Biere De Blanco
Craftsman Brewing Co.

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From:
Craftsman Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 5.41%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
15
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 19, 2021
Added:
Mar 30, 2005
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by DoubleJ:
Photo of DoubleJ
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

4.01/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at Beachwood BBQ and served in a tulip, on to the beer:

With its light golden color, it looks more like a blond than a witbier. On top sits a creamy thick head which retains well and leaves good lacing around. The aroma is soft per style, fruity with a little oat. And the flavor is very pleasant, leaning towards a fruitier witbier with orchard fruits, a kiss of spice, and a solid grain base which adds a little sweetness and creaminess to an otherwise crisp and very refreshing beer.

Is Craftsman LA's best kept secret? It already brews a number of good beers, and Bier de Blanco is just another good one in its diverse lineup.
Aug 12, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by mpenske from California

Sep 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by berlinabb from California

Feb 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by moonknight31 from California

Sep 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by ste5venla from California

Aug 17, 2012
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
To continue the debate, this was called a "Traditional Belgian Wheat" by the knowledgeable manager at Tiger Tiger. So I'd call it a Hefeweizen with a dose of Belgian yeast.

Hazy amber in the tall tulip. Nice sudsy mouthfeel and decent head. Long nose of cloves. Fairly tart with seriously hand to hand combat between the cloves and what apparently is coriander. I think it wouldn't be confused with any kind of Witbier in a blind tasting.

Light of body but quite malty plus some banana esters. A slight edge of hops, but mostly it's the spice. Fruity with a malted milk flavor. Overall, quite tasty and richly flavored, though a little strong with the clove and spice. But very fragrant and thoroughly drinkable. Another in the lively beers on the less-followed road by Mr. Craftsman.
Jun 27, 2012
Photo of UCLABrewN84
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Beer Belly in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, spice, yeast, and some citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same along with some citrus fruit flavors as well. There is a mild spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.
Jun 24, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On-tap at Provisions

A: The pour is hazy gold with a tall white head.

S: Lots of pepper and other spices, especially a fair amount of coriander. There is a nice bread and malt sweetness.  Light honey and floral notes, which are pleasant.

T:  The sweet bread and malts are prominent with a bit of spice to the flavor, too. Lots of coriander and a bit of orange peel. A hint of pepper, but not as strong as on the nose. There is a slight bitterness and a light honey flavor.

M: The body and carbonation are both what I would call medium.

O: I thought this was a pretty nice witbier. Good flavors and easy to drink.
Jul 05, 2011
Photo of FosterJM
Reviewed by FosterJM from California

3.97/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
593rd Review on BA
Draft to Taster
@Bruery Provisions

App- It had a nice light pale yellow color with a little bit of bubbles to it. Seemed a bit too cloudy for me.

Smell- Well balanced on the nose with the spices, citrus peels and coriander notes not dominating. They were there but just well crafted.

Taste- Taste follows the nose and again it was a muted balanced Wit. The coriander doesnt blast you in the face and its not watery so its not hard to choke down either.

Mouth- Light/Medium bodied with an almost high carbed bubble activity. Leaves a nice peel and coriander note.

Drink- A pretty well done wit. I liked this one as opposed to those that try to slam you in the face with the spices and coriander and wheat. I would like to have this one again.
Jun 27, 2011
Photo of Halcyondays
Reviewed by Halcyondays from California

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a cloudy pale gold, nice one finger head, good head retention and lace, a nice looking white beer all around.

S: Heavy on the orange peel, citrus oriented with raw wheat.

T: Great sweet orange notes, floral citrus, not overdone on the coriander which I prefer in a wit.

M: Smooth, crisp, clean, light-bodied, refereshing.

D: This is a very good white ale, kudos to Craftsman, great for the summertime.
Jul 20, 2009
Photo of rallison
Reviewed by rallison from California

3.62/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Beachwood BBQ.

Overall, not too impressed with this beer. The malts were mostly focused on showcasing a orange and coriander, with an ok body behind it.

Drinkability and mouthfeel were decent, and this beer would likely work well with a pretzel on a hot day. I found it relatively one dimensional compared to the good German examples - but at least its without any glaring flaws.

Overall, semi-recommended. If you come across it, it's worth a try.
Jun 08, 2007
Photo of goschool
Reviewed by goschool from California

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On-tap at Third Stop in West Hollywood, CA.

Appearance: It's a brightly cloudy straw color with a nice inch and a half of white head that sticks around for a while.

Smell: The nose has all sorts of spices, most noticeably clove, and plenty of orange.

Taste: The predominant flavor during the first half dozen sips is hot dog. Seriously, hot dogs right smack at the beginning of the flavor profile. It's strange for a non-smoked beer, but it's not necessarily bad. Once the hot dog flavor goes away, I'm left with a very solid witbier. Lots of coriander, orange peel, clove, pepper, and orange, but it's not as fruity as the aroma would have you believe.

Mouthfeel: Yeah it's a witbier, but it's still a little too aqueous at the finish.

Drinkability: I can say without a doubt that this is the best hot dog flavored witbier I've ever tasted.
May 26, 2007
Photo of Gueuzedude
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona

4.12/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer sits a pale, quite hazy, gold color in my pint glass. It is topped by a thin white head that is typical of a draught product. The aroma has a nice, pronounced spiciness to it. There are definitely the typical citrus-orange note, in fact the orange character seems a bit fresher and vibrant than might be found in a typical Wit. There is a bit of coriander in the nose as well, and it should be noted that it seems he used some quality coriander (or at least no much of the low quality stuff), because the coriander note is quite clean and without that earthy vegetal quality.

The taste is nice and sharp, it really has a lightly acidic quality to it that makes this beer quite refreshing to drink. Just as a good Wit should be. The orange peel is quite evident with a zippy citrus flavor that is perhaps not quite as noticeable as in the nose. The coriander is here as well, and even has some earthy spice notes to it. This is really quite a good example of a Wit; it really strikes a wonderful balance between ample flavor and quenching refreshment. I am always a sucker for a good Wit.
Jan 23, 2006
Photo of TheLongBeachBum
Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Presentation: Served at Lucky Baldwin’s in Pasadena on a quiet and rather wet Saturday afternoon from one of the bank of neatly arranged Craftsman Taps that sits front and square at LB's bar. Tall thin square sectioned wooden Tap handle with the words “Craftsman – Biere De Blanco” in black text running top to bottom. No strength listed.

Appearance: Hazed pale yellow body with a luscious soft & creamy white head that stays around. Spritzy carbonation.

Nose: Lots of clove and spices with some black pepper. Always fruity and virulent it has an appealing nose that has depth.

Taste: Zingy wheat, black pepper and spiced finish. Hints of citric freshness and some grapefruit mingle in a banana centre-piece. Finish is clean with some yeasty wheat in it.

Mouthfeel: The conditioning holds up well, but the finish seems to be a tad thin. Unfortunately as the lovely flavors fade out in the finish the Mouthfeel does seem to die off all too quickly.

Drinkability: Nicely put together with a long term quaffability, went well with the infamous LB’s Chicken Curry I have to say.

Overall: The second brew in what turned out to be a Craftsman “session” at Lucky Baldwin’s this weekend. I found this to be more of a Witbier rather than a Hefe Weizen (as listed) though, I’m not sure what Craftsman themselves would list this one as, but the name suggests it’s more Belgian than Teutonic, and that’s what I found. A tasty Wit that lacks a bit in the Mouthfeel and finish but a solid drinking Wit for sure.
Jan 16, 2006
Photo of BrewMaster
Reviewed by BrewMaster from California

3.24/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance: I had this beer on tap at Lucky Baldwin's on 3/29/05. The beer is served with a thin lacy head that leaves nice lacing on the glass as it is consumed. The beer is a bright but cloudy orangish/yellow with a dry palm frond color around the edge.

Smell: Floral with a strong banana smell. Notes of lavender and spice come through as well.

Taste: This beer starts nicely with a fruity wheat and spice flavor but then it just dies into a watery mess. The flavor fails to open up so you are left with that opening burst of flavor and then nothing. There is a good maltiness in the aftertaste but the beer really lacks flavor. What little flavor it has is good, but it needs more to be a really good beer.

Mouthfeel: This beer is thin but it was well carbonated from the tap.

Drinkability: This beer isn't bad or offensive, it just needs more flavor. They are on the right path with the flavor it just needs more of it. A reformulation could turn this into an outstanding beer.
Mar 30, 2005
Biere De Blanco from Craftsman Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 15 ratings