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

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.25/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My next door neighbor gave me an entire 6/pk of this stuff as a Christmas present.

A: When I think winter, I don't exactly consider Witbier, but I'll bite anyway: Poured a grainy, murky orange, with a slight head that basically withered away to nothing.

S: Banana and coriander spice beer on the nose, with maybe a hint of freshly filtered H2O. This wasn't too potent, but still was pleasant.

T: What happened here? While this wasn't terrible, it was one of the more bland Wits that I've had in ages. I got a fair bit of fruity, coriandery, spicy slurp on the front end, but there was absolutely no explosive late aftertaste of flavors to make this one worth coming back to.

M: A bit thin and infinitely forgettable, with a bit of slight carbonation which I guess was fine, and not much lacing at all.

O: 6pk = Register checkout: house beer, $1 even. Meh...

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 23:48:08 | More by Chaney

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Stopped 3/4 of the way through the pour to agitate. Got a finger of white head that dissipated in less than a minute. The body is a yellow gold color with a lot of suspended sediment observed. No lacing seen throughout consumption.

Yeast and wheat are the main nose staples in this style, and this beer stays true to that. The faint aromas of banana, some mild citrus and spices with clove being a big feature are also noted.

Yeast and wheat bread goodness. I don't even like real wheat bread, but I love the taste in my beer. A mild citrus offsets the banana flavor and clove, coriander and other spice make a nice medley that finishes this beer off.

Mouthfeel is light on this beer, carbonation isn't over the top either. Technically it would be chuggable, but then you wouldn't be enjoying it, would you?

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 19:12:49 | More by CFHMagnet

adman08

Wisconsin

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

A-Pours a very cloudy, pale straw color with a moderate amount of white head that leaves a thin layer of foam on the surface of the beer.
S-Aroma of slightly sweet spices like coriander. Slightly butterscotch belgian yeast aroma.
T-Fairly spicy, not spicy hot but spicy as in baking spices. Some sweet spice flavor like coriander. Obvious flavor of wheat.
M-Fairly light bodied but that's to be expected for the style. Slight spice warmth, decent carbonation.
Overall, a very good version of the style. Slight wheat body, slight spice flavors and fairly light bodied.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 19:30:26 | More by adman08

barleyroad

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -24%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cloudy gold in appearance. Smell is to much like your typical Witbier. Mouthfeel is standard for this syle of beer. Falls short for a winter style beer. Taste, the spices stick in the mouth, this takes away from the desirability. Overall this beer is way to typical and the spices take away from this beer. Not our cup of brew. Drinkable, just not something we prefer.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 00:23:03 | More by barleyroad

MelissaJ

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle to conical pint glass
A: Pours a light cloudy yellow with a thin white head that quickly dissipates

S: Lemons, spices, wheat

T: Strong citrus and wheat taste followed by lemon and spice (coriander?) notes

M: thick body, light carbonation

O: awesome drink-ability, but not very interesting, pretty basic. Definitely a spicy/winter drink. It's nice, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 00:14:03 | More by MelissaJ

McNealc31

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Don’t expect this to be a big, spicy winter warmer, it’s more to get you through the cold times and see that spring is not far away. Hazy gold with a fluffy white head and endless carbonation. You’ll notice the familiar banana, clove, coriander, and citrus flavors shining through. Exceptionally light and creamy, and at just 5% ABV, it’s a very tasty session ale.

It doesn’t particularly stand out from other Belgian Whites, but it’s a solid brew from Bell’s.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 03:34:17 | More by McNealc31

chinchill

South Carolina

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

2 Nov. 2011 bottling, served in a pint glass.

Golden-yellow color with thin, and short-lived, white head. Cloudy. Looks like a typical wheat beer rather a typical "winter ale", but then this is a "Winter White" and is a witbier.

Aroma -- Wheaty and yeasty with hints of citrus and apricots.

