Grand Cru
Brooklyn Brewery

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From:
Brooklyn Brewery
 
New York, United States
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
8.4%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.09 | pDev: 9.78%
Reviews:
48
Ratings:
53
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 15, 2015
Added:
Jul 22, 2008
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Described by Garrett Oliver as being "essentially a strong Witbier" and brewed with ...

Malt/grains: Canadian two row barley malt, Madsen white winter wheat (unmalted)

Hops: German Hallertauer Perle

Additional sugars: Tremblay Farms Wildflower Honey (Chemung County, NY), white corn sugar.

Spices: Bitter Curacao orange peel, sweet orange peel, lemon peel, chamomile flowers, Indian coriander.

Yeast: Belgian witbier yeast
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by phattysbox:
Photo of phattysbox
Reviewed by phattysbox from New York

4.07/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Growler purchased from whole foods Beer Room on Houston. Poured a light orange hazy color, with a decent head that lasts all the way down. Looks a great wit!!

Smells fantasticly wit. Wheat, crisp citrus hops, lemony and grassy. Initial taste is sharp bubblegum candy which quickly retreats to expose wheat with a short hop bite. This follows with a distinct belgian yeast flavor that is very impressive.

This is one of the tastiest witbiers I have had... The alcohol is not even present and thus sneaks up on you. Good thing I had friends along to consume the growler. Excellent drinkability given the ABV.
Aug 24, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of mattycasey
Rated by mattycasey from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Ebenezer's Pub 2/14/15
Grand Cru 2009
Lovell, ME
Feb 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.74 by rderedin from Maine

Dec 19, 2014
Photo of laituegonflable
Reviewed by laituegonflable from Australia

3.48/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
So... interesting to find this here as a retired offering, since it was served at (and, apparently, brewed for) the GABS Festival in Melbourne, May 2013. At least, the one served at GABS has the same specs (incl. ABV) as this. So I'm guessing it was just a one-off revival.

Pours a straw colour, only slightly cloudy, when more would be OK for the style. White foamy head, retaining pretty well. Looksnice.

Smells like a wit. Loads of coriander with plenty of tangy orange as well. Some notes of cinnