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

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale yellow, cloudy beer with a one finger head that falls slowly to a thin band. Lacing is attractive, creamy, but not sticky. Nose on the milder side and has typical Wit spices like coriander and clove at the fore; lightly citrusy, with very faint bitter hops underneath.

The taste is a little more balanced between the elements, resulting in a delicious beer not dominated by the spices but blending well with lemony citrus and restrained grassy, bitter hops.

Good carbonation, body on the light side, with a soft mouthfeel and clean finish. Very nice example of the style, a little hoppier than usual. I preferred this to the more widely known Allagash White.

Edit: I've read that this beer is brewed without the addition of any spices. Not sure if that's true but if it is it's a testament to the artfulness of the brewer; there's a yeasty complexity that really imparts the clove and coriander seed flavor. Nice alternative to the more heavy handed spiced wits on the market.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 22:41:31 | More by tobelerone

ZAP

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

To me this has more Hefe characteristics than Whit characteristics but there are some of both...Pours a cloudy yellow....nice nose of swet bananas..also some ginger evident..is not as charged up as expected...more creamy... medium body..thicker than the typical hefe or whit...nice tasting brew...bananas..some bready characteristics....vanilla...some ginger on the long finish..has some spicy notes as well.

Seems to be a hybrid of some sort...very enjoyable though..not a BIG winter brew but worth a six-pack of enjoyment....no off flavors...

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2004 06:28:50 | More by ZAP

silenius

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from the Bell's General Store after TheLoneGunman's tour of the brewery. Thanks Dave!

Batch 6711.

Pours a murky yellow-orange with a light head that falls to a light skim. I made sure to add the yeast to this brew when drinking it. I like it that way.

Smell is wonderful! Yeasty bubblegum banana with a nice solidy bready-ness. Just excellent! Perhaps a light clove in the background with other spices? Or is that the yeast. I'm told by a very good source (one of the brewers) that this beer has no coriander in it at all despite all the reviews with that description! Good job on the smell!

Taste is a nice round soft doughy bready-ness with some light spices. Quite good.

Mouthfeel has a good smooth roundness.

Package this baby for summer and slap a special "Summer Sun Wheat" label on it and people will eat it up. Much better than Oberon.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2005 03:27:11 | More by silenius

Stoneman78

California

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired via trade from tangfoot (bonus beer!), poured into tulip.
A- Pours a very cloudy murky papaya color (has the appearance of juice), head is quite minimal and mostly dissipating, no lacing
S- Wheat, yeast, banana, lemony citrus, sweet bubblegum, touch of coriander and spice
T- Delicious bananas and cloves hit first giving the impression of sweet banana bread, then open up to lemon and bubblegum, finishes sweet and tangy
M- Medium-bodied, thick texture, ample carbonation dances on the tongue
D- Pleasantly surprising witbier with a nice amount of flavor and texture, the whole tasting experience is better than the sum of its parts, would love to try this against some other witbiers. . .

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 07:48:41 | More by Stoneman78

gdfan47

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: pours a clody/ orange color with a small foamy head
S: nothing at all like a typical winter beer! can def smell the corriander smells very inviting, as a good session beer shoud
T: just smooth,a little more going on on the tounge then lighter belgian whites
M: creamy and easy to drink
D: cant say enough about how great this beer is and the low abv makes it a great great session beer

if you like this one, def make sure you check out Elysian Bi Frost

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 08:37:12 | More by gdfan47

bamadog

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Review is from notes taken on 11/19/09. Poured from the bottle to a tulip.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, golden straw color; body is cloudy and shows some sediment and fairly slow bubbling carbonation; starts with a one finger white head that fades to a very thin and light scum in the center of the surface; no lacing is present.

Smell: Sweet and tart fruitiness (grape and pear) and a nice spiciness (corinader), a bit perfumey. Nice overall, and fairly potent.

Taste: Very nice, but I really don't feel that this screams "winter" to me... Much like the smell, the sweet and tart fruit falvors blend quite well with the coriander spiciness; a bit musty in the aftertaste, nice and smooth yeast presence as well.

Mouthfeel: Body is light, juicy and my mouth is left watering a bit; carbonation is strong and prickly; belly is left warm, which is kind of odd since the ABV is only 5%.