Taste -- Largely follows aroma: Wheaty and yeasty with hints of citrus, bananas, nutmeg, cloves and apricots. Lightly tart.

O -- a fine example of the style, with only a slight departure from normal witbier prep. -- without the packaging, I would not have noticed this one is "seasonally nuanced". A winter ale for the tropics, perhaps.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 19:52:23 | More by chinchill

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.38/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle thanks to rhong187.
Batch 10766 Bottled 11/01/11

A - Pours a very cloudy, pale yellow with a thin off-white head that fades quickly.

S - Wheat, slightly citrus, lemons mostly.

T - Lemons and wheat.

D - Lower carbonation with a heavier body.

O - Nice flavors, nothing that wowed me. Almost like a hef.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 04:26:45 | More by HuskyinPDX

maxk

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served chilled in a BrewDog tulip. Bottled 10/17/11.

Pours a hazy, bright orange color. A tiny bit of fizzy head which settles down to nothing in moments. Absolutely no lacing.

Very subdued aroma, I put my nose over the tulip and keep sniffing but its smell still isn't so pronounced. There are little bits of coriander and orange underneath a bit of wheat

There's lots of wheat flavor in here with a nice amount of coriander spice. There are nice citrus hints, including a good orange sweetness. The mouthfeel on this one is a little lackluster, it's a bit thin and undercarbonated.

I suspect that this batch is a little old which is why it's a bit underflavors and doesn't live up to expectations of some other witbiers. It almost tastes like it's been watered down. Still definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 22:30:34 | More by maxk

warnerry

Michigan

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

A - Pours a cloudy straw color with two fingers of quickly dissipating head.

S - Aromas of coriander and a small amount of citrus.

T - Tastes of wheat, some faint citrus hops and spices, mostly coriander. Flavors balance well. They aren't too exciting, but not bad.

M - Pretty light mouthfeel, but I guess appropriate for the style.

O - A pretty easy drinking, if not particularly interesting, wheat.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 22:26:07 | More by warnerry

gotweid

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a lottle to a pilsner glass. Very cludy pale yellow in apprearance with a small white head that fades. Grassy aroma. Taste is grassy with wheat and hint of citrus. This tastes like a thin Hefeweizen. Strong carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel, tasty and overall a pleasant beer to drink, just don't expect a punch.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 20:54:43 | More by gotweid

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: A translucent yellow with a minimal-to-no head.

Smell: Aroma is typical for a Witbier. Grainy with a touch of fresh sweetness.

Taste: Wow! Totally unexpected vibrancy here - bright banana flavor followed spices and a crisp snap of hops towards the end.

Mouthfeel: Coats the mouth nicely and is very refreshing. A bit of a dry finish which is in contrast to the more 'juicy' initial feel.

Overall: Although the first impression is not great going by the appearance and aroma, it's one of the better Witbiers I have experienced. Well done once again, Bell's!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 02:04:54 | More by Neorebel

ProducerBRBeer

Arizona

3.78/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a Belgian white style like a milky lemon juice. A big bubble white head with a very slippery lace. The color is pale yellow and murky to see through.

S - Smells like a belgian. Malty with a fruity smell, like cantaloupe or apricot.

T - Very nice banana fruity flavor. Subtle hop taste but mostly banana from the flavors. Very nice finish and hardly an after taste.

m - creamy and smooth. very nice and elegant. the carbonation is light but perfect for the malty style.

O - A great Belgian white that leaves me satisfied. Out of all the seasonal beers this year I could definitely say I really enjoy this one. Usually when I think Belgian white beer I do not associate it with winter.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 06:48:18 | More by ProducerBRBeer

aubuc1

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

bottle dated 11/9/11 poured into a glass

Pours a hazy light yellow with a head thinning head.

Classic smell of bubble gum, bananas and spices.

Taste is wheaty, balanced witbier. No metallic and very refreshing.

Mouthfeel is a little thin, but not bad.

