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

bashiba

Iowa

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very cloudy yellow with a very small white head that disapears to a thin white line immediatly.

Smells of sweet Citrus flavors and a slight hint of wheat and yeast. Very strong and nice odor.

A very fresh tasting crisp wheat flavor with hints of lemony zest and orange peal. Just a hint of hops compliments this very well. Light and refreshing, sort of the opposite of what I think when it comes to a winter beer, but very good none the less.

Mouthfeel is suprisingly full and creamy for such a light tasting beer.

Another very enjoyable drinkable beer from Bell's.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2004 22:36:25 | More by bashiba

trancefishy

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very bizarre, hazy, milky yellow. very small head that disappears quickly.

Aroma is that of citrus, and something of a cross between a belgian yeast smell, and a heff-weizen smell. a bit of bread as well.

Taste is all wheat flavour, which take a while to get up to full flavour in your mouth. Has a tart kind of snap to it, very much like a grapefruit and lemon. i almost wonder if there is lemon juice in this beer. aftertaste starts off sweet, but then turns citric tart. the more i drink it, the more this sour off taste of lemons-gone-bad comes out. i've noticed that once the beer warms up a lot, the off flavour turns inot more of a creamy lemonade thing, which is actually quite tasty.

mouthfeel is fine, but i'm still stuck on this weird taste. drinkability i fear is going to be low, as this aftertaste is getting to me.

I do not especially care for oberon, and thought this would be entirely too simliar for me to bother with. I gave it a go, it's nothing like oberon. at first i thought it was worse, but now i think it is a bit more flavourful, and I guess a good way to do a wit for the winter. an alright beer, worth trying if you haven't.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2004 22:01:09 | More by trancefishy

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

longarm

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy orange-yellow with light pillows of foam. Ridges recede rather rapidly, but rejuvenate from the recesses of the glass.

This winter white wafts with distinctive and stylish doses of wheat, banana and cloves. Moderate alcohol arrives unwelcome.

Decent flavor if a little modest. Mildly mistaken-flavors more typical of macro makings than quality malt brews of Bell's persuasion. Still it goes well with a finishing hints of orange.

Mouthfeel is clean and dry.

Not at all expected given the name, but not a let-down. Who drinks wheat beers in the Winter? Apparently Bell's and they've converted me quite easily. A nice production, this is well suited for many pours in any season.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2004 15:57:14 | More by longarm

putnam

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hazy yellow with a slick of white on top. The aromatics are complex and feature notes of lemon, cracker, spicebox, sour herbs, butter and sugar glaze. On the palate it features comfortable raw nutty flavors intermixed with tart herbal and citric essences. Creamy mousse and cold, stony mineral flavors conspire to leave soft, cottony dry impressions on the finish. There is a fairly hard, bitter close that detracts from the considerable merit of the forward elements.

This is one of the best lower-ABV beers from this brewery I've had in years.

And it is Orwellian insanity to market this as a winter seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2004 20:38:04 | More by putnam

walleye

Michigan

2.38/5  rDev -35%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

from the bottle. poured a hazy straw with a white head that didn’t last long. aroma bread yeast, citrus, sour orange, wheat, and straw. flavor hops, straw, wheat, lemon, bitter. this should not be a winter beer. I think it would be better suited for the summer standing at the bbq griling some steak.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2004 22:44:46 | More by walleye

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

crookedhalo

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy yellow with some golden orange highlights and a thin white head. Some typical witbier aromas like coriander, orange zest, wheat malt and a fair amount of yeastiness in the nose. Initially starts off malt sweet and then traditional spicings kick in and a bit of citrusy zing near the finish. Not a bad witbier at all, I'm just unsure what makes it a Winter White. Pretty well carbonated. Drinkable year-round.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2004 19:05:05 | More by crookedhalo

Winter

Wisconsin

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

And now for something completely different... a witbier in winter. I congratulate Bell's for going against the norm and brewing something that's typically expected in summer as a winter offering. I suppose with all the great stouts that Bell's makes creating something light as a winter offering makes sense to them as far as being something out of the ordinary. But the Winter White could easily be enjoyed any time of the year. This is an easy drinking wit (as most are). Less spicier it seems that others of its kind.

