Bell's Winter White Ale - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

jsh420

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

batch 9395

pours cloudy yellow orange with a 1 finger white head that fades fast

smells of wheat banana and some notes of cereal grains

taste - wow this beer should be brewed year round instead of oberon - lemon/orange citrus upfront followed by banana and a good amount of hop bite on the finish - only thing i find lacking is what makes this a wit over just a great american wheat

mouthfeel was a little flat - very smooth - light/medium body

drinkability - this beer is a good change of pace from the stouts i drink in the winter

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 02:18:50 | More by jsh420

stewart124

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy yellowish-orange with no head to write about.

Huge wafts of citrus and corriander in the nose.

The taste is sharp and has plenty of citrus to go along with the spicy notes. The mouthfeel is bigger than I anticipated.

Plenty of citrus and spice left on the tongue and loads of refreshment.

I look forward to this winter seasonal every winter because it is a change to the status quo.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2010 01:54:05 | More by stewart124

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter at fridge temperature.

L – Hazy pale gold color with a 1-finger bubbly white head. Decent retention and some patchy lacing. I’ve had this one before and the head characteristics were much better. I must’ve poured it too cold.

S – Grainy wheat, coriander, orange zest, and a healthy dose of banana and clove aromas. I’m actually a bit surprised by the latter aromas as this is a witbier and not a hefeweizen but I’m not complaining.

T – Sweet grainy wheat and banana, progressing to slightly tart orange zest, and finishing with spicy clove and coriander yeast notes. Really tasty.

F – Light-to-medium-bodied with good carbonation, a creamy but crisp and refreshing mouthfeel, and a slightly sweet and spicy finish.

O – This is another tasty and drinkable beer from Bell’s. I like all these refreshing wheat beers serving as winter seasonals. There are plenty of big and hearty beers out there during the cold months. These are a nice change of pace and make me think of warmer weather – never a bad thing.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 04:13:56 | More by BlackBelt5112203

jopl

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a standard pint glass and enjoyed alongside a garlic olive oil pasta.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden yellow with a finger of white head that leaves a bit of splotchy lacing.

Smell: Strong fruity (mostly banana) smell alongside wheat & hops.

Taste: Initial fruity taste that turns into a yeasty wheat finish. Very sweet and goes especially well with the pasta.

Mouthfeel: Well carbonated, bubbly beer that is easy drinking and finishes well.

Drinkability: This is a pretty easy drinking beer. It doesn't have a high alcohol content so I could probably drink a couple of these. The sweet taste can be a bit of a turn off though.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2006 04:10:31 | More by jopl

Jaynuze

District of Columbia

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful cloudy/oily orange with a thick white head that leaves a beautiful Belgian lace behind.

The nose was a bit weak, but then again it is a Belgian White, so not much of a nose was expected. All the usual suspects were there, banana, bubblegum, banana nut bread, etc.

This beer tastes great! A wonderful tip of the hat to the Belgians. Not much of a winter style (spices), then again the corriander does lend a nice zip to the beer!

Carbonation is really nice with this one ... the MF is very thick and bready, yet light. Finishes really smoothly.

Very easy to drink. Thank goodness I only had one from a friend ... otherwise I could have easily plowed through a twelver on my own. It's that tasty. Thank you Mr. Larry Bell!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2007 19:03:28 | More by Jaynuze

letsgopens

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

My third witbier this week. This guy pours a cloudy yellow gold with a very light head that recedes quickly and leaves virtually no lace.

The aroma is thick and of yeasty wheat. Some banana and a decent level of maltiness.

Flavor wise there is a strong sense of briney grain-wheat with some more banana and a finishing spice. There is a hint of spice in the mostly floral finish.

Smooth with some texture. A starchy thickness. A bit of tight carbonation throughout. A bit disappointing due to the fact that I absolutely love virtually every other beer Bell's makes.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2007 23:24:29 | More by letsgopens

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Most winter ale's are full of dark malt and sweet caramel and I really enjoy them. This is Bell's take made with wheat. It's a dark hazy yellow color with a decent cap of foam.

The nose is bready, yeasty and laden with earthy hops. This is a full bodied brew with cracker and yeasty bread-like malt. The wheat nicely contributes to the winter appropriate body of this brew. The beer slithers along the palate leading to a touch of spice at the end.

I really enjoyed this brew and bell's different take on a winter ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 00:12:27 | More by BeardedBoffin

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Poured into a pint glass from a 12oz. bottle as pictured.

A: Cloudy, golden-yellow color with a thin white film and minimal lacing.

S: Typical grainy, wheat smells with a mild malty sweetness. Lemony, lemony and some spiciness.

T&M: Smooth citrus. Lemon-orange with mild malt sweetness that fades to a slightly bitter tanginess on the finish. Light bodied.

