Whirlwind Witbier - Victory Brewing Company

gdfan47

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

im a big fan of this beer

im very sad its a seasonal

in my exsperience I think its the best domestic witbier and also relativly cheap

its just light and resfreshing with a nice balance of wheat and a tall white froathy head

i was even lucky enough to pick up a 6 pack of it the other day, I dont think it will be back out till the spring

love victory and I really need to get up to the brewery soon

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2008 10:00:01 | More by gdfan47

ski271

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Zeno's in State College, PA... now smoke-free!
Slightly hazy medium gold with a small, white head that quickly diminishes to a thin film. Some very light lacing early. Smell is fruity, crisp and mild. Taste follows, with its fruitiness being most notable, but some spice shows up halfway through. Lemon, coriander, green apple, and some spicy, bready yeast toward the finish. It has a medium-light body, lightly dry texture, and moderate carbonation. At the time, I really enjoyed this beer because it was very refreshing and easy-drinking. In retrospect, I would have liked a little more character in there. It was a very mild beer, but good nevertheless.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2008 19:38:09 | More by ski271

jockstrappy

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy golden color with a sticky off-white head. Aromas noticed are dried fruit and a belgian spice character. Taste begins with that belgian spice up front, and slightly gives way to a combination of toasted malt and a very small citric hop presence. Mild carbonation and light-medium body make this brew very drinkable. Great summertime brew here.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2008 13:37:54 | More by jockstrappy

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a semi-transparent golden amber; there is a fair amount of cloudiness apparent. Aroma is rich, malty and wheaty, with a very strong lemon component. Flavor is well-rounded, malty with a decided citrus overtone. Texture is smooth and pleasing. Perfect for a warm afternoon or with a light dinner.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2008 00:15:47 | More by Cyberkedi

Brianmerrilyn

New York

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured (into a pint @Copperfields in Manhattan)golden hue with dash of cloudyness, 1/4 fingertip ose, full cap heaad and bubble chunks that break after the first quaff, minor lacing.

S: What smell? Had my nose in it several times. Only thing I got was some lemon and yeast if that at all.

T: Tangy/spicy hoppyness. As I give it some time to breath bread and candy but not overpowering by any stetch of the imagination.

M: Clean sharp thick finish.

O: Too spicy for me, not impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2008 13:22:16 | More by Brianmerrilyn

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: This was a very cloudy pale yellow color. It was served to me with a thin white head, lots of lace.

s: Smelled of lemons, bananas, and a bit of bubblegum.

t: Mirrors the smell, tastes as a wheat beer should. This also has a very mild pepper kick to it.

m: Well carbonated and very refreshing.

d: This is a perfect summertime brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2008 15:47:58 | More by DIM

JamesS

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very nice belgian wit. It had an excellent golden coloring with great head and lacing. It was very smooth with a nice wheat scent and flavoring. It had nice soft flavor hints of spices and orange that gave it a nice touch. Well worth a try on a hot day, or any type of day for that matter.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2007 19:23:29 | More by JamesS

cixelsydima

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at home...Rather,it was!As of now,my dictionary lists Victory Whirlwind Wit as being synonmous with, SUMMER! Purchased this 1/6 keg 12 days ago,and,well..."where'd it go"? Damn,this is now my favorite summer brew.Velvety mouthfeel,beautiful 2 finger creamy head,slightly hazy appearance, subtle lemon,citrus flavors,very well balanced!....Homer Simpson's toes would be curled,his eyes rolled back,while exclaiming,....MMM,YUMMY!!!
Goes down too smoothly.Highly recommended.
Treat yourself right.
Go and get some.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2007 19:49:36 | More by cixelsydima

Chaz

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Pours a hazey-golden in color, appears almost white (and quite opaque) in the muted light of the bar. Thin whisp of a head and minimal lacing. Light wheat malt and a hint of subtle aromatic spice on the nose . . . peppery. Tangy and zesty on the first sip, with coriander being the dominant (albeit not overpowering) spice. Lightly tangy-sour,and with just enough crystal malt sweetness to counterbalance the yeast and spice. Although this was served rather cold, it tends to open up nicely as it warms. Lighter in body and mouthfeel, Whirlwind seems almost watery at first, but the body, too, tends to develop as this warms. Ample carbonation, and combined with the zesty, spicey, yeasty aspects makes this a cleansing and almost brisk drink. Lemony (lemon rind?) aftertaste lingers and augments the light, aromatic hops used, definitely not very bitter. Insanely drinkable . . . Whirlwind Wit has been a very consistent brew over the years, and for that reason remains my favorite American rendition of the Witbier style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2007 21:46:30 | More by Chaz

HugoGrim

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the Victory brewery in Downingtown, PA.

