Partly Sunny - Ithaca Beer Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Decent wheat beer. Pours golden, with lasting white foamy head. Refreshing aroma, a tad of spice. Flavourful wheat,a little orange-lemon,corriander and maybe cardomon, carbonation right there. Drinkable though nothing to drink frequently.Perhaps a little too spicy for everyday.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 02:03:44 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.7/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Partly Sunny is partly cloudy. The light haze in the bright yellow beer clears somewhat with radiant sunshine behind the glass. The forecast calls for taste bud showers in the next few minutes. Up top is a two finger crown that can only be called dingy white. It's less than wonderful looking, but not bad, and doesn't leave much lace.

I like the nose because it's bursting with bright citrus peel. Tradition is fine and dandy, but I wish more brewers would add lemon peel along with orange peel, as Ithaca has done here. They didn't stop there, though. They've also added ginger, nutmeg and mace to the classic coriander. While I can't say that I appreciate each and every one, they add up to something different and enjoyable.

The flavor is good without being a standout. My first impressions on the negative side of the ledger are that Partly Sunny is a little skimpily malted and is a shade too bitter for the style. On the positive side, the flavor profile has a lot to recommend it due to the extra ingredients listed above. Lemon peel, in particular, gives it a puckery zing.

I like the amount of warm spiciness relative to the amount of cool wheatiness and the amount of fruitiness. Again, though, I would have added more wheat malt and fewer Hallertau hops. As the ounces disappear, I'm tempted to bump the flavor score, but that 'something special' isn't there no matter how hard I want it to be. The impressively long finish is where the beer shines the brightest.

The mouthfeel is appropriately light with a multitude of fine bubbles that don't cross the line into fizziness. A few swirls is all it takes to recreate a thick disk of foam atop the beer.

Partly Sunny is the best of the Ithaca offerings that I've had so far (Oops, almost forgot about the outstanding Cascazilla). I like the fact that the brewers broke out of the usual witbier mold and added ingredients that one doesn't often see in beer of this style. I'll bet New Yorkers drink a lot of this stuff every summer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2007 12:36:42 | More by BuckeyeNation

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at Ithaca Memorial Day weekend 2011.

Poured a somewhat-hazy yellow-golden with a short white head and some spotty lacing on the way down. The nose carried some light orange and lemon plus a bit of light spice. The flavor was moderately spiced with some citrus there as well. Light straw and grain. Body was light with good carbonation. Fairly dry finish. Pretty solid witbier.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2011 13:01:37 | More by Thorpe429

oberon

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tumbler a hazed very light straw color a thinner white head atop,very mild wheaty aromas somewhat toasted not much citrus and/or spiciness to be had here.Starts out somewhat dry and toasty with a real wheat malt profile after a bit some orange essence comes thru and becomes more pronounced.Not bad a summer quaffer here just not real big in the flavor department really,

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2007 19:53:31 | More by oberon

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a nice gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a wonderful wheat malt and yeast scent that is a bit dry and fruity. It also contains a moderate amount of coriander and bitter orange peel. The taste is good as well. It has a smooth and refreshing wheat flavor that goes down easy and finishes a bit dry, yet fruity. It's spiced up with coriander and orange peel. I love the taste of this beer. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a good seasonal beer and another new offering from IBC. These guys are finally producing some top notch beers.

Serving type: growler

08-31-2005 23:10:19 | More by WesWes

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is hazy dark yellow in color and poured with a thin white head that quickly faded away and left lacing on the surface, which eventually completely faded away leaving only a ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of orange citrus and wheat in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste is dominated by flavors of citrus and wheat, but there are also some spicy hints of coriander.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is very easy to drink and can be considered sessionable but I wouldn’t consider it refreshing enough to be thirst quenching.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2011 11:29:17 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap 9/16/2010 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

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

S: The aroma contains wheat, light malts, lemon, spices and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out sweet with strong flavors of lemon, clove and coriander. Then bready flavors of wheat and a hearty malt character come in. The hops presence is very mild but about where it should be for the style. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

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

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this a decent lighter beer to drink for a while but there are others in the style that I would pick first.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2010 16:02:31 | More by TheManiacalOne

jwc215

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours clouded golden yellow with a thin white lasting head.

