Optimal Wit
Port City Brewing

Optimal WitOptimal Wit
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From:
Port City Brewing
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Witbier
Ranked #93
ABV:
5%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,109
Avg:
3.77 | pDev: 11.14%
Reviews:
96
Ratings:
460
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 26, 2024
Added:
Feb 04, 2011
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  126
Belgian style white ale brewed with spices
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ShanePB:
Photo of ShanePB
Reviewed by ShanePB from Pennsylvania

3.72/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle, courtesy of Mike, straight from the brewery. Bleak and boring label...

A: Hazy pale yellow, fizzy almost non existent white head, unless you pour quite vigorously.

S: Quite muted, though some notes of clove, spice and orange peel come through. Subtle notes of coriander and banana in the back end.

T: Very refreshing and light. Lemon, orange, mango and some clove spice. Nothing is dominant or over done - all flavors are blended quite well with each other. Finishes leaves a bit of dryness that I wish wasn't there.

M: Low end of being a medium-bodied beer, nice ample carbonation.

An extremely easy drinking Witbier, for sure. There isn't too much going on here in terms of flavors in both the nose and taste, but there's enough to be refreshing and tasty. Sure there are better Witbiers out there but a really good first attempt from a new brewery.
Apr 04, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of BWestMiller
Reviewed by BWestMiller from Pennsylvania

4.57/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Great taste paired with Peruvian rotisserie chicken and yucca fries from Chicken & Whiskey in Washington DC, where it is sold. Full bodied and refreshing, just the perfect amount of added spices for a festive, well-balanced white ale. Remarkable!
Feb 26, 2024
 
Rated: 2.82 by Brian_Pheiffer from California

Feb 02, 2024
Photo of Nass
Rated by Nass from Florida

3.61/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
The pour is dandellion colored. The taste is orange & coriander. Cheers! B
Dec 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.27 by QuintusHorace from California

Nov 23, 2023
Photo of bv51
Rated by bv51 from Washington

3/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Ok not likely to buy again
Apr 15, 2023
 
 
Rated: 3.94 by caffeinelogic from New York

Oct 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.25 by Wer34truh from Minnesota

Sep 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Satsuma from Florida

Aug 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.62 by biteme398 from New York

Apr 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.64 by Silke_Neryn from Sweden

Mar 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4.69 by dmwils from Massachusetts

Dec 24, 2021
Photo of MAB
Reviewed by MAB from Canada (AB)

3.97/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Day 11 of the advent calendar 2021.

Straw colored and with a plentiful white head. Very bubbly. Served mine in a chalice.
Yeast and sweet notes on the nose. Cloves and malt and other citrus-y spices on the palate. Delicious is the best way to describe it.
Medium long finish, great mouthfeel.
Dec 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.99 by irishkyle21 from Canada (ON)

Nov 04, 2021
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Abundantly flavorful! Straw-colored brew, white foamy head with staying power. Was surprised how in-your-face the flavor was--coriander and orange peel come through beautifully. At first I thought "maybe too much?", but no. This is a full-flavored wit that rivals some of the European wits I've tasted. Well done, Port City.
Oct 18, 2021
Photo of LindyBrew
Rated by LindyBrew

4.95/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Perfect Wit
Sep 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.83 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Sep 04, 2021
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Bought at the Beer Table in Grand Central Station and drank in its Food Hall.
Looks slightly above average with active protein, but foam faded surprisingly fast.
Smells are a mixed malt bill eventually pushed back by the citrus and spices.
Tastes are balanced, refreshing.
In my mouth, Feel is medium and bubbly enough, yet soft like wheat... particularly on this hot, muggy day in New York's Dog Days.... Gets me ready for the subway.

Optimal Wit is one of Port City's cash cows. And for good reason, it does its job. It's refreshing, balanced and reasonably priced. Port City claims to be the DC metro's first crafter, founded in 2011. If so, it has brought brewing culture to the nation's capital. And for that, it deserves very good OA Hugs.
Aug 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.24 by eluvah from New York

Aug 04, 2021
Optimal Wit from Port City Brewing
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 460 ratings