Drinkability: Nice and robust flavors; body is fairly light and doesn't sit heavily at all; the ABV is more than manageable. Nothing wrong here, and I could easily sit through several of these - a potential sessionable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2009 05:46:12 | More by bamadog

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Man bells is pretty awesome. I had their variety pack and didn't hate any of them so when I found an old winter ale I mixed and matched it in my sixer!

A - Hazy golden in color with a decent head. Hefeweizen?
S - Some banana, clove, and citrus sort of like a... Hefeweizen?
T - Sight bitters and citrus with a mild banana taste. decent
M - Light in fact too light for a winter ale.
D - I am not too sure. I like the porter or brown ale better but this one makes my bells top three (of five)

Overall I seem to wonder like everyone else why this is a winter ale? It's not a big beer or doesn't have any decent spice tones to it that makes it seasonal. I am so confused...

BTW it's 5 percent by volume not 4.5 someone should really keep track of the ABV...

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 05:59:51 | More by DrDemento456

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Bright, cloudy orange. Not a whole lot of foam, but the thickness gives this a nice wheat beer look.

Smell: Cloves and nutmeg, with a hint of citrus. A good amount of banana as well. Pretty standard witbier qualities here, but they are done right.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Strong bananas that get cut and balanced by the citrus. Spiced notes as well, especially nutmeg, cloves, and maybe a bit of cinnamon. Definitely very smooth.

Drinkability: Extremely well-balanced beer.

Overall: Well balanced and something that reminds me of a hefeweizen as well as a witbier.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 23:10:25 | More by tjsdomer2

elNopalero

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on Oberon day, 2012. Bottled at the end of 2011.
This poured a hazy golden-straw color. Thin, tight foam, almost champagne-like bubbling, along with a champagne-like effervescence on the palate.

It has a bouquet of estery aromas. I get some yeasty floral clove and banana and a touch of bubblegum even? It’s floral, floral, floral.

Flavor is more of the same. The clove and coriander spices dominate, but lightly so. Finishes well, with that aforementioned effervescence keeping it light.

I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of the style but this is a good one. Sure, I’ll have another.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 23:12:26 | More by elNopalero

Mavigo

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this at the Green Dot Stables in Detroit the other day, was served to me in a pint.

A: Is a cloudy, pale yellow color, had almost no head and very little lacing, few white streaks on the glass.

S: Smells quite sweet, though a very light aroma. Still, smells quite sweet, honey, wheat, grains, bread, yeast as well.

T: Very smooth, good flavor, sweet honey, wheat, grains, malts, yeast, with a hit of spices at the finish, along with a bit of hops

M: Medium carbonation, very crisp, very light, a deviation from the darker and higher ABV holiday beers that are floating around.

O: It was a good beer, very light, refreshing and sweet, good carbonation, very decent, could drink large quantities of this without getting bored.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 18:19:12 | More by Mavigo

ManekiNeko

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at a Bell's tasting at the Brickskeller.

Appearance: Cloudy lemon yellow, slight white head that left little bits of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell: Banana esters are quite prominent. Faint bubblegum aromas.

Taste: Peppery and medicinal, slightly clovey. Banana on aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Very light and crisp.

Drinkability: A hefe/wit hybrid. Smells like a hefe, tastes more like a wit. Uses both Belgian Trappist and hefe yeast strains in the fermenation (according to powerpoint slide from the head brewer). Quite drinkable, but I liked Oberon better. Still, an interesting idea for a winter beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2003 03:38:33 | More by ManekiNeko

orbitalr0x

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy bright yellow/orange with a small head that rolls down to a ring around the glass. Spotty lacing lies in its wake. Nice big yeasty wheat nose with notes of cloves and coriander. Big and inticing!

First sip brings a nice citric, yeasty wheat maltiness nuanced by spicy cloves, coriander, pepper and a bit of banana as well. Tasty and well balanced...this is a fine wit right here.

Mouthfeel is good with just enough body to roll over the palate smoothly..good carbonation. Drinkability here is very nice...easily sessionable. I personally think this would be better as a summer seasonal. As a side note...the label picture is beautiful..kudos to Bell's on another tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2005 03:08:09 | More by orbitalr0x

chiefydawg

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Came out a little more clear than I expected until I remembered the sediment packed at the bottom. Swirled and poured out the thick, nutrient-rich haze to make a translucent, straw-colored glass of beer. That sediment is in there tight. Wondering about the expiration date, especially being a Winter Ale. Deep head that dissipated quickly, and without as much lace as I expect.

