Woody Creek White - Flying Dog Brewery

TheSixthRing

California

3.81/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - Pours a hazy, pale orange with a white, finger width head. Fair retention, leaving a thin layer of microbubbles on the surface. Lots of sediment floating around the glass before settling to the bottom.

Smell - Classic witbier aroma; wheat, touch of milkiness and fruity ester, and moderate coriander.

Taste - Follows the nose. Wheat flavor and a ghostly milk-like character, backed by a healthy dose of coriander spice. Mild, but firm lemon bite. Finishes with spice and that lemon kick.

Mouthfeel - Light in body with lively carbonation. Bites the tongue. Watery around the edges. Crisp finish.

Overall - One of the better wits I can remember having. Not quite on the level of Allagash White, but it's a force all it's own. Will have to try again at some point down the road... maybe for a witbier side by side competition?

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 04:09:44 | More by TheSixthRing

UCLABrewN84

California

3.46/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Best before 10/20/12.

Pours a murky yellow with a foamy off-white head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Small particles of sediment are seen suspended in the beer after the pour. Smell is of malt, grain, yeast, and some subdued spice aromas. Taste is much the same with muted fruity, citrus flavors on the finish. There is a very mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that still tastes fine even being almost 6 months past the best before date.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 23:47:53 | More by UCLABrewN84

tectactoe

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a muddled straw color, filled with a suspended haze of a slightly darker shade that just hangs in limbo. Foamy and cloudy white head forms and reduces to a content quarter-inch and leaves a bit of lacing at the top. Aroma is a backlog of wheat, toppled over by some spice and fruity zest. Coriander, mild clove, orange peel, lemon zest. The wheat is mild but certainly a nice canvas for the rest of the aromas to work on. Overall pretty mild, borderline weak, but then again this is not intended to be a "big" beer, so it works well, given what it's trying to achieve.

The flavor is a little more watery and empty than the aroma would make it seem, but that's not to say it's completely without flavor; just a bit... muted. Dry grains, wheats, kind of musky, possible from the hops? Light lemon zest hits the tongue up front but is quickly overtaken by the grains, wheat, and malt. Some coriander is detectable in the finish, though the clove - not so much. The Belgian yeast doesn't go unnoticed, but it's not quite the star of the show as it is in many authentic Belgian beers. Middle of the sip contains a mild astringent, metallic flavor, but it quickly subsides and doesn't get in the way too much. Finish is mild bread, grains, and wheat; slightly watery with a dry finish. Thin body, highly carbonated.

At 4.8% ABV, you could drink these suckers all day and be fine. Seems like a good one to drink on a really hot summer day. Other than that, there isn't much to it. Not bad, but nothing too special, either.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 04:16:00 | More by tectactoe

gpogo

California

2.73/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

A- Cloudy dull yellow body with a white head that dissipated to almost nothing.

A- Light wheat and slight coriander.

T- Floury wheat taste with an overwhelming 'bad homebrew' flavor(slightly buttery). Light citrus, but otherwise a pretty mild flavor overall.

M- Light body and moderate carbonation.

D- Aside from the weird off flavor it wouldn't be bad, just far from exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 04:12:30 | More by gpogo

kylehay2004

Florida

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

Fairly large white head that dissipates quickly on a cloudy dull golden body. Aroma of corriander, Belgian yeast, orange peel and powder sugar. Flavor is pretty mild and a bit watery with more corriander, yeast and hint of lemon and orange citrus. Light body and moderate to high carbonation. The look and aroma make this one promising but it was a little too watery and under flavored even for the style. But, not terrible.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 01:07:08 | More by kylehay2004

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle into a Heady Topper pint.

1 Finger foamy white head that dissipates quickly. Beer is a semi-clear pale yellow. Lacing is spotty and sparse. Average.

Aroma is of coriander and other spices and lemon zest. Sweet. Moderately aromatic. Decent.