Decent Witbier. Nice and drinkable. Typical great quality from Bell's. Worth trying, especially if you enjoy the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 23:28:52 | More by cdizinno

aepb1

Florida

4.03/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Yellow-orange hazy body with a thin white head

S- Thick wheat/yeast smell and some coriander

T- Yeast, citrus, coriander in that order

M- Medium-bodied, a good level of carbonation making it creamy

D- Very fun beer and easy to drink. A good example of the style and I am glad I grabbed a sixer

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 17:06:17 | More by aepb1

ken3c

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice big head but it tapers down to virtually nothing. Hazy gold.

Spicy, orange, bread aromas. Very pleasant.

First taste is a little harsh but further sips are nice and spicy with a rather abrupt finish.

Very carbonated, almost too much. It affects the taste. Light to medium body.

Quite refreshing and tasty. I'll have plenty more.

A little darker, spicier, hopier, and bubblier than most Wits.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2004 04:28:51 | More by ken3c

rajendra82

Georgia

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A curious choice of style for this season, especially from a brewery in frigid Michigan. The Winter Wile Ale poured with a delicately pale straw colored, cloudy, fizzy body. The head was thinner than a Barbie doll suffering from anorexia, and did not stick around too long. The aroma was nicely estery with the appropriately anticipated banana, lemon, and clove flavors. Taste was creamy, tangy, and spicy with a fuller mouthfeel than the looks suggest. Very easy to drink with a low ABV, this is a very nice Witbier on its own merit, and quite a departure from the other winter seasonals that are around.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2004 04:30:39 | More by rajendra82

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy, wheat beer like yellow gold with a nice head of white froth. Aromas of wheat, coriander, lemon, orange, and your typical wit-like aromas. Taste is simple, one-dimensional and totally wheaty wit. Orange peel, wheat, a nice yeastiness, and citrus fruits. Mouthfeel is creamy and nce and the drinkability is good as well. A 4 star wit from bell's brewing.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2005 00:46:52 | More by francisweizen

maxpower

Missouri

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy and hazy bright yellow-orange color, spicy, earthy citrus aromas, nice white frothy head that lasts and leaves some lacing in my glass.. Fresh tart citrus and mild spice flavors, crisp carbonated mouthfeel, finishes a bit sour, a very refreshing and drinkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2005 01:30:11 | More by maxpower

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip-style glass. It pours a slightly hazy light orange color with one finger of head. There's a bit of lacing. The smell is very light. The only thing detectable is just a hint of citrusy aroma. The taste, however, has plenty of flavor. It's nice and malty, just ever so slightly sweet. Wheat and biscuit malts are present. There's a nice refreshing lemon flavor as well, and even a hint of spice. The mouthfeel is fairly thick and smooth. The drinkability is very nice. A decent witbier.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2005 00:12:18 | More by SheepNutz

objectivemonkey

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful, light golden color, no head. Cloudy, served chilly and let to warm. Smells of wheat, light fruits, perhaps banana, and apricot. Citris smells. Plenty of flavor, it reminds me of Hoegaarden, only I like it better. Wheaty and citris dominates, with clove and peppery hints. Really good balance. This is a very drinkable beer, despite my so so ratings. Was hoping for a little more, but another great offering from Bell's

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2005 03:02:14 | More by objectivemonkey

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle. Bell's Winter Ale pours out a pale yellow color with a foamy, white head. The aroma is very spicy, with pepper and coriander with a wheat base. Clean malt flavor with wheat and spices. Some citrus flavors, mainly orange peel. Finishes with grassy hops. Crisp and moderately refreshing. Mouthfeel is slightly creamy. This is not what I expected for a Winter seasonal, but there's no reason to hold that against the beer. Tasty and easy to drink. Another quality Bell's beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2006 21:42:03 | More by beveragecaptain

mattcrill

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 7195. Thanks to Dogbrick for the sample.

Aroma: An inviting blend of orange zest and spicy notes (pepper and coriander) that play together nicely. A definite floral and slight yeasty aroma.

Appearance: A slightly cloudy straw gold color. A fluffy white head develops. Visible carbonation noted throughout the body.

Flavor: Orange peel bitterness is noted up front. The bitterness fades and lends itself to a pleasant peppery spice and slight wheat notes. Definitely crisp and slightly tart.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with high carbonation. Finishes dry and a touch bitter.

Overall impression: Refreshing and enjoyable. Nothing to bring me back but a nice change from the ordinary. A nice witbier.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2006 18:49:40 | More by mattcrill

ndekke39

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank this from a bottle in batch 7735, packaged on November 27, 2006. Pours a hazy tawny orange. Smells of wheat, yeast, and citrus: orange and lemon. Taste begins with mainly the yeast, continues into the citrus flavors - orange and lemon again, especially the orange - and ends with a light touch of the sour citrus. Flavors travel well. Very light, fizzy mouthfeel. Overall, a very good wheat beer. I'm usually not a fan of the style, but this one makes me like it. A nice, clean ale that seems appropriate for the winter.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2007 03:19:24 | More by ndekke39

CreamAleDrinker

New York

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A delicious hefeweizen crossed with belgian yeast, I typically do not like american hefeweizens (perhaps I haven't tried enough) but this one was a pleasant surprise with the scent of clove and banana nut bread, starts off sweet in the mouth with a hint of mild bitterness after swallowing, delicious. What a great twist to use belgian yeast yet not over doing the flavor keeping the delicate balance and mouth-feel that a good hefeweizen should have...