Getting a yeasty banana clove scent like a many wheat beers, but with a sweeter scent. Not much hoppiness; but even for its apparent age it still smells somewhat fresh.

Tastes like a luxurious and well-made heffy. I would never put fruit in one of course, but especially not this. There is enough bite from the wheat and yeast, with nearly invisible hops, to weigh out the sweet lushness of the body of it. Really no conflict or aftertaste to this. Which brings up the alcohol snap. Not catching one, even towards the end. Either I am drinking it too fast, Bells hides it well, or it's unusually low for a Winter Ale. Still well done.

The mouthfeel, although I usually mix it in with the taste, deserves a special mention here. There is something plush and velvety about this that makes me want to sip and chew a couple just for the sake of enjoyment.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2008 02:01:57 | More by chiefydawg

WakeandBake

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

ON TAP .A creamy hazy orange color with loads of yeast swimming around,small white fluff head.Aroma is somewhat heffish,with some mild banana,cloves,orange zest,and grassy notes.Flavor is wheaty with loads of banana, bubblegum and and spice, maybe even pineapple. Very drinkable, refreshing after a long days work. Would make a solid summer brew too.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2008 23:10:15 | More by WakeandBake

Skidz

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 6584

Pours a cloudy light straw and sits even cloudier dull golden straw in the glass with a small white head.

Smells of wheat, bananas, orange, lemon and a touch of yeast. Full aroma really draws you in.

Tastes big and wheaty up front, you can just taste the grains. Orange peel and light hints of lemon come in and make up the majority of additional flavors; banana flavor is minimal, like dried banana slices if anything. Nice light, mildly bitter finish with good yeasty character.

Nice smooth and creamy feel with easy carbonation and an even nicer body. Keeps it real and makes me want to let it massage my mouth all night. Tasty brew all the way.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2004 21:50:15 | More by Skidz

Mitchster

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours out to a milky pale golden with orange accents, forming a modest rocky white head with average retention and fair lacing. Carbonation is mild to moderate. Aroma is punctuated by mild orange peel, bready yeast and coriander...very distant banana and cloves if one concentrates very, very hard. Mouthfeel starts kinda zippy with a medium body and a semi-tart wet finish. Taste begins with mild wit yeast funk with a slight cheesiness, coriander, orange peel appears in the middle, and lingering notes of cloves and light bananas are suggested in the finish. The bitterness is right in balance and rather mild, letting the yeast flex it's muscle. Lemony bitterness is predominant in the finish compared to most other wits. Slight metallic off-note and "macro wheat" peeks through in the middle. No other off-flavors and alcohol is imperceptable.

This is an interesting hybrid between a hefe-weizen and a wit. I think this brew is actually much better out of the bottle than it was the few times I've had it on tap. If I couldn't find Holy Moses or Celis White, this may be an acceptable alternative.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2004 00:01:58 | More by Mitchster

NCSUdo

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle, batch 8250

A: Pours a hazy pale yellow/straw under a fizzy small white head that dissipates quickly, with no lace.

S: Coriander and bubble gum up front, with some citrus behind. Eventually gives way to a very nice wheat character.

T: Bubble gum up front, wheat is very apparent, a little yeast, some subtle hints of citrus and a peppery quality in the finish. Very nice taste.

M/D: Nice light body, carbonation is high but seems right for the beer, very crisp and refreshing. At 4.5%, refreshing, really no off qualities aside from a lackluster appearance, this one is highly drinkable and highly reccomended.

Are there better, more complex wits out there? Absolutely. But this one is very very solid. My opinion, stock up near March and enjoy during the summer months as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2008 01:46:23 | More by NCSUdo

civilizedpsycho

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured bottle into mug.

Appearance: Pale golden color with a cloudy appearance. I had no head on mine.

Smell: Strong wheat malt and yeast aroma with maybe a hint of banana in the background.

Taste: Very sweet and refreshing. Quite smooth.

Mouthfeel: This beer had a pretty good body. I found it to be pretty full considering it wasn't a Stout or Porter.