The smell is of coriander, orange/lemon, wheat tang and a touch of honey.

The taste is of a honey-like sweetness with bready wheat and tart lemon/orange. It has a somewhat medicinal drying spiciness in the finish.

It is light-bodied with ample carbonation.

Spicy with some sweet and tart. Not a bad American Wheat with witbier inspiration at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 16:55:13 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my Allagash chalice very enticing appearance with beautiful sunrise orange golden glow to it semi cloudyed large bubbled slightly off white head that forms a nice clouded texture about three fingers thick rising above the rim of my glass. Aromatics are slightly spiced maybe very light coriander and citrus tones coming through almost perfume like smells great. Taste hits with the lemon/citrus pith tones and heavy layer of spicing it has to be coriander this is tasting pretty witbier like. Leaves a nice bitter finish with the citrus peel tones overall a nice summer ale. Mouthfeel is light on the carbonation a very mellow experience Belgian yeast and spices leave their mark on my palate. Body isn't thin this has some malts given it a bit of girth, in the middle between light and medium bodied not watery or heavy. Drinkability is decent no trouble getting through a glass I will check out their sampler pack this summer, with fresh Cascazilla, Pale, Partly Sunny, and the Groundbreak Saison that makes for a fun 12 pack sampler.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2010 14:28:46 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clouded straw gold that has a nice white head that falls quickly. Nose is citrus and a bit of lemongrass as well. The scents are there, but not powerful or overly strong. Gives a rather smooth and calm fragrance. Flavor is thick with wheat and has a few good dashes of light citrus flavors. Not overly strong or complex though. Feel is nice and smooth on the liquid with small bubbles of carbonation hitting the tongue. Overall very drinkable. A smooth and calm witbier that is definitely worth trying. Nice job Ithaca!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 06:06:55 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Cloudy straw color. Modest head, particularly for a wheat. No lace.

Smells like sour cream and confectioner sugar. Light spice in the background.

Flavors of coriander, soured milk, yeast and wheat. Smooth start to the body, but the high level of carbonation brings out some of the more bitter qualities of this brew. Slightly citrusy.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2009 02:47:52 | More by smcolw

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a larger 2+ finger fluffy head that fades semi quickly with some sticky lacing, over hazy banana yellow color.

Nose brings plenty of Belgian malts and wheats, light sweetness, plenty of wheat aromas, touch toasty malts, golden saison like spices are light but present, hints of banana and citrus.

taste starts fairly sweet, lots of citrus and banana and tons of wheat, light toasty malts, light overall but a fairly strong flavor, light saison spices, touch of clove, some bitterness comes through as it goes, gets a bit more bitter on the finish and fairly dry, a bit to heavy on the spices and sweet malts overall though.

Mouth is med to a bit lighter bodied, tons of carbonation.

Overall not bad, nice flvors but a bit heavier than expected for total spices and wheats, as well as sweetness, and a bit over carbonated, but a nice beer otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 18:18:52 | More by jlindros

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: A pale tangerine color is moderately hazy, with a strong waverly mist of micro-bubbles rising within. The capping is strong, 2 fingers, sea-shell white in color, with a frumpy, stryofoam like texture. The lacing is equally strong sticking well to the glass leaving a chunky, bready ring band about.

S: Pale oranges, wheat and a pretty good musky nature. Fairly simple, could use some sharpness as well coriander to spice things up.

T: sharp nature, pale oranges and wheat. No frills flavor that lacked a good spiciness (again coriander and a lemony touch would have been nice). Musky hops, some bitterness come on the close. Dry wheat base, mundane flavor and spicing.

