Ommegang Witte - Brewery Ommegang

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Not the brewery's top offering, in fact the weakest I have had from them. Belgian style with spicyness and wheat sweetness and cream rolled into one. Would have worked if less carbonated. Had at Blue Tusk in Syracuse. Medium mouthfeel. Bitter metallic aftertaste.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2004 00:41:51 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Lightly cloudy, sun-faded lemon with a single stream of bubbles in the exact center of the glass. The ivory colored cap is frothysoft, with an upper surface of tiny, pearl-like bubbles that become small pits when they pop. Despite an underwhelming amount of lace, what sticks looks great.

I love the way that all good witbiers smell like summertime. This one is better than most and makes me want to flip the calender to June right this very minute. It's intensely aromatic, with lilting scents of zesty lemon and spicy coriander playing off one another to great effect. This is a tremendous nose.

The flavor isn't quite that good, but it's a near thing. The wheaty base comes through loud and clear and gives the beer a solid foundation from which the top notes of fruit and spice can work their magic. Fresh lemon peel is the dominant accessory flavor, although coriander isn't far behind. Neither one underplays or overplays its hand. I can also appreciate a modest amount of floral hoppiness.

The mouthfeel is airily light, further contributing to the ease of consumption. I try my best to consider each beer's mouthfeel within the context of its style and purpose. Having said that, Witte comes up just a little short. That's a minor annoyance, however, and doesn't deserve a serious downgrade.

This beer is a fine example of the witbier style. It smells heavenly and tastes almost as good. Even though I still prefer the masterpiece that is Allagash White, I have to agree with the label that Ommegang Witte is "worth the wheat".

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2006 16:50:18 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

light amber in color with a good amount of cloudiness to it as well. A nice sized head of around two inches in height rose up immediatly but then settled down to about a half an inch and stayed that way until the very end. Some light side glass lacing on this one as well.

The aroma was full of grain and slight spices. Some small fruit notes, pears mainly, with a touch of apple. But this hay like spice kept everything going. Rich notes of grass and hay opened it up, and melded seemlessly into a pear driven fruity yeast body. Very intresting and quite complex, but then the smack of the spice hit you and it was all over. Really intense here as the almost pepper like notes bounced all over the tongue and really just put on a great show. Smooth as silk

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 15:20:50 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.33/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A hazy golden straw color with a beautiful white head.

S: Not really what I was expecting in the scent department. No spice character, some faint orange and wheat. Rather disappointing.

T: Some decent citrus qualities (mostly orange), the wheat is present, as are the yeast.

M: Light body, lots of carbonation.

D: Fairly drinkable, no overpowering tastes, but I was hoping for more.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2009 23:07:30 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle thanks to Jared. Served in a wine glass.

The pour brings a hazy straw-yellow brew with a good white head and a bit of lacing plus a thin collar atop the beer. The nose is quite plain with some lightly-sweet wheat and a very, very mild citrus presence. No real spice or any indication of Belgian yeast. The flavor is about the same but a bit more grainy. Feel is pretty light with moderate carbonation. Nothing bad about this, but nothing at all impressive either.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 04:54:35 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 ounce pint - $5.50 at Taco Mac in Buford, Georgia.

Appearance: Clouded, soft buttercream yellow body with a thin, long-lasting cap of finely-textured white foam.

Smell: Tangy-scented nose of a porringer of Cream of Wheat garnished with fresh lemon zest and lightly seasoned with coriander.

Taste: Malted wheat, lightly tangy and sweet, along with a light backing of soft barley. The initial sweetness quickly yields to the incoming taste of lemon. Smaller trace of coriander. Very, very faint bitterness. One last hint of tart citrus in the dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation. Slight creaminess in the mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Fairly pleasant and easily drinkable, serving as a good thirst-quencher for the warmer months.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2010 15:17:58 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color with a fluffy white head that deposits thick clumps of lace on the sides of the glass

Smell: Earthy and yeasty with a hint of orange
Taste: Bready flavor to begin with a good orange citrus flavor; a touch or coriander and pepper on the finish

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with good levels of carbonation

Drinkability: Refreshingly light but not a spicy as I was expecting

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2005 22:54:29 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

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

On tap at The Surly Goat in West Hollywood, CA.

Pours a murky light yellow with a white head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace forms around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, spices, yeast, and some chalky aromas. Taste is much the same with a spice finish that lingers with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it smells better than it tastes in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 04:47:35 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a pale clear yellow color ale with below average head with average retention. Aroma of orange and very subtle coriander. Taste is very light with limited spice (lack of coriander) with some limited sweetness/floral aspect. Carbonation is good but body is too thin. Watery feeling on the aftertaste kind of ruin this one for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2005 19:12:01 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nothing like sipping on a fresh glass of Witte while sitting in the pristine Belgain setting in Cooperstown, New York. Brewery Ommegang captures the essence of Belgium not only in architecture, but also in culture and in the flavor of their Witbier

This Belgian white ale starts with a creamy canary yellow hue. Cloudy and airy, the hazy beer floats a stark white and frothy foamstance that both retains and laces very well. Solid but expected from the style.