Body is a hazy straw yellow color with a beautifully thick foamy white head. Just a perfect look to this beer.

Not at all impressed with the aroma, though the style isn't particularly known for having a big nose. Faint with only hints of citrus and spices.

Flavor is light and very crisp. Light malt and substantial lemons. Yeast comes through after swallowing. I would have liked less citrus and slightly more spices in the clove and black pepper.

Drinkability is good as is expected with the style, though it suffers a bit for me with the overstatement of lemons.

I am a bit let down by this beer, but only because I expect so much whenever I try a Victory beer for the first time, and I have heard some great things about this particular beer. I think it is a bit too heavy on the lemon for my taste. I'm sure I'll give it another shot in the future however.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2007 22:40:27 | More by HugoGrim

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer came a semi-cloudy gold with a hint of peach to it. The head was just a thin collar.

Smells of fresh sour apple, coriander, bananas, lime, and gooseberries with a base of organic honey and fresh bread dough. This concoction of smells was both enticing and dizzying.

The coriander really comes through in the taste along with some raspberry, cantaloupe, plumb and peaches with a root of light and doughy ambiguous grains. There’s also a creamy, milky yeast that’s very earthy and pasty.

The mouth feel was medium bodied with a big swarm of carbonation that kinda got in the way.

This one’s tasty for sure on tap. Seek it out. The fruits in this one really steal the show.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2006 01:31:30 | More by DarkerTheBetter

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Victory brewpub. The beer poured a hazy yellow color with a medium white head and minimal lacing on the glass. The aroma of this beer has some yeast and wheat notes and noticable touches of orange and spice. The taste is refreshing and has the same year notes and citrus tones that make for a very drinkable summertime beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2006 03:21:00 | More by ggaughan

edskirk3

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Grey Lodge July 3. Served in a pint glass without a lemon.

Translucent gold-yellow. Minimal, very thin white head. There was a lemony aroma, with some residual yeast notes.

My first thought was, this is quite light on the palate. An easy-drinking thirst-quencher with tastes of lemon, coriander, and honey-like sweetness. Very lightly carbonated, nearly flat. Tiny bit of hoppiness at the end.

Definitely worth a try in the summer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2006 02:30:10 | More by edskirk3

wbickerton

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught.

Pours a medium-sized head that dissipates quickly. Hazy yellow color. Slight lacing. Banana and citrus aroma. Sweet citrus flavor. Reminiscent of Celis White and Hoegaarden White, but even fresher and better. Starts to lose its flavor after three weeks.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2004 02:18:15 | More by wbickerton

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer arrived on the bar in a pale yellow with a slight haze. The head fell quickly to the edges of the surface.

The aroma was malty with wheat and slight coriander spice.

The flavor was coriander with slight orange and wheat. There was a slight sweetness present in the flavor.

The finish was dry and crips with slight spice lasting long into the aftertaste . The body was medium to medium light and had a nice carbonation level.

Chalice at CAH Innsbrook. One of the better American made Witbiers.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2004 17:33:53 | More by GCBrewingCo

mschofield

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque cloudy orange-yellow topped with a two finger white head, leaves webs of lacing.
Lots of clove, some tobacco, spicy, bubblegum sweetness in the aroma.
Hay, orange, lemon zest in the taste, coriander, pie spices (nutmeg,cinnamon). Note of pit fruits (peach/apricot).
Medium bodied

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2004 16:20:07 | More by mschofield

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy light yellow in color. Head was pretty thin with no real lacing to speak of.

S: Heavy yeast smell right up front with a nice citrusy hoppy sort of smell below.

T: Astringent, yeast-like bitterness flashes quickly by. Finish mellows out quite nicely, with a nice amount of sweetness that has just a bit of a lemony zing to it. Nice balance of flavors here.

M: Full, quite hoppy for the style. Mouthfeel is fairly sharp. Carbonation is fairly high, but I think that's ok for this style of beer. Alcohol feels stronger than the stated ABV%.

D&N: Very nice, tasty with a bit of a bite.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2004 01:55:28 | More by JackTheRipper

rdrummer

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've never had a bad beer from Victory, and this one isn't bad, either. It is just not great. The best part about the beer is the way it looks when poured in a pint on draft. A fantastic hazy, light golden color with a good sized white head. The beer reminds me of a Hefe but lacks some of the zip and the body of a good Hefe.

Like a Hefe, the aroma is one of grain with a good deal of citrus, in this case more orange than lemon. The taste is similar to the nose, but there seems to be a bit of spiciness that may be clove. The taste was just a little less than I like in a Hefe-type beer. It compares very well to Hooegarden's, though. So, maybe they're not going for the Hefe taste.