M: Upfront crispness, very tight and well suited per style, but quickly turns to a washy feel after a few seconds. Bubbly, washy that loses credibility on the hold.

O: Besides a good visual nature the beer lacks in comparison to staple styles like hoegaarden. Lacks a good spicy nature, bite, with a fairly sloppy wheat base that comes off as ordinary as the spicing. Partly sunny is partly dull and overcast.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 22:50:31 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

4.22/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a cloudy light straw hue with a three finger foamy white head. There was very good lacing and retention.

The smell featured elements of orange and lemon zest with a strong coriander and clove spice. Undertones of yeast and wheat malt as well.

The taste was upfront zesty citrus with a strong clove, coriander and grain of paradise spice. Chewy yeast and wheat flavors present toward the finish.

The mouthfeel was light yet rather chewy.

Overall an excellent wit and a great summer beer (although I sampled while watching the Fiesta Bowl). Very flavorful and highly quaffable. Another excellent upstate New York summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2007 01:58:54 | More by plaid75

jrallen34

Illinois

2.53/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12oz bottle poured into my Narke tulip...Pours a clear light gold, copper hint. A full white head of three fingers, over one finger hangs for awhile, good lacing...The aroma is pretty nice, lots of clove and wheat, sweet and nice, surprised...The taste is not good at all, the clove turns in banana vodka, harsh, alcoholic, astringent, not good.

This is a bad wit, don't bother.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 23:43:27 | More by jrallen34

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.55/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle courtesy of RocPorterFanatic. Pours very hazed and has a massive, topographous white head. Awesome retention. This is an almost perfect looking wit.

Coriander is definitely there in the nose, as is a hefty wheat tang. Has a spritzy lemon character that is a bit different and gives it almost a sour-ish aroma. Interesting.

The lemony aspect is definitely big in the flavor as well and makes this one almost an american wheat/witbier hybrid flavor. The coriander is not very strong and the beer lacks the traditional 'soft' feel to it that most of the classic wits have. Still though, not bad and is fairly enjoyable to drink. As a proclaimed wit fiend, this was fun to try and has some unique characteristics, but ones enough for now.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 01:21:18 | More by twiggamortis420

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 08/08/08. Bottle. Pours a cloudy light orange with a nice white head. Aroma of light fruits (some tropical fruits and citrus/lemon), only faint spices. Flavor is light and fruity, some wheat. I like this a lot; light, crisp fruit with a decent malt backbone. Why does this get such poor ratings? Very enjoyable for me.
7/4/7/4/14 (3.6/5)

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2008 15:33:31 | More by LilBeerDoctor

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Prime 16 into an Allagash White goblet.

A: Lightly hazed pale orange body under two fingers of creamy white head. Terrific, rocky retention and plenty of lace. Classic-looking Wit.

S: Simple, straightforward Witbier. Plenty of clove spice, some light lemon peel and orange. Bright, fresh, and inviting.

T: Clove absolutely dominates, with citrus playing a distant second fiddle. Light chalkiness, and some lemon that persists on the watery finish. All the flavors but the lemon really fall off into nothingness, which helps its refreshing drinkability but hurts its bid to be a tasty or memorable beer.

M: Appropriately light, fizzy body. Nice.

O: I'm generally a big Ithaca fan, and certainly have to give them credit for making an easy-drinking, refreshing Witbier, but this one was definitely a bit of a disappointment. It has neither the creaminess of Allagash White, nor the complexity of an authentic Belgian. It's certainly worth ordering if you're just looking for a thirst-quencher on a partly (or fully) sunny day, but it's nothing to write home about.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 12:45:34 | More by woosterbill

tdm168

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

As soon as I opened the bottle, there was a ton of carbonation that poured out of the top of the bottle. When I poured it, it poured a hazy yellow with decent, soft white head that has good retention. The nose has notes of clove, yeast, and straw. The taste is clove, lemon, spice, yeast, white grapes, and very faint alcohol phenols. The mouthfeel is light bodied, moderately carbonated (in mouthfeel, not in pour), and very smooth.

