Alaskan White - Alaskan Brewing Co.

TheSixthRing

California

3.6/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a hazy, pale straw yellow with a white, near 2-finger head. Retention is average. Resulting sparse, holding on for dear life around the edge of the glass. Lots of sediment suspended throughout.

Smell - Wheat and a slightly spicy, slightly citrusy coriander.

Taste - Light wheat and spicy coriander, then heavy grain notes pop through. Finishes with a grainy wheat and a slight citrus twang.

Mouthfeel - Light body. Fizzy carbonation. Leaves a decent bite.

Overall - An average witbier. Fairly basic. Would buy again if options were limited, but there are at least a dozen other witbiers I'd rather have.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 00:54:33 | More by TheSixthRing

joecalderoni

Texas

3.7/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A very nice white almos yellow color! i woudn say it matches the style specs! very clear for a white, not many starch haze present! very little head on it!!

S: a bit spicy on the nose, with a hint of belgian yeast character! I can get little coriander and some citrus! Not very great aroma!

T: very sweet with a nice balanced citrus taste, low bitterness as it should be! You can percieve that sour tang and funkiness traditional from this style! Nice belgian yeas character and presence!

M: medium body, high efervesence! was hoping for some more carbonation on this one!

O: a pretty drinkable beer for a hot summer day in Texas! Not amazing but worth the try! i would go for a hoegarden!

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2012 00:41:28 | More by joecalderoni

ByMySword

3.78/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Poured a hazy golden color. A very light head which dissipated rather quickly.

Smell: A light wheat smell, but nothing to write home about.

Taste: Definitely a wheat beer. It had a very unique taste, though.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth.

Overall: I would say this is the best Alaskan beer I've had yet. Much better than the Amber.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 05:42:58 | More by ByMySword

diamondc

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: A bit of a haze, dull golden pale, not exactly witbier. No yeast sediment, yet not quite filtered.

S: Corriander, citrus peel, white grapes.

T: White grapes, tangy citrus, mandarin, sugary. Kind of one dimensional here.

M: Very effervescent, quaffable, just no big flavors to think about while drinking.

O: Not the best example of a traditional witbier, just barely a step up than the US macro versions.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 10:04:55 | More by diamondc

Goliath

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This beer pours a hazy pale yellow/orange color with a one inch bright white head. There is nice head retention.

The aroma is rather basic. There is a bit of citrus, and pale malt. Not much else.

The taste is very weak. Some pale grain, and a light bit of citrus. No real spicing which is definitely an issue.

The mouthfeel is thin and lightly carbonated.

Overall it's a nice summer session beer, but not a good example of a witbier.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 00:33:18 | More by Goliath

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pretty standard white beer here. pours an only slightly cloudy blonde color with a nice white head. smells spiced or herbed, with fruity yeast and plenty of sweetness. taste for me was too sweet, lots of sugars in there. can taste the coriander, and a bit of hops on the back end. feel is nice, lots of carbonation and a fairly light body. it gets bogged down by its sweetness in my opinion, but the flavor profile under all that is quite nice. not my favorite beer from these guys though.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 20:16:10 | More by StonedTrippin

TCMike

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Produced a 2 finger head, which quickly dissipated. It is gold in color.
The aroma was nice and is of bread, and a little spice/citrus. The taste was the same. Light mouth-feel, and somewhat high carbonation. Easy drinking....would be a decent warm weather beer.
It is OK, but just a bit weak/watery.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 22:19:57 | More by TCMike

budgood1

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours out a bright and cloudy gold colour, thin fine white head receding quickly leaving sparse lace. lightly spiced nose, definite coriander and pepper with lemon and wheat hints. taste follows suit with more of the same...bits of wheat and yeast with more lemony zest and peppery spice. there is a nice bitterness that adds more bite than spice, adding another layer of taste. atypical body on this wit, effervescent with a tounge tingling mouthfeel. good drinkability in this run of the mill wit. nothing to find fault with.

although pretty average, i found this to be the right beer at the right time on a very warm and windy mid-March day here in the northland. after a day of doing yardwork instead of fighting floods and snowstorms, this hit the spot on a glorious late winter/early spring day.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 22:35:10 | More by budgood1

minterro

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from gf's parents

A&S: Highly spiced, orange zest, slight cloves present. Very lively pale yellow. Fizzy (even fizzy sounding beer) half finger when pours and disappears very quickly.

T&M: slight citrus, cloves, yeastyness. Most sweet malts and spices. pretty highly (a little over) carbonation, light to medium bodied.

Compared pretty much side by side with the wheat monkey, both beers were pretty unimpressive.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 22:05:22 | More by minterro

rawfish

California

2.6/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours clear, pale yellow amber with a small dollop of stark white head. Fades quickly leaving no lacing behind.

Wet cardboard, wheat twang and weak all spice and coriander. Touch of lemon. Very raw grain, not unpleasant but the spice notes do not integrate into this well.

Cereal grain, surprisingly dank and earthy. The malts take this one to a dark place before you catch hints of clove, peppery coriander and orange zest that are awfully faint. Ends with pleasant wheat note along with cardboard pulp.

Thin to medium bodied and even carbonation perhaps a bit creamy. Taste does not linger and grains slightly dry the palate.

Not much Belgian quality here, more of a weak American wheat ale with a grain bill that darkens the bright wheat flavor and basic spices. Would not revisit.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 06:38:30 | More by rawfish

UCLABrewN84

California

3.4/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best by 5/9/12.

Pours a murky light orange with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a thin film on top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of wheat, spices, and yeast. Taste is of sweet wheat and some subtle spice flavors. This beer has a pretty good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good witbier that is easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 06:19:57 | More by UCLABrewN84

hopfacebrew

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Old Chicago's. Served to a pint glass. The beer arrives a hazy pale amber color, light in color, with a 1/2 finger white cap. Some retention and lacing throughout. The nose is sweet and contains hints of fruity spice such as coriander, hints of orange and lemon and wheat. The flavor very much follows suit with a malty wheat sweetness, hints of lemons, orange and coriander spice. Mildly bitter. Creamy in nature. Lingers with hints of spicy sweetness and fruit. Wheat flavor is strong, though, perhaps a little much so. Good carbonation and lighter mouthfeel. Overall, not the best witbier but not bad at all. Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 15:19:20 | More by hopfacebrew

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap in LA.

A - Served a pale light yellow, slightly cloudy. A foamy cream colored head with solid retention and lots of lacing left on the glass.

S - No much here. Some wheat and light spices.

T - Simar to the smell, but a little stronger. More wheat and almost Belgian yeast. A slight bannana finish.

D - Good carbonation with a light body.

O - Ljght, crisp and spicy for a wheat. Not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2012 05:10:47 | More by HuskyinPDX

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Alaskan White Ale, Alaskan Brewing, Juneau, Alaska.

Their take on the Belgian witbier, of wheat/wheat ale style.

Cloudy, white amber color, nearly white, large lather of foam floats atop, lovely and pillowy. Quite a sight.

Aroma: sweetness of spice and sugar, some fruit, definitely coriander, a very by-the-books, kind-of witbier. And that's what I like, now and then. Some orange, some lemon, but the spice and the wheat are on top.

Taste: Creamy stuff, while still zesty and sweet. Creme Brullee' action up in here. Vanilla and cream. With citrus below, and spice still going. Smooth, creamy, sweet, and drinkable. Perhaps smoother and creamier than I like from a wit, but if "drinkability" is what they're going for, it's what they got.

A little something wheaty, a little something fruity, a little something creamy. Not the best wit, but serviceable, will do the job.

Just enough hops for me, just enough pretty fruit and spice, but can't ever imagine having more than one. But, here's to those that will!

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2012 01:39:14 | More by feloniousmonk

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle pours a hazed gold color, dark for a witbier, with a creamy cap of white head. Modest retention and no lace.

Nose is heavy on the coriander with a fair amount of orange as well. Malt base is very soft with the wheat definitely noticeable. Smells good.

Yea, this one's only accepting applications from big fans of coriander. Fluffy wheat base and the coriander give it a sweet feel to it and a hefty body. Drinkability is through the roof, I could easily chug the whole glass in one or two sips. I am surprised at the fairly low scores for this one, I am enjoying the shit out of it. Alaskan has one of the most solid regular lineups of any brewery in the country, in my opinion. Love their beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 18:11:27 | More by twiggamortis420

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a pale gold color with a slight haze. It had a one finger, white head of bubbly foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of coriander, lemon zest and some yeastiness. A subtle wheat aroma, too.

T - It tasted of lemony with some coriander, wheat and spiciness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a very nice witbier. Yet another solid offering from Alaskan Brewing.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 03:13:17 | More by zeff80

blakelive784

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 fl oz bottle served in a weizen glass, reviewed live:

A - Pours a nearly transparent golden color with a light orange hue. The head is white, one finger, and recedes quickly.

S - Has a very spicy aroma. Clove, coriander and spicy wheat. Simple and mild, but incredibly inviting.

T - Similar to the nose. Pleasant pale malt and wheat foundation with a spicy body. Coriander, lemongrass, and citrus notes. Nice flavors and well built.

M - Light bodied, crisp and smooth. Nicely built.

D - Subtly complex, and highly sessionable. I will reach for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 02:58:37 | More by blakelive784

kojevergas

California

3.18/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Brown glass bottle (I think 355 ml) with standard pressure cap served into a Brown Palace mini-hefeweissbier glass in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live.

A: Pours a two finger head of fair cream & thickness, and average retention. Lightly cloudy yellow.

Sm: Spice: coriander, clove. Wheat. A simple, moderate strength aroma.

T: Spices over top a fully expressive wheat foundation. Pleasant and enjoyable. Pretty simple, but pleasant, enjoyable, and refreshing nonetheless. I respect it because it does more than just lemon peel, a welcome experimental approach to the style. Balanced and built quite well.

Mf: Smooth and wet, suiting the flavours. Features an increase in dryness and coarseness on the finish, which serves to dry the mouth out and encourage the next sip of the wet and smooth open. A touch thick for a witbier, but all around enjoyable.

Dr: Very drinkable and enjoyable. I'd easily have it again, preferably on draught. While I do think it'd do better without that final injection of dry coarseness, it remains an enjoyable - if simple - witbier that I'd easily recommend to fans of the style.

Would pair well with popcorn.

C+

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 02:56:09 | More by kojevergas

rlee1390

Indiana

3.23/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Cloudy yellow, lots of yeast sediment and a one finger head that doesn't last long.

S-Some spices, lemon and a little wheat

T-A little bit of lemon and the spices. Wheat notes balanced it out. No bitterness to be found.

M-Light with little carbonation.

O-A boring beer. Not much to write home about. Saving grace would be that you can throw a few back if you ever wanted to.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 04:13:55 | More by rlee1390

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.03/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap @ the Firehouse in Meridian ID. Served in a pint glass.

A: Doesn't look like a Witbier...clear golden straw color with ample carbonation and a soft pillowy off-white head that dissipates quickly. Reminds me of a pilsner actually.

S: Smells of faint grainy notes and malt sweetness...tons of bready characters and yeast esters, faint floral and grassy hop notes.

T: Follows the nose, bready, with a light bitterness. Hints of a light fruit character in the hops and esters, but its mostly a lightly grainy malt sweetness...fairly bready (which I assume is helped in some part by the wheat) but very thin.

MF: Light feel, highly carbonated and fairly dry. Again, not on par with what I would assume would be standard for this style.

O: Its mildly enjoyable and definitely drinkable but I can think of a lot of readily available beers I enjoy more.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2011 23:27:18 | More by Scotchboy

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.6/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Had this served at a good temperature, with a small, rapidly vanished off white head and no lace. Color is a clear amber with lots of bubble trails. Aroma is beery, yeast, spice, malt, grass. Flavor is like nose and is dominated by carbonic tang and yeast, followed by malt and a little spice. Barest hint of orange, maybe I'm even imagining it. Body is ok, but carbonation is very fizzy. Finish is like flavor, fairly short and forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 04:51:50 | More by drpimento

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

2.75/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Transferred over from my tasting notebook and edited for clarity. Might as well work on this task in my limited free time in alphabetical order I suppose.

I was really excited to learn that WI was going to get some beer distributed from Alaska, it seemed so exotic, so far away. Poured out a translucent darker gold color, one finger of foam that dissipated in about a minute, no real lacing. I was expecting a lot more head than this. Thinner bodied, but effervescent like a soda with the level of carbonation present. Smells of light grains and orange zest with some minor murky floral hop undertones, taste follows the nose to a T. But I failed to detect as much complexity as I have had in other witbiers... I can't find any coriander, any tartness, or spice. Hopefully Alaskan Brewing's other offerings are better than this was.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 22:49:08 | More by WastingFreetime

deebo

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Golden, much clearer than most wits. Barely any foam, looks pretty plain.

S-Grainy, wheaty, hints of spices.

T-Only beer I've ever had that reminds me of dill weed; more so when it is fresh. Also has a bit of hot dog flavor, mace and coriander like. Wheat and barley dominate rest of flavor.

M-Nice body-seems like more barley than most wits. Very little CO2.

D-High, but so are most wit beers.

O-Nice easy drinking white. Not as sweet as most American witbiers. Nothing outstanding about this beer-just a solid drinking beer that I will be glad to have more of.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 02:31:26 | More by deebo

ChopperSmith

Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. stubby bottle into a clear standard pint glass.

Appearance: Slightly hazy deep golden color. One finger white foam head that receded quickly and left very little sticky lacing.

Smell: Very faint aromas of hops and some slight sweetness. Not much going on with the nose on this one.

Taste: Very weak flavors and the hops overpower the sweetness and spices. Not a great example of the Witbier style.

Mouth feel: Thin, watery and medium-to-high carbonation.

Drinkability: Very light and thin, and the typical subtle flavors and spices of the Witbier style are overpowered by the hops in this one. Not a great example of the style. Probably wouldn't seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 17:26:01 | More by ChopperSmith

Duff27

Illinois

2.53/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a short, shirt lived white fizzy head. Beer is an orange golden color. Fast moving effervescence. Low head retention, no lacing.

Smells of a BMC type lager with a hint of citrus.

Follows the smell almost to a tee. Faint citrus, mosr specifically orange.

Fizzy carbonation on the tongue. Medium mouthfeel, slightly watery.

Not impressed overall, especially since my only other Alaskan beer thusfar was the Smoked Porter. A step up from BMC lager types but besides that don't waste your time/money.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 01:01:49 | More by Duff27