I had high expectations for this beer. I like wheat beers, I like Belgium, and I figured it must be good if the bottle gives specific instructions for how to pour this beer. It tells you to pour 2/3 into a Hoegaarden hexagonal glass (which of course I don’t have) then swirl bottle and pour the remaining beer into the glass. The swirling causes a nice head to form when poured. The look of this beer was the best part about it. It was a cloudy golden color which is typical for an unfiltered white wheat beer.
The smell was as if someone dropped some overly ripe bananas into a bowl of yeast and pepper. And that what it tasted like. I don’t put pepper on my bananas when I eat them so why would I enjoy the taste of peppery bananas in my beer? It is a little heavy on the carbonation which maybe is a good thing because it took some of the attention off the disappointing taste.
All I could think of drinking this beer is when I used eat Runt candy as a kid and leave the crappy banana ones to the end to be thrown out. The only thing nastier than banana Runts are a mouthful of banana Runts with a dash of pepper…no thanks. Needless to say, I won’t be drinking this beer again…unless I start liking banana Runts.
ABV: 4.9%
Grade: C-
The peppery notes are due to the corriander seeds that have add spicy kick (the seeds look similar to peppercorns). Belgium Wits are brewed with Orange peel and corriander seeds added in the final stages of the boil. Banana and clove flavor are definately apparent in German Wheats (Hefeweisens) because of the yeast that is used. I agree, I don’t like bananas so Hefes are my least favorit beer. Belgian Wits on the other hand are thirst quenchers. I would recommend trying Great Lakes’ Holy Moses White Ale, Sam Adams’ White Ale, New Belgium’s Mothership Wit and Sunshine Wheat, Point’s White Wheat, Victory’s Whirlwind Wit, and Summit’s Scandia Ale. These are all the same style as Hoegarrden, but American versions.
For some reason, non-beer drinkers tend to really like this beer. It was actually the first wheat beer I ever had, and I remember enjoying it. It’s been years…now I’m curious as to how it might taste on a second go round. Unlike Tom, though, I like bananas…
Also…if you want to try a truly incredible, fruity wheat beer without the peppery banana…pick up some Track Town Honey Orange Wheat Ale by Eugene City Brewery in Oregon (they fall under the Rogue umbrella). Should be at your local Binny’s.
I’ve noticed there’s a distinct difference in taste when served on tap, rather than poured from the bottle. Perhaps try it that way next time, you may like it a little better. If you’re up to it, try it again on draft during the summer, because it’s more of a thirst-quencher than a sipper.