Not bad, but hardly complex. This beer is a beginner's Wit. There's nothing offensive, but there are also elements of a decent wit. For those looking to get into the style, it's definitely worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 03:40:37 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

2.8/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

Murky yellow/brown color with a very short-lived white head and quite a few floaties.
To me it smells like a blend of citrus cleaner and that Witch-hazel stuff they have in every old school barber shop.
The taste is on the sour/bitter side with wheat flavor.
Medium bodied with a fizzy feel.
I would drink one if offered for free but I wouldn't order/buy one.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2009 21:35:45 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - A very nice bubbly yellow with a half inch of creamy white head. Looks pretty good.

S - Expecting a bit of lemon, yest or maybe some spice I am greeted with a smell of sour apples and pears. Is this a Saison? Very weird indeed.

T - Ow wow full on Saison flavors which is kind of offputting since it's very tart. I get full on apple and pear with a touch of lingering hay and a nice bit of hops in the finish. Rating to style this is a complete fail.

M - Medium bodied was surprisingly harder to drink than I thought.

Overall I love their "Groundbreak Saison" but this is kind of a disaster. Rating to style? Terrible. Rating to likeness. Pretty lousy.

I would avoid this if expecting to get a succession-able witbier.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 02:04:20 | More by DrDemento456

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

After a strong swirl of the botle, poured a cloudy apricot color with massive white foamy head that lasted throughout the glass. Much attractive sticky lacing.
Smell is a bit light with some spiciness evident. Also a light lemon-orange aroma present.
Taste is tangy with oranges notes detected. The spiciness is very restrained, yet still enjoyable. A peppery bite at the finish is the perfect balance.
An very enjoyable beer. Easy to drink. Went well on a warm srping afternoon after all my chores and errands were completed.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2007 18:51:41 | More by tgbljb

Gmann

New York

3.23/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy light brown color with a whitish haze. The pure white head dissipates quickly into a light cap. The aroma is heavy on coriander, perhaps grains of paradise as it smells very similar to Sam's Summer. The taste is of a tart lemon citrus and plenty of coriander. The heavy spice is cut by the wheat malt with balances out the flavor and saves the beer. The brew doesn't seem to use a Belgian yeast strain so not sure this is really a wit, just an american wheat with a bunch of coriander. The feel is light to moderate with fizzy carbonation, finishes tart and dry. An ok summer brew. Not a big fan of coriander but this is drinkable since the wheat malt helps balance it out. Not something I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 02:39:17 | More by Gmann

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Partly sunny has a partly cloudy yellow body with about a finger and a half of white head that dies pretty quickly. Not the greatest retention, and not lacing.

The nose is full of spices that feature nutmeg and coriander, along with some citrus peel aromas.

This is a pretty heavily spiced beer I would say. Nutmeg is pretty noticeable, which is no surprise considering that nutmeg is an extremely powerful spice that has to be sparingly used, if at all. Coriander makes an appearance, and it is backed up by a ton of citrus peel flavor. There is at least one other spice that I cannot quite put my finger on in there also. In the finish you really notice the wheat backbone, and I have to say the malted wheat in this one is pretty tasty despite the fact that it is somewhat overpowered.

Mouthfeel is light with moderate carbonation.

Overall, I have some problems with this one, but I have to say it is still pretty drinkable. It has a nice after tastes also.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 02:28:45 | More by Hojaminbag

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazed yellow gold, small cap of white froth, gone quickly. Nice scent filled with citrus peel, tangy wheat and fragrant spices. Taste follows scent, surprised at how full the flavor profile is... lots of bitter citrus, fresh ground spice and tangy wheat malt, maybe a touch too strong for more then a pint at a time. Light bodied, bubbly. A full flavored wit with a lot of good going for it.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 14:06:23 | More by rfgetz