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

clvand0

Kentucky

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

Pours a light yellow color and is very cloudy. Tall white head that stays around for a while and leaves some lacing on the glass. The aroma was very citrusy, with hints of yeast spiciness and clove. The yeast and wheat play a very large part in the flavor - gives it a thick and spicy feel. Lots of orange and lemon flavors. Very nice body. This is a little strange for a wit, but I really enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2004 19:58:12 | More by clvand0

Brent

Kentucky

3.28/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Very hazy, with an unusual appearance, a cross between orange and grapefruit juice. Something funky in the aroma that was a touch off-putting at first. Very much the classic spiced Belgian witbier, substantial yeast and spice flavors. According to the bottle, this is a wheat with seasonal spices - quite frankly I was a bit let down - not that there is anything wrong with the beer, just that I don't detect anything that particularly distinguishes this beer from the rest of the spiced wit pack. A nice-enough beer, but it seems a poor choice to tout as a winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2004 00:31:07 | More by Brent

winomark

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy yellow with a tiny bone white head. Lots of wheat and bananas all over the nose. Slightly sweet palate with spice, wheat and tropical tones on the palate. Light, but flavorful mouthfeel. Long, lingering finish. A pleasant beer. Bell always does a great job. Good to see this one bottled, finally. Try this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2004 04:44:58 | More by winomark

Sixpack595

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not sure how to categorize this beer. Murky yellow orange with very little head. Aroma is slightly fruity with a touch of spiciness sneaking past the heavy, earthy yeastiness. Sweet, peppery flavor with a lot of yeast evident. I see more of the yeast in this beer than the results of the yeast.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2004 08:06:02 | More by Sixpack595

Wildman

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a very cloudy yellow color and formed a small foamy snow white head that left trace lace as it subsided. A small but busy amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of hops, clove and yeast. A flavor of hops, clove with a slightly doughy aspect. The finish is sprite but a touch astrigent.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2004 01:21:11 | More by Wildman

99bottles

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Hmmm. Looks like a witbier, only darker. That means more yeast, more beast. Dark yellow urine color, head of white that disappears in a blink. Curious, but not appealing.

Smell: Yeast, yeast and more....yeah, well. Maybe some lemon or perhaps some clove, but mostly....YEAST.

Taste: Whew. This is thicker than any White ale I've ever tasted; even more thick than any hefe. This is chock full of cloudy bastard yeast and it's too much; for any season. Ok; I give it the clove and some faint lemon, a little pepper spice, and a real raw wheat taste. Like right off a thresher. Too rough, not sweet enough, and too much yeast.

Mouthfeel: Rich, cloudy, clumpy and creamy. Not really what I like in a wit. Too heavy for all purposes.

Drinkability: I asked just to make sure I didn't get the bottom of a keg. Nope, was the reply. No, in fact we tapped this yesterday. You might be the 2nd person to have tried it. I think they missed their season, and I really wasn't impressed with this. Maybe try a double white instead of this murky mess. My first lackluster Bell's.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2004 23:18:23 | More by 99bottles

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

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

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.6/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A very hazy beer with a thin white head when served from the tap. The aromas are of banana (dominant), and a dusty spiciness. Very banana tasting in the flavor as well, it dominates the flavor. Nice wheaty-grain character in the finish. This is certainly mislabeled as this beer is quite German in character and usually a white refers to a Belgian style of beer. Light tasting and refreshing, where I was expecting a "double" Wit style of beer brewed at winter warmer strengths. A good beer but a bit of a let down. I did not notice any of the sour character others seemed to have notice, perhaps their samples were infected.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2004 23:06:33 | More by Gueuzedude

granger10

Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured a cloudy orange color with a moderate white head. The smell was very lemony and slightly spicy. The taste reminded me distinctly of an overspiced Oberon. Citric flavors are dominant and a tarty finish is there. Lots, almost too much, coriander in the body. Light in body and mouthfeel this beer is simply decent and not one of Bell's best offerings. I think this was a bad batch of Oberon with a different name!

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2004 17:26:21 | More by granger10

Jables

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had on tap at the Esquire (I was confused, it's not a beer bar yet they had Bell's, this is outstanding)

Pours a bright and murky yellow with medium carbonation.

Aroma is banana and flowers with some spices in there as well.

Flavor is bananas and candy with some spicy notes threatening to breakinto the "main event" of the flavor so to speak. Unfortunately, the more I drink the more the sweetness just becomes too much.

Body is about a medium and is actually quite befitting the style.

Drinkability is hampered by the sheer sweetness of the is brew. In fact my buddy said it tasted like a "Blue Moon on a night on the town, ready to put out." I'm not quite sure what that means exactly but I think I agree.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2004 04:21:55 | More by Jables

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First impression is a pleasant lemony aroma. Pours a nice cloudy yellow under thin but long-lived white head. Malts are very light, nice wheat complement.is subdued for the style. A little grassy (and a tad gassy), dry, with a tingle of bitterness. The citrus taste remains prominent, though toward the end more estery fruitiness and spiciness make an appearance. Not overwhelmingly "Belgian,", but very drinkable, like a kölsch or even a lawnmower beer.