Opens sweet. Lemon zest, coriander, and other spices. Slight tartness contrasts nicely with the malt backbone. Some more lemon rind and a slight peppercorn bitterness in the finish with floral notes on the aftertaste. Pretty good.

Light bodied with ample carbonation. Prickly and lively in the mouth and goes down clean and abrasive. Slight finish with a mellow, slightly lingering aftertaste. Really drinkable.

Not a standout but this witbier is solid for the style. I could see this as a go-to summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 00:15:52 | More by SpeedwayJim

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

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

Woody Creek looks as though it were passed over with a highlighter; this pallid, anemic yellow looks almost neon to the light. Between the inherent cloudiness and the near total lack of visible carbonation, this beer actually looks an awful lot like Limoncello.

It's not just the beer's appearance that's bright - the addition of coriander and orange peel creates the aromatic equivalent of a New Year's fireworks display. Zesty and tangy scents leap out the glass with grasshopper-like spring, layering a bouquet that is already a complicated mix of fruity, savoury and grainy elements.

Witbiers are so easily, so casually enjoyed, yet, beneath the thoughtless consumption, lay a labyrinth of dynamic and contrasting flavours: chamomile-like herbalness, bitter but citrusy dried orange peel, the zesty spice of coriander and the sweet, biscuity, honeyed taste of oats and pale malt. For good measure, the finish is even tart!

The mouthfeel is awash in lemony, soapy oils to the extent that, while it does wonders to quench a strong thirst on a hot day, I can't help but think it might be good for exfoliating as well. Between the sweet, savoury, spicy, acidic and tart textures, the one thing conspicuously absent is bitterness (although, frankly, it's not needed).

All that needs to be said about Woody Creek has been laid out above. It's a neat looking, zestfully aromatic, ridiculously agreeable beer that's layered with a smorgasbord of tastes and textures. And given the price point, we can add "affordable" to that list of 'pros' too. As for the 'cons', my only one is that this was the only bottle in the house.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 16:01:03 | More by biegaman

Billolick

New York

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness info.

Pours lighter and hazed tangarine under a near white fluffy head, that stays a bit. Leaves decent light bands of stickage.

Delicate floral nose.

Light, more floral characteristics, some honey and light tea coming through. Respectable take on the style. Easy drinking and summary.

Would go well with a light lunch of salads, cheese and bread on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 18:58:47 | More by Billolick

tony223366

California

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: About 2 fingers of lightly fluffy head that dissipated rather quickly. Straw golden yellow with tons of sediment. The lacing is ok, but that retention is disappointing.

S: Aroma is mostly of the spices and the great yeastiness. Some lemony citrus. Nice, sweet malt that reminds me of straw.

T: The spices definitely come off primarily. It's very up front. There is a wheat flavor that I enjoy. Nice acidity with great lemon. It falls a little flat on the finish though. It makes the finish clean, but I'm wishing there was a little more.

M: Medium to light body. Nice carbonation.

O: The beer is really refreshing if not uncomplicated. I wish there was a little more to it but then it wouldn't be as refreshing. All in all a good beer but one I won't get again

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 05:23:30 | More by tony223366

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from session notes.

It poured a clouded pale straw yellow with another lackluster head performance, no lacing. But it smells of coriander and chamomile tea over pale malts (both American and Belgian). Tastes of those malts with a healthy dose of orange peel sharpness and just a little pinch of bitter at the finish. Light fluffy mouthfeel...not bad overall.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 21:17:34 | More by WastingFreetime

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Ba Review #193
Served On: 07/19/2012
Glassware: Wheat Glass
Labeled ABV: 4.8%
Date/ Code: 2012 Release

Had this beer just before leaving for vacation a few days ago. Just now getting around to posting the review.

Look: Poured a cloudy yellow. Head was a 1/2-finger of white foam. Lacing formed nicely on the glass. Carbonation bubbles were minimal.

Smell: A typical Witbier aroma. Peppery coriander, clove, some faint banana. Nothing special was in the nose.