Citrus aromas of orange peel, lemon zest, perfume, and soft grasses fill the nose. Decorated with white pepper and corriander (in the absence of hop aroma), the beer takes on a decidedly herbal and citrus tone.

Soft breads and wheat malt begin to define the flavors while the fruity (orange, appricots, lemons, and pears) quickly rise and eventually dominate the taste. Soft flavors of orange peel and corriander give a non-descript spiciness that both smoothen out the flavors and adds complexity. Creamy maltiness along with yeasty tartness gives an oddly compelling impression of sour cream.

Creamy and moderately malty up front, the beer fades quickly into a powder-dry texture and eventually becomes a tart and waivering. But until the lightened finish, the beer has a very refreshing and smooth procession.

Overall, the acidity prevails with the spices of yeast gaining precedence over classic powdery textures and prominant spice additions. This gives a rustic unveiled character that is likely more like what authentic witbiers used to be.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2005 12:29:02 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pretty basic. A little thin, at least flavor-wise.

Beautiful yellow body with a light haze. The head retention should be better.

Nice aroma. Chalky, non-descript citrus rind and light, dull coriander.

Medium-light bodied and crisp across the palate.

The chalkiness returns in the flavor (perhaps it's from the yeast), with a nice touch of tart citrus, a clear note of wheat malt, and some sublime spiciness.

It's light and easy to drink, finishing dry with a residual note of tartness and some lingering chalkiness.

There are no flaws to speak of, but there's not much character either.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2006 17:35:53 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Chicago Bears shaker pint glass.

Another second chance with another Ommegang oldie-but-goldie. It pours a slightly hazed pale golden straw topped by somewhere around a finger of white foam. The nose comprises coriander, wheat, lemon zest, and a touch of mandarin orange. The taste, not wanting to make any waves, stays this course beautifully, with the added effect of light pineapple near the finish. The body is pretty light, with a moderate carbonation and a refreshing feel. Overall, a very tasty wit, one of the better ones readily available 'round these parts.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 00:57:36 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle, poured into a Maredsous glass...hazy, pale yellow appearance, almost ghostly, with a puffy snow-white head. Perfect for the style.
Georgeous aroma, lively and uplifting, spicy, airy, with strong notes of lemon and hints of orange, heavy on the coriander, ginger, pepper...
Taste: smooth, still spicy and pleasantly fruity...lightly tart, with further notes of pear and apple. Light in body and easily drinkable, with a crisply fruity, lush finish. Creamy, tasty, ..but disappears a little too easily and finishes too lightly to be very memorable, but compared against the style, it's perfect, really.
Must go great with any kind of food, cheeses, fruits, but may pale against heartier stuff.
I applaud Ommegang, one of my favorite American breweries, for crafting this nearly note perfect rendition of a delicious, refreshing Belgian style.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2005 07:53:26 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a cloudy pale gold color with a thick frothy white head that fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a very pleasant wheat scent which is enhanced by the presence of fruity Belgian wit yeast. It comes across dry, yet refreshing. The taste is decent, but not great. It comes off as being dry and a bit weak and watery. There is the clove flavor, but the fruitiness is quickly lost as you swallow. The wheat flavor fine. It seems a bit bland and stale. The mouthfeel is good. It is a medium bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is an average wit beer. This is not at the same level as the other Ommegang offerings.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2004 20:32:28 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have had this numerous times but never reviewed it.

The beer pours a slightly cloudy yellow color with a white head. The aroma is lemons, oranges, coriander and wheat. The flavor is orange, wheat and lemon as well as some grassy and spicy hops. Medium mouthfeel and carbonation.

Not as good as I remembered it being, but still not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 02:57:49 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a cloudy golfen hue with a foamy,white three-finger head. It left nice rings of lace.

S - It smelled of wheat, yeast, clove and some lemon.

T - A good sweet wheat taste with a blend of lemon and orange/corriander flavors.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A light-bodied beer.