It has a very clean and crisp feel in the mouth and is a pleasure to drink. I just would like a little more to the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2004 00:54:43 | More by rdrummer

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Capital Ale House Innsbrook location.

Arrived at the table sporting a cloudy pineapple juice color. Thin layer of bright white head soon fades to a edge-only circle. Some lacing of the glass is noted. Aromas are yeasty, spicy, orange zesty, and a bready/doughy note as well. Flavor is like a cross between a mild Belgian ale and a hefeweizen. There's the wheaty flavor from the hefe mixed with the zippy spices of the Belgian. Different, and it comes off well. Crisply-carbonated and slides down the gullet quite easily. Finishes with a clean palate and just a dash of "wheatness" on the palate. Superb summer beer for these soon-to-be-arriving hot and humid Richmond summer days.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2004 01:34:02 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

JimsArcade

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dispensed from a tap to a 12 oz. glass, the white-colored head of the Whirlwind Wit is remarkably big: three fingers initially reduced to one finger by the time I get to drink it. It is cloudy and orange-yellow in color, typical for the style.

In the nose, the aroma is spicy with hints of orange zest and banana. The banana becomes more evident when the aroma is brought into the mouth, in addition to a very crisp sensation.

It is rather rich on the first sip. The maltiness offers hints of citrus and apple. Surprisingly, the carbonation becomes more pronounced as the beer warms mid-glass. It actually becomes more refreshing as I drink it. It finishes clean and slightly sweeter.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2004 04:15:28 | More by JimsArcade

ithacabaron

California

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

After having many a Victory beer in the past, I came
upon the Whirlwind this summer. I consider myself a
Witbier fan, and this isn't bad (really, nothing from
Victory is), but at the same time, I was disappointed.

The appearence was somewhat cloudy, but not where it
should have been (I don't think the establishment I
had it in properly treats the kegs of wheat-based
beers they keep, so this could be part of the problem,
and should be noted in this review). The color was
more of a golden reflected color, than a "wit white,"
and, in tasting, it had very strong lemon overtones. Coriander was
missing, as well as the orange usually found.

This is not a bad Wit, but not a great one. I will try
this again (probably in the bottle) to see if it was
the presentation and handling of the keg, or the beer
itself. For now though, not impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2003 15:56:38 | More by ithacabaron

99bottles

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a pint of this on tap at a local bar and must say I was very pleased with it. I had bought a case of Whirlwind bottles in May, and found them to be satisfactory, but having a freshly pulled pint was much better. The beer pours a deep golden color, with a very thin fluffy white head. Seems to have less haze/ clouds than other witbiers, but definitely unfiltered. Spice is present, but not oeverwhelming. I tasted good floral notes, and a prescence of orange, complexed by some spice. I assume it to be the typical corriander/clove mix, but it felt restrained somehow. Some sweetness, perhaps vanilla also. Because of the complexity, I found it to be incredibly drinkable, and very refreshing. A nice switch from say hoegaarden, if only for its unique spice character. A great summer beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2003 05:56:37 | More by 99bottles

Boto

Connecticut

4.6/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Victory. It is a fine, cloudy yellow-golden color in the glass. Decent white, fluffy head. There is a somewhat spicy aroma. The corriander comes through. Many flavors come to the taste buds. It is very rich and full. An excellent example of the style. Not quite up to Hoegaarden or the Allagash, but still superb!

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2003 17:13:46 | More by Boto

dwarbi

New York

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is a very, very light yellow - almost white. There's no head to speak of. Smells fantastic. Spicy and lemon scented, like a good white. Tastes chewy. A very nice wit.. clean, of course. Not too complex, but simple and too the point. Very enjoyable and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2003 14:19:24 | More by dwarbi

nomad

Kansas

4.45/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a cloudy straw yellow with some size-varying intermittent carbonation. Had pillowy foam head that died fast and no lace or much else to speak of. Smell iss predominantly sweet, with yeast and wheat scents that wrapp around each other as banana and vanilla esters are strong while spices are light but refreshing. Underneath is a citric core.

Taste was easy, fruity, tart, and drying. Dominant flavors are a water smooth but highly citric and tart fruitiness. The body is a tasty wheat, though they are pretty neutral, and but light lemon and sour is balanced sweet malt and Belgian-style yeast. On this, it was enough to taste the lemon and refresh your palette, but not enough to overpower other flavors - good balance. Also, a noticeable amount of clove flavor toward the end, and some sourness developed in the fairly long finish.

Came across as a thin mouthfeel but actually had some good wheat firmness to it. This is beautiful served cold from a keg. Avoid bottles unless they're super fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2003 14:16:53 | More by nomad