Taste: Again, very typical to the style. The coriander hit first with hints of sweet banana making up the middle. The finish was a long lasting mango or kiwi that faded into a clean aftertaste.

This was a textbook Witbier in my opinion. I would say that DFH Namaste is probably a good comparison here. I've had others that were very similar, but the level of quality is probably what sets this beer apart from the others.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 14:11:18 | More by CraftBeerTastic

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the 355 ml. bottle marked 316B12. Sampled on July 19, 2012. It pours hay-yellow with cloudiness and a fizzy white head that lingers for the session.

The aroma is true to the style with a powerful spicy coriander character, orange peel, and pale malts.

The body is light and easy. The taste is vibrant with sweet malts, spice, coriander, citrus, and a clean crisp hop finale. This is a fine rendition of the classic White style.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 23:31:22 | More by puboflyons

smakawhat

Maryland

3.3/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a Hoegarden glass.

A nice unfiltered and glowing yellow lemon orb body, with a fluffly white cap even a little hint of orange yeast residue sprinkled on top from the bottom of the bottle. Some good carbonation as well.

Nose is a nice orange, hints of grass and earth, small wheat density, pretty solid and simple wit going on here to smell.

Palate hits with a little bit of we body, but mostly the flavor is of subdued malts and carbonation. Finishes fairly clean but mostly of club soda. Fruit character hinting at seems non existent in the palate. A little bit of creamy texture sneaks in making it slightly better than average.

Overall kind of run of the mill for a witbier, not so much doing it for me, but nothing horrific either.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 22:41:52 | More by smakawhat

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Super dirty super pale dead yellow color with a big effervescent white head. Dried banana bread on the nose with clove and touches of citrus and corriander. Some spice.

highly carbonated body. Faint banana and bubble gum flavors with bready malts, a touch of tropical fruit and a spicy dry finish. Not deeply complex or overpowering but good flavors with good drinkability. Not nearly the best or anything out of the ordinary but much better than flying dogs in heat wheat . Crisp cool and refreshing. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 04:51:09 | More by jtierney89

jman42

New Jersey

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

A = Pale golden color with a slight orange haze. Good head, nice retention and lacing seems nice.

S = Yeasty. Nice - just like a wit should.

T = Good yeasty taste to it too. An underlying spice taste is slightly discernable - maybe orange/coriander.

M = I like this. Lingers in my mouth a bit with a touch of creaminess on my tongue.

O = A pretty decent example of a Belgium Wit Bier. I'll pick up some more of these for a bbq later in the week.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 16:53:16 | More by jman42

rlee1390

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Cloudy yellow, some carbonation, lots of sediment with a two finger head.

S-Lots of lemon (almost artificial), with clove and banana rounding it out.

T-Very sweet, lemon, clove, banana and some orange and wheat as well. Not bitterness.

M-Light, some carbonation, a tad on the watery side.

O-A decent summer beer, easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 16:31:50 | More by rlee1390

Florida9

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Very cloudy pale yellow in color with a few floaties floating around. Forms a small bright white head that has pretty good retention, but slowly reduces to not much more than a thin surface coating. No lacing.

S: Mild aroma of wheat, coriander, and yeast.

T: The flavor is bright and light. Light bit of bready malts with notes of coriander, lemon, orange, spice, yeast, and some yeasty by-products. Quick finish.

M: Lighter bodied with heavy carbonation and a mild bitterness.

O: A decent representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 02:03:30 | More by Florida9

flagmantho

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip.

Appearance: nice silvery hue; something akin to pear juice. Plenty of haze and effervescence; head pours a finger of pillowy white foam. Looks good!

Smell: refreshing, light wheaty aroma. A light spicing and hint of citrus make this guy smell quite quaffable. I like it.

Taste: light wheaty flavor with a bit of dryness; it seems highly attenuated for a witbier. Some bitterness imparted, I think, from orange peel; it's not a welcoming bitterness. I like this beer, but it's got a touch of harshness which I would like to see gone.