It pours a cloudy pale lemony yellow with virtually no head. Aroma consists of corriander, banana and a little bit of vanilla. Medium-to-full-bodied mouthfeel with a crisp carbonation. The initial taste consist of wheat malt, corriander and some vanilla sweetness. Some lemony bitterness towards the back finishes things off.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2004 16:54:13 | More by Winter

lampkins

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bells WWA was a welcome change from the dark heavy winter beers that dominate this part of the year (winter). Beer poured a hazy yllow that left a creamy, foamy head. I can smell hints of orange and corriander. Taste is relatively straight forward, a strong wheat taste that leads to a spicy, hefe-weiss, like finsh on the palate. The drinkability of this beer is great, a perfect counterpart to the traditional winter brews.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2004 13:12:27 | More by lampkins

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.4/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a pale pale golden color. There is a finger of head taht falls to ring the beer. The nose is all about he wit. There is a lot of orange and spice from the malt and the yeast. Smells like a nice beer to me. Not my favorite style, but I do like it. The flavor is dominated with the spices initially, but hte sweet orange character comes through secondarily, with a grand finish of spice. This is a really nice wit beer. The feel is thick. More thick than others I have had in while. A really nice wit. the finish is a bit creamy and easy drinking. I am glad I have another of these beers waiting for me in the cellar. Try it if you can. Interesting take on a winter brew, but welcomed relief from the big hops and big malts.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2004 03:54:49 | More by kmpitz2

dren

Indiana

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

Pours a cloudy golden color with a thin head. Smells of orange, with some cloves and spice. Tastes just about the same. Well ballanced beer that finished a little dry. Would rank higher if the beer wasn't as dry at the end. This has been one of the better beers I have tried in a long time. The way Blue Moon should taste. All around great beer. I just wish it wasn't seasonal. One of Bell's best.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2004 18:01:08 | More by dren

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Hazy pineapple yellow color, slightly greenish flat head of 1/4 of an inch. Wide and thin laces, lots of small dots as well. Yeasty aroma, straw, bird's nest soup, some anise. Prickly carbonation picks up the mouthfeel. Slightly spicy, gingery and orange with a vermouth feel edging in. Sweetest mid mouth, clovey esters, and then funels to a more lemony bitterness at the close. Medium dry aftertaste, thinnish and slightly metallic in feel, usually the way the style hits me. Pretty good beer, a bit too fluffy and licorice-tinged in the finish as Wits tend to get. Actually softer and sweeter right out of the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2004 16:01:24 | More by ADR

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy, slightly lighter then lemon juice yellow in color, white cap lasting for a brief stay before tapering to a thin collar, not much in the realm of lacing sticks, drippings mostly running down to join the collar.

Aroma has a nice light clove spice enactment over a pleasing banana wheat bread sweetness and some of the usual witbier yeast.

Flavors are crisp and clean, not to much dancing on the tongue though, very calm, smooth, and tame. Which is actually kinda nice in that regard, but still lacks some omff. Wheat malt makes up a good portion of the taste keeping a fairly decent body. Light banana, even lighter lemon bits, clove is tame but present, more so midway to finish. Solid in smoothness but less so in a bit of its actual flavor character.

Feel is smooth and calming for a Wit, a bit out of character, but nice non-the-less, lighter bodied, crisp, malty, picks up a bunch towards the finish but nothing lasts. Creamed wheat leftovers on the palate with tiny smidges of the clove for the finish.

Super drinkable; quite smooth, and quite lovely in that respect too; one thing I've always found hard to like about Wit's is the drinkability. This is opposite of that impression, as this is quenchable for sure. A bit odd that it's a Winter seasonal cuz this would make for a great summer brew; and that's no foolin'. For me; a hard review to put numbers to. It seemingly could be better, but I like it alot, which I think the numbers might not show.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2004 03:55:31 | More by tavernjef

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

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

Hazy orangish-yellow color with a white head that dissipates to a ring. The aroma is yeasty, and has bananas and cloves, it has a bit of black pepper to it as well. The flavor is yeasty, and again it has a peppery clove and banana taste. It is somewhat like their Oberon, but a bit more fuller and maltier. It is medium in body and smooth drinking, with a drying finish. Not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2004 01:22:55 | More by BeerBuilder

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

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

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

hotstuff

Indiana

2.17/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

The nose of this particular beer is banana. The body is cloudy and the hue is pale yellow. I observed some yeast with this beer. I definitely was not impressed by the taste of this beer. After about half-way through I had had enough and tried another of their beers. This definitely is not one of my favorite beers from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2003 16:34:32 | More by hotstuff