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2008 14:51:59 | More by CreamAleDrinker

montageman

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

Pours a clear, pale bright yellow with a quickly dissipating head. Smell is citrusy with hints of bread and banana. Taste is heavy on the bread with some lemon, spice, and the slightest touch of banana. Mouthfeel is fine - crisp and moderate. A tasty winter ale - a nice change of pace from all of the heavy stouts I usually drink during the cold months. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2008 22:38:17 | More by montageman

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a tulip glass:

A: Poured a very nice hazy orange color with a light white head that dissipated quickly.

S: The aroma was also good, it had a nice wheat/cirtus/banana aroma to it. Well blended.

T: Taste was very good. Mainly wheat and banana, just what you would expect from a Belgian style wit.

M/D: Think body, good carbonation level and highly drinkable. Not sure why this is a winter beer as it seems perfect for summer, but overall a very good beer and one that I will definately be picking up again.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2008 20:42:17 | More by PhillyStyle

danielharper

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Slightly hazy but bright yellow body, thin white head. Some effervescence in the glass, moderate carbonation, overall very much to be expected for the style.

Smell: Sweet, spicy. A lot of yeast present in the nose, smells a bit subdued for a witbier, more like an American Wheat. No hops or malt present in the nose. Overall, it's pretty nice.

Taste: Very sweet up-front, hints of the spices that make this a witbier, but to me they're fairly unidentifiable. No hops or malts present in the flavor, finishes clean but with a bit of a sweet aftertaste. Overall a pretty nice witbier for my taste, as I'm not always a big fan of the ones that have the spices way up front.

Mouthfeel: Just a notch above thin, leaves a bit of a coating on the palate. Not unpleasant, pretty much on-point for the style.

Drinkability: I like this beer a lot more than I thought I would. It's very drinkable, so much so that I could consider buying a whole sixer of these. Possibly my favorite wit, something I wouldn't have expected from an American-made beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2008 00:55:32 | More by danielharper

maltusaurelius

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Let me preface this review by stating that despite the current craze for Belgian beer I have not had many Belgian witbeers, so this is my first official tasting of this style.

Poured from a brown Bells bottle into a beer mug (I don't have the appropriate glassware at home).

Poured a bright, cloudy yellow with a fluffy two fingered head that dissipates quickly to leave minimal lacing.

Coriander and cloves and sweet wheat malts are present on the nose. Taste is the same - somewhat sweet, as is typical of other Wits I have had, with a clove and coriander spiciness. A slightly bitter hop finish rounds out the taste.

This beer has a lively, somewhat prickly mouthfeel.

This is definitely on the sweet side, which I think is typical for the style, but the sweetness is not overbearing. A tasty beer fairly typical for the style. I could definitely have more than one.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 00:53:48 | More by maltusaurelius

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I witbier in winter, slightly odd, but ok im in. I always pick up one of these a year and since we just got 2 feet of white stuff in PA, this seems fitting. Nice label.

Faded yellow haystack before the dregs, tangerine/orange with yellow after the cargo plunges into the sea. I prefer the latter. A medium build of loose cream colored foam reaches more than a inch but leaves no lacing.

Smells leap out in true wit form with a shot of coriander, some strong yeast, a orange slice and some outside harvest scents. I like the minimal clove action. Simple and deep.

Tangerine and oranges with a nice yeast component giving off a bready aftertaste. Before that is the predictable coriander and other spices. Get some banana with warming and some lemon drops. I like how this is citrus forward rather than relying on the spices which are there but kind of under utilized.

The feel is there and light with low but nicely leveled carb. Goes down smooth and all to easy. A bit of a grainy and hayish aftertaste. Im not a big wit guy but I would not mind having a few anytime of year. I like how this comes out in winter keeping away from the onslaught of wit's in summertime, I just wish they made another batch for the summer with a nice summer themed label.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 00:02:51 | More by onix1agr

irish

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

When reviewing a wit, you almost have to say "for the style", because it is above all a subtle style. Other reviewers seem to penalize it for being true to style. But I think you have to take the style as a given.

It pours plainly without a lot of fuss or head, and settles into a very clear pale liquid.

Modest nose. It sips easily, with a moderate bitterness afterward, but subtle. Here's a beer that really IS "less filling" and "tastes great. It could easily qualify as a session beer.

As long as I am mentioning that horrid ad's phrase, I should reiterate that this beer falls heavily on the "less filling" side, although it really DOES taste great. A nice change from other monstrous, super-hopped and -alcoholic winter beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2010 00:04:19 | More by irish