I had this at the sports bar in Marshall Field's in downtown Chicago, "InField's," and found it a pleasant surprise. Prices are interesting: $3.50 for 24 oz Gooses, $4.50 for micros on tap (Summit, Bell's, Sierra Nevada), and $5.50 for imports (just Guinness and Heineken). The macro-swill is only in bottles. Not a bad deal.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2004 17:52:13 | More by DrunkMcDermott

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another sample from Kclingers today.
This brew is a pale hazy yellow color, absolutely no head which surprises me. I expected big creamy white head but none to be found.
The aroma is fairly mild, but what I do get is lemony citrus scents and yeasty sweet smells.
The carbonation is mild and gentle and increases the drinkability of the beer.
Flavor comes through with a nice yeasty character, and also coriander strength. This brew is very easy to drink and has a fairly thin body. I am not sure why it is called a winter white as it seems like a typical wit beer to me. Nice brew that I would enjoy just as much on a hot summer day as in the winter.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2004 07:44:47 | More by sulldaddy

proc

Michigan

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

This is a very, good beer and a very drinkable version of the hefeweizen style of which it seems to be moreso than a Wit/White. Pours out to a pastel gold in the glass with a decent head. Aroma is that of spices, lemon and malt. The taste is superb, with just the right amount of banana, clove and coriander present, but not too much, as is the case with other beers of the style.

This is affectionately known as "Snow-beron", a takeoff on the summer beer, "Oberon". Is it better than Oberon? No, just different. Where Oberon has a fruitiness to it, this has the traditional wheat beer spice. Both are excellent. This needs to be bottled or else I am going to be spending too much time at the local Pub...

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2004 15:27:33 | More by proc

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a pint glass at Mad Mex in Scott Township. The color is a hazy golden, with a wispy white head. The smell is nicely spiced. The taste is a nice wheat, with a well-balanced amount of spicing not overkilling the beer. Mouthfeel is average. Drinkability-wise, could definitely have a few.

My first wi-fi review....quite nice to sit the laptop at the bar and write the review as I go. A nice wit, and definitely a treat to see the style in the midst of winter, even if it's not a warmer. Definitely one I'd have again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2004 19:24:12 | More by beergeek279

cokes

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Smudged brass under a milky bed of froth.
Nose of Bananas, with a steely hop or two poking out in the corners.
Very much a hefeweizen, flavorwise. The archetypical banana, vanilla, and clove are all present (and listed in order of magnitude). Some ginger tones manifest themselves as well. Turns breadier by midway, accented by a dusting of black pepper. Odd metallic twang late. Difficult to tell if it was originated from the yeast or the hops. And speaking of hops, it closes with a lightly bitter and woody, dried grass notation.
Medium bodied, texture-wise, but seems thin in flavor width and depth.
I didn't know much (anything) about this beer heading in. But it's clearly not a Wit, in a Belgo sense. It's doesn't seem like a typical Bell's offering either.
What it is, is a decent hefeweizen, and not much more.
Strange style for a winter seasonal.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2003 06:48:14 | More by cokes

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Whatever Vecenie's did for the Pittsburgh area it's amazing setting up the deal with Bell's to bring in their products was a huge step but now we're getting a taste of their winter white ale, wow thank you? Appearance: Cloudy peach golden with a nice chunky whtie head nice full sporadic layer of patched lacing. Aroma: Spiced up, banana an excellent Bell's wit. Taste: Slightly creamy sharp sweetness of malted wheat, creamy at first but then the coriander and zest of the peppery hops takes a nice turn toward oh yeah. Mouthfeel: Medium to light in body kinda beefed up Oberon ala winter white, pretty damn good I'm a fan. Drinkability: Awesome session all the way solid all around one of my favorite wits so far.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2003 01:13:30 | More by WVbeergeek

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy golden orange appearance. Actually, quite murky looking. A fair sized off white head sits on top and leaves sparse lace down the sides of the glass as I drink. Aromas of clove and banana, yeast and pepper hit my nostrils. The taste is quite nice. Very nice bavarian weizen profile. Some great banana and vanilla things happening. And more subtle tones of pepper and clove. Yeasty tones are quite nice and a little bready. When I tasted this tonight, I was hoping for a big ol weizenbock or something. I didn't know what style it was, but after tasting it, I was guessing German style Hefe. It has a great full body and a luscious mouthfeel. Very easy drinking and quite tasty. After one try, I'd have to say I prefer this to their Oberon "American Wheat" beer. I just think it has more character and depth. I'd like to see this one in bottles over the summer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2003 03:54:36 | More by Bighuge

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2-07-04
I've since had this one many more times, fresh off of a new keg, and found more to appreciate than before, and have raised my ratings from the original appraisal to reflect this new appreciation. No, it's not what I'd look for in a winter beer, but that's no reason to rate against what it is...which is a smooth, tasty wheat...here's the original, but I'd definitely recant the low opinion of the aroma...maybe it was the bar I was in at the time...also, banana is felt keener, as well...