Mouthfeel: light body with a giant carbonation and bodacious creaminess. Love it.

Overall: aside from a bit of harshness in the flavor, I like this beer a lot. I would definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 23:46:08 | More by flagmantho

JMad

Texas

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky straw yellow color with a fluffy thick white head. It smells of banana clove, grass and wheat. The taste is nice and lemony, it's very refreshing with grassy hop tones, banana and wheat. The beer is light with lots of carbonation and a slightly dry finish. This is a solid wheat beer, nothing spectacular but still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 01:37:25 | More by JMad

gatornation

Minnesota

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

from a 12 oz bottle part of a mix sixer

A-pours a slightly hazes lemon yellow color with a small head but a nice fresh collar

S- was light yeast with some fruit baked lemon bread

T- light tastes of belgian yeast with lemongrass and wheat fruit and malts

M- nice carbonation light fruity and bready malts

O- ok Witbier but so many others that are better this one is drinkable and refreshing just not remarkable but worth a try

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 22:30:19 | More by gatornation

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

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

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a pale, hazy, unfiltered yellow coloring with a thick, frothy, chunky, clean white head. Aromas spill forth as you pour, with a strong clove spicing amongst some bready and nutmeg characteristics. FLavors are light and crisp, with a spicing that enhances the toasted grain and bready backbone without overpowering it. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove combine to give a roasted, baked bread type flavor profile in mouth, while remaining light with citrus highlights. The aftertaste is a light spice and roasting, which is well balanced and pleasant. Smooth finish with a crisp bite at the end. Tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 22:09:46 | More by GarthDanielson

jsh420

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

pours hazy yellow gold with a big pillowy white head that had good retention

smells of banana and light grains

taste just like the nose banana little clove some must semi sweet grains

mouthfeel - light body carbonation to the hilt

overall the beer has decent flavors but its closer to a hefe then a wit

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 04:06:07 | More by jsh420

PopeXXIII

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Has the appearance of unfiltered apple juice. Cloudy, fuzzy, yellow. A little lacing sticks to the sides of the glass.

S: Smells like Belgian yeast. Nice and bready.

T: A little sweet. Has a belgian yeast flavor, a little estery.

M: Creamy due to mild sweetness and moderate carbonation. Nice, light and refreshing.

This is a great beer. Looking forward to having it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 05:07:01 | More by PopeXXIII

Kendo

New York

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

A: Poured from the bottle into a pilsner glass. Body is light straw-yellow with a half-finger white head on top. Leaves a little bit of lace.

S: Spice, corander, lemongrass and wheat. Also some perfume, floral scents.

T: Light-tasting. There's a bit of lemon zest followed by spiciness - coriander - and then a wheat twang followed by a semi-tart finish. Fairly clean on the finish, with some lingering lemony bitterness.

M: Light in body; highly carbonated, but fairly smooth and fizzy in feel.

O: Good for the style - it's light, pretty refreshing; a nice curveball from the usual wheats or hefes that I tend towards in this (broad) style area.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 01:39:53 | More by Kendo

matjack85

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

60º today in February in Chicago. Time to break out a summer beer. Single 12oz brown bottle from the Binny's store in Glen Ellyn, IL for $1.89. No freshness date - just a small blurb about the beer on the front label.

The beer poured a completely cloudy pale yellow color with a 1-finger white head. Neither the head retention nor the lacing was very impressive. Some brown sediment settles to the bottom.

Loaded with orange peel and coriander aroma, as is typical of a witbier. Some wheat smell underneath.

Very citrusy from the orange peel, with a hefty dose of pepper and coriander to give it a spicy kick. Wheat and Belgian yeast round out the other flavors.

Light body and crisp carbonation add to the refreshing feel.

Have to agree with the brothers on this one - it's one of the best US made witbiers on the market.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 09:36:03 | More by matjack85