by thagr81us

iKrystin

4/5  rDev -2.2%

01-13-2013 20:25:14 | More by iKrystin

mdaschaf

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a pretty golden color, slightly hazy with a foamy white head on top made up of lots of very fine bubbles. Great head retention lasting for the entire time it took to drink the beer. Pretty lacing streaking down the glass.

S: Light wheat and citrus, a bit of orange and orange zest. Underneath the citrus is some nice Belgian yeast and spice, a little bit of clove.

T: Lots of bright citrus upfront, more orange, similar to the aroma, as well as a bit of lemon zest. A great level of spice on the flavor profile, some clove, coriander, and a bit f white pepper.

M: Light to medium bodied with high carbonation, giving it a really nice mouthfeel. Easy drinking.

O: Surprise, a great beer from St. Bernardus!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 04:11:02 | More by mdaschaf

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

On tap at Rustico - Alexandria. Served in a sample snifter. Pours a somewhat-hazy very light straw color with a nice head and lacing. Great nose. Almost a lemongrass character. Good wheat presence. Light and crisp. Very dry and easy drinking. Not the typical wit. Heavily drinkable; I would buy a keg of this if it were available.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 12:35:17 | More by Thorpe429

GilGarp

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml corked bottle. Brewed in February 2012.

Served cold into a goblet, Tokyo is a very hazy golden yellow color with thick white head. The head continues to grow until it is much taller than the glass. As it settles, it leaves some nice lacing behind.

Aroma is distinctive and enjoyable with great yeast character and lemon undertones.

Flavor is excellent as well. It has the mild wheat malt flavor as a base but really showcases the Belgian yeast with great spice and citrus. It has nice depth and balance too which keeps it interesting.

Mouthfeel is light in body and heavily carbonated.

Overall a really well done Belgian wit. I really wish it wasn't a one-time only beer because this would be great on a warm summer day. Easy drinking but far more interesting than most American wheat beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 00:39:57 | More by GilGarp