Drinkability: Loved this beer. Could have it over and over again.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 03:47:17 | More by civilizedpsycho

turnstile

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Bright yellow-golden color. Cloudy from a huge yeast content that was stirred up and poured on top. Thin off-white head which sticks around after the initial pour. Some light carbonation noticeable. The head slowly dissipates with no lacing.

Smell: Spices - coriander/cloves. A pleasant wheat and biscuity yeast aroma with a faint hint of lemon.

Taste: Nice and crisp as I would expect in a witbier. The spices dominate, the wheat up front with a slight lingering citrus bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel: Medium-heavy, smooth body with mild carbonation that gives it a nice bite.

Drinkability: It's a great winter selection. The heavier body certainly distinguishes it from its summer counterparts. Would love to have another.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 00:03:04 | More by turnstile

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: This was a hazy golden straw color. It was served to me with a small, frothy cap.

s: I feared that was going yo be heavily spiced with "seasonal" crap like nutmeg. I needn't have worried. I smelled fresh, prickly wheat, zesty citrus, and hints of corriander.

t: A refreshing blend of fesh citrus, twang-y wheat, and peppery bite at the end.

m: Crisp with prickly carbonation.

o: There are a hell of a lot more bad wits than good ones in this country imo. This was one of the latter.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2011 20:50:21 | More by DIM

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Bell's imperial pint.
5% ABV, 11509 PKGD 09/27/12

A - Poured, swirled in sediment, and topped off the pint, White Winter Ale is a gorgeous, totally cloudy deep straw yellow color that's crowned by a short-lived white head. The frothy foam sinks to a skim without much of a trace.

S - Crisp as the cold winter air, this beer's aroma has a fresh appeal that's reminiscent of a clean snowfall in the woods. Soft wheat and grainy pale malt support the beer's zesty spice nose which offers faint banana esters, white clay, pepper, coriander, and citrus peel. Aromatic and inviting!

T - Balance is at the forefront of the flavor, reeling the spiciness back and offsetting it with a kiss of sweet pilsner malt alongside the soft wheat and pale base. Banana still seems open in spice though, lightly overshadowing the clay, coriander, and citrus zest.

M - Carbonation cuts through the wheat's smooth, soft feel for a sharp tingle which lasts through the light-bodied beer's body to it's dry and crisp finish.

O - Bell's Winter White might not be a hearty, rich, high alcohol brew loaded with holiday spice, but this classic features just enough heft and yeast profile to provide a witbier unlike it's summer counterparts. When you're looking for an escape from the bold and strong beers of the season, look no further.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 00:17:51 | More by BeerFMAndy

Sconnie

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pale in color, with a light haze. Very little head. Smells more like a hefeweizen than a witbeer, with banana and clove overtones sticking out. A tasty beer, crisp and smooth with banana and clove like the smell, and some light malty sweetness. Not a lot of hop flavor. Nicely drinkable; wouldn't mind kicking a few of these back in front of the fire on a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2007 03:23:34 | More by Sconnie

dogger6253

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours out into my glass a hazy, light-yellow color, very pale yellow. Almost looks like grapefruit juice. Think, white head dissipates extremely fast leaving almost nothing behind. Some floaties pour out as well.

Aroma strongly consists of bananas and a yeasty wheat. Some floral scents are hidden inside along with hints of spice.

Strong wheat taste in the foreground, followed by cloves and lemons. Bit of a banana taste, but not as much as I'd expected. There is more of a peppery bite at the end as well.

Mouthfeel is sort of dry and bread-like, pretty refreshing despite low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2007 06:32:03 | More by dogger6253

praufs01

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Milky orange yellow color with a frothy white head.

Aroma - Banana, orange zest, and lemon

Mouthfeel - Fizzy small bubble carbonation.

Taste - Light orange and lemon flavor with a hint of banana in the background.

Overall - This is a great looking beer. It looks just like an orange creamsickle that has been melted in a glass. The flavors are great although the orange, lemon, and banana are little subdued. If the banana and Orange flavors were a little stronger this brew would be euphoric.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 21:31:32 | More by praufs01

TheKingofWichita

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours an extraordinarily hazy yellow orange color with a thick white head that sticks around awhile. Smells of oranges and spices probably from the yeast. Tastes of clove, oranges, and other spicy yeast and plenty of that awesome wheat flavor. Mouthfeel is thick and carbonation is heavy. Drinkability is above average.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 21:07:37 | More by TheKingofWichita