Overall this is a very good witbeer. it doesn't try to be too much, just as advertised. Nice job bell's.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 23:34:05 | More by aubuc1

birderbeerer

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Very light, nearly translucent. Pours a nice head.

Great sweetness and spice in the aroma with a little yeast. Very rich.

Taste is also rich. Loads of flavor, mostly spice, sweet and light with a bit of yeast.

Pretty thin for my tastes, but it's still good flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 23:30:38 | More by birderbeerer

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

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

3.85/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is a cloudy gold color. The modest head fades pretty quickly, with no lacing left behind. The scents and taste are very much like a hefeweizen - banana and clove come through strongly in both, and there is a slight lemony note as well. Nothing outstanding going on, just a good solid wheat beer. Bell's ought to sell this year round as a hefe. I'd put it about on par with Sierra Nevada's Kellerweis.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 01:33:09 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

DCon

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bought a 12 FL. OZ. bottle of this & added it to my Mix-A-Six Pack @ Naked Vine in Chesterfield, MO for $9.99. Poured from the Baby Blue Labeled bottle w/ snow and trees on it into 16oz HotShots Pint Glass. Has PKGD 11/08/11 on the back of the label.

Aroma- Has a nice wheaty aroma with a bit of zest and herbal hop aroma. Might have some tartness hanging around but definitely has a "wheat heavy" aroma.

Appearance- Pours a 1.5 finger head that dies fairly quickly. The body has a dark golden body (light orange) color with a big cloud. Leaves good lacing behind.

Flavor- Has a sweet flavor that starts off very easy and wheat then takes over mid drink until the end. There is definitely a light banana character that pops out and the most mild spice without being too noticeable. Ends with a semi-dry feel.

Mouthfeel- Light-Medium Bodied, Medium-High Carbonation, Smooth, and then is dry going down and on the palate.

Overall Impression- A great refreshing White Ale from Bells but not one of my favorites from this style. Have enjoyed MANY wit biers lately and this one is just a notch above average. Wouldn't mind picking up some of the newer stouts from Bell's!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 23:27:45 | More by DCon

GrizzlyBrew

Georgia

3.35/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Straw to pale golden, very hazy, nice white head that seems to stick around

S - wow! I'm picturing a lemon with cloves stuck all over it ( like something your mom might use as a decoration at... well... xmas), nice yeast character, some clean malt laying around in the background

T - hmmm... a fair amount of spice bouncing around for its malt support base to get to the party, but it never shows up. a very mild malt character fails to provide the counterpoint to the spice. It just seems too soft overall. I'n not sure if this is what a "winter wheat" is supposed to taste like, but it's just not as refreshing (or spicy, bold, filling) as I would have hoped

M - again, not enough punch for me. I want bubbles, large ones even. There is a neutral balance of malt and bitterness and it's pretty smooth, maybe just not appropriate for style, doesn't scrub my palate like I'd like

O - confuses me, plenty of other white ales I'd rather have

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 04:28:00 | More by GrizzlyBrew

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

"Winter" and "White Ale" do not in anyway go together in my mind. They're diametrically opposed... Bottled 11/8/2011

A: Cloudy, light straw color with zero head worth mentioning and ditto on the lacing.

S: Wheat and yeast certainly dominate the aroma, but there is also the unsurprising lemon peel, coriander and banana.

T: Burst of bright, wheaty flavors up front with the lemon peel and spices. The aftertaste is rather grainy and peppery and surprisingly substantial and doughy tasting.

M: Light and crisp with a moderate amount of carbonation.

O: While I give Bell's props for creating a white beer as a winter seasonal, I find that there are some good reasons why it's not often done. As a white beer it's pretty mediocre, and as a winter seasonal I'm still confused.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 22:06:40 | More by DaveBlack

wvsabbath

West Virginia

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

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Classic witt, light golden pear juice yellow, small fizzy white head without much lacing.