Appearance: cloudy dull orange, opaque, with a solid, bone-white head, 1/2", long-lasting.
Aroma: on the mild side, yielding minor notes of spice and citrus, doesn't stand forward in the least, though, but nicely woven, nonetheless.
Taste: neat spiciness starts off on the palate, coriander, chiefly, with the citrus character continuing in the taste, though terribly muted compared to other wits. Compared to their own Oberon, which is a bright, juicy explosion of fruity/yeasty goodness, it's a mellow affair, with the finish, too, on the downlow, though it fades happily off the tongue. The citric twang on the palate is persistent and well-liked by this tongue.
Drinkability is quite good, but in the final summation, this Bell's fan would sooner reach for a TwoHearted or one of their spectacular stouts. I hope it appeals to others, as it's not a bad beer in the least. Just not great.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2003 02:52:43 | More by feloniousmonk

BitteBier

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, creamy yellow color with a light tinge of apricot orange. Topped off with a bit of fine and fleeting head. This was served way too cold, so I had to wait a bit for the nose to develop. The smell that emerged was pleasant but unremarkable--not inappropriate for this style. Clean grains and light floral scents. Taste was crisp with hints of banana and clove complementing the foundational grains. The mouthfeel was the most disappointing feature of this beer--unduly creamy and even milky. Still, this is a nicely drinkable beer but with the toned-down character that makes wits pleasant but uninteresting.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2003 15:33:51 | More by BitteBier

CRJMellor

Arkansas

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I was eagerly anticipating this beer and it looked great as it poured a nice golden yellow with crisp white head. Aroma was very pleasant had a slight malt profle but dominated by citrus and clove notes. Little banana, little orange maybe something else that I can't quite finger. Taste was not as strong or malty as I was anticipating and left a litte sour on the palate. To me they might have been better going all out and making a strong Hefe, as someone below suggested. I was a little confused by this one and not really sure what to think. Felt good in the mouth but not as "lively" as I would expect. My experience with Bell's suggests they will refine this over time but not the best from this great brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2003 03:00:27 | More by CRJMellor

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

ngandhi

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Draught bottled for private distribution. Thanks to Drew from The Corkscrew in Urbana, Ill. for this sample.

A bit cloudier than Oberon with better lacing and a thin, consistent sheet of head.

Bready, yeasty, sweet on the nose with some green citric rind . I just bottled my AG hefe attenuated with White Labs Hefe IV. This is comparable, but without the phenols of IV. Obviously, there's a wheat yeast aroma, but it's neutral in its hefeness (how's that for a new word!).

Though predominantly hefe rather than wit (Drew tells me the goal was, in fact, to make a hybrid of sorts), the orange rind makes a nice cameo and a welcomed encore in the aftertaste. The lemon, sage, caraway flavor we would expect from the coriander works extraordinarily well here. Crisp yet subtle hops; I don't know what they are, but it has the effect of Hallertau. While this beer might be lambasted for its lack of pronouncement in key wit flavors, I say it is only the awesome balance (and not some flaw) in this brew that would make one feel that way.

Bell's isn't bottling this for at least another year (fall 2004); they see it cutting into the Oberon market and confusing some drinkers -- too similar. Perhaps, but as Oberon is a good American Wheat beer, Winter White is a fine German weiss. Call it what you will -- wit or hefe -- but the fuller body and well-defined yeast and malt profiles seem to take it out of the realm of American Wheat and into a much more fulfilling category. A good brew I'd love to see more of that could only get better over the years as larger distribution would force them to define their flavors a bit more (a mass of drinkers is not one for subtleties). It doesn't exactly fit the Bell's profile, but is a welcomed change and a solid improvement from Oberon.

Relax, relax.
ng

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2003 23:42:15 | More by ngandhi

Sudmissle

Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +32.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is probably misnamed. I found it to be a direct competitor with the finest German wheat beers such as Paulaner and Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbiers. I was told the same thing as another reviewer about the Bell's folks being concerned it would compete to closely with Oberon. Oberon is a starter kit for people about a year away from sampling German-style wheat beers. This beer has the wonderful banana and yeast flavor of the best German Weissbiers and is the best American Microbrew version of this style I have sampled. I wish this was readily available in bottles!

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2003 02:31:49 | More by Sudmissle

Jon

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled from a limited bottle run. This beer will be available on draft only this coming fall and winter. Hazy straw color with a fizzy white head. Some sediment is present in the pour. Looks more like a hefeweizen than a wit. Nose is doughy with notes of clove, curacao, banana and a less-than-desirable egg aroma which could be attributed to the yeast. Banana, orange rind, a faint hint of coriander, graininess and an earthy hop finish characterize the flavor of this ale. I don't know if it's the yeast strain or what, but this is still quite reminiscent of Oberon. Drinks quite well overall, this will be nice to drink on draught... but I'd prefer it in the summertime.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2003 01:33:21 | More by Jon