D - Very drinkable, even an entire 750ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2007 21:42:13 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured hazy yellow with a small bit of white head that disappeared quickly, leaving a ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass. There was a moderate level of carbonation.
S: Aromas of coriander, along with yeast and orange peel are noticeable, though not very strong.
T: The flavors of wheat and spices were well balanced; citrus tastes of lemon and orange linger in the aftertaste and make the finish a bit dry.
M: The mouthfeel is light bodied and the carbonation lends smoothness.
D: This is a very light and refreshing beer. I would definitely drink more than one of these to relax on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 18:30:02 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy yellow-straw color and is topped by an eminent, frothy pale white head that is initially held up by a healthy carbonation. The aroma reminds me of freshly cut hay, fields of clover, coriander, lemon zest, and grains of paradise. The taste is light and refreshing with notes of orange zest up front followed by a solid though not overwhelming finish of coriander. Along with the orange and coriander there are notes of lemon zest, ginger, pepper, banana, and clove. With my second glass I poured the rest of the beer, yeast and all into my glass. It becomes, obviously, a bit more yeasty, with notes of fresh bread, and it becomes quite a bit more hearty. This is quite a nice Witte, it is simple, refreshing, zesty, spritzy, it reminds me of a warm summer afternoon spent sitting on the porch. Once again I am a sucker for a good Belgian Witte.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2005 01:59:34 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.35/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light cloudy yellowish gold color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of wheat, Belgian yeast, citrus, some spices and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is very nicely balanced with flavors of lemon, clove & coriander spices up front. There's a strong breadiness from Belgian yeast and wheat. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy. The hops presence is mild but complementary as it should be for this type of beer. The after-taste is slightly bready and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean and dry.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, mild kick, excellent representation of style, I haven't been the biggest fan of Ommegang overall but this is a very nice lighter Belgian style beer that is worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2010 23:54:48 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This wit pours out as a straw colored yellow beer with a billowing white head that settles over time. The aroma has a good amount of lively citrus in it and is rather inviting. There is also some yeasty bread aromas coming off of it too. The taste of the beer is of light citrus with some soft banana notes in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is on the light side, perhaps a little too light. Overall this is an ok Wit but it could have been better.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 05:50:20 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

4.45/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle,

A: Pours a cloudy light yellow, with a fairly dissapointing head, not really much to look at compared to other wits.

S: Floral perfume, some herb-like notes, maybe sage, and the prerequisite orange.

T: One of the best wits I've ever had in my life, this one really hits the spot. Full-flavoured orange and spice, the beer keeps it simple, but the flavours are outstanding. A tasty, straightforward gem.

M: Light-bodied, crisp, spritzy, refreshing, an easy drinker, just like a wit should be.

D: I was really impressed with this offering from Ommegang. Although it is one of the most expensive American made versions of this style - mid-$3's for a 12 oz. pour, I certainly plan on purchasing it again because it was so good.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2009 18:40:36 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy pale yellow in color with a nice thick 2" head. Very light lacing does develop. The aroma is of spice and wheat. The flavor is different from some others in this style as the wheat, citrus, and coriander tones are more laid back but are nicely balanced. A light tartness kicks in up front and it is very dry on the finish. This is lighter in body and had nice carbonation levels that give it a light crispness in the start of the mouthfeel. Good summertime brew that is refreshing and thirst quenching.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2004 23:58:15 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy (rather than cloudy) yellow with a thin white head that soon becomes a thin, lasting cover.

The smell is of coriander, orange peel and a hint of wheat grain.

Coriander and a thin orange peel meet the nose. There is a noticeable, but not strong, medicinal touch. A spritzy carbonation seems to mask other spices. It is on the thin side of medium. Any thinner and it would fall apart. This could use more spiced yeast to give it some body and fuller flavor. Still in all, what is there is not too bad, for the most part. However, the more the bottle progressed, the more of a tart character became prominent, and this did not help either.

Carbonated wateriness washed out some of the flavors, which were on the thin side to begin with. It did have a somewhat refreshing quality which helped, but did not completely save it.

Overall, it's decent enough, but nothing about it made it particularly memorable. A bit disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2006 23:40:16 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, caged and corked.

This beer pours a cloudy, pale white straw hue, with a teeming amount of thin puffy white head, which leaves some broadly-spaced bird's wing span lace around the glass as it steadily, but surely settles. It smells of creamy wheat grain, lemon, the soft usual suspects of pepper and coriander spice, and a slick buttery note. The taste is sweet wheat malt, sort of bready in its fullness, some mild orange peel, and subtle underhanded yeast. The carbonation is on the low side, the body light, but not thin, and agreeably smooth. It finishes off-dry, wheat and sweet coriander filling the role.

An easy-drinking, straightforward, but still well-rendered witbier, the expected flavours tilted somewhat, but it all turns out a-ok.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 23:42:49 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Faegan's in Syracuse.

A nice, somewhat delicate wit, but the flavors were just too slight. It smelled of sour grains, more reminiscent of a hefe than a wit really. The flavor was a bit bland with a bit of spice, vanilla, and grain. Overall a nice beer, but overrpriced for what you get.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2007 04:39:55 | More by tempest