Smell - Yeast, floral hops, orange, corriander, lemon, added peppery spices, and of course wheat and banana.

Taste - Very mild yeasty, floral earthy, grassy orange influenced flavor. Peppery, lots of wheat and a mild hop presence. the lemon and banana linger around and add more mellow flavors.

Mouthfeel - Light and real smooth on everything. Lighty coated tounge gets wheat and yeast. Banana, lemon and even some hops gets palette at the end. Aftertaste is weak, bland and quickly gone.

Overall - Very smooth, weak and easy to drink. Too watered down for my liking, this could be a nice beer to give a rookie or non beer drinker. Its not bad but there are alot better beers of this style out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 01:03:29 | More by wvsabbath

zoso1967

Michigan

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

Winter white pours a soft and hazy (I poured in the yeast, something I always do with wits) with a thin white head that fades quickly. Some stubborn bubbles to stay around though and it has decent lacing.

The aroma is super grainy and wheaty with a nice peppery spice to it. I can also appreciate a little bit of clove, but it is not very prominent. A tinge of zesty citrus rounds out the nose.

The flavor follows the nose quite closely, except that the spice nature is more prominent. Lots of white pepper and a bit more clove than the aroma gave away. The grainy and wheaty nature also comes through quite well.

The body is medium with a fairly high amount of carbonation and an invigorating feel to it. I find it to be very refreshing with a surprisingly neutral finish.

Not the greatest wit ever, but a solid offering and a nice treat every now and then during the winter months when a good, fresh wit can be hard to find.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 01:36:14 | More by zoso1967

madeofsteel

Michigan

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

No matter how much I swirled the last third around, I couldn't get all that yeasty goodness from the bottom of the bottle. Oh well.

A - Poured into a tulip, cloudy golden wheat color with a foamy 1-2 finger head, not much retention but does leave some pretty lacing.

S - Wheat, spicy yeasty goodness. No hops. Kind of smells Belgian.

T - First thing I noticed was the yeast. spicy, fruity, funky. Then the wheat. It seems like the two are battling each other for dominance. I like that. The yeast seems to be a bit more in-your-face than in years past. Sour finish.

M - Pretty active carbonation, to be expected for a witbier.

O - While not the best winter offering from Bell's, it's still a staple. I try to pick up a sixer at least once a winter.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 22:52:20 | More by madeofsteel

nhindian

Pennsylvania

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

12oz bottle poured into a tulip.

A - Pours a light straw color with around 1.5-fingers of ivory-colored head with moderate retention. The body is cloudy and the lacing when the head dissipates is paltry with only a few flares of lace covering a small portion of the glass.

S - The nose is full of phenols and zest, bringing familiar traces of lemon, banana, grape bubblegum, and clove. It smells rather fresh as well with a substantial breadiness to it.

T - The yeast probably imparts the strongest flavor to this beer as the banana and bubblegum are at the forefront. There is a surprisingly potent wheat characteristic to this as well to complement the breadiness. In the finish, lemon zest and cloves battle it out and for all intents and purposes it ends up as a draw.

M - Mouthfeel is light-bodied with high carbonation. The carbonation helps the flavor pop a bit, and it finishes with a crisp, dry feeling.

D/O - Drinkability is moderate. A more phenolic take on the style, this isn't going to blow any minds, but it's definitely solid. I'm not sure how I'd feel drinking this in the dead of winter, as I seem to enjoy these beers more in the warmer months, but I guess I'll have to try it again later in the winter to find out!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 04:50:29 | More by nhindian

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Extra cloudy yellow with one-finger, white head that lasted less than a minute. Not much lacing.

S: Citrus, wheat, and yeast. Belgian.

T: Moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Wheat, very grainy flavor. Belgian yeast is in there too, sort of spicy. Good.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Silky smooth and slightly warm.

O: The head was disappointing, but the nose and taste are solid. Nice alternative to other winter offerings.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 03:45:43 | More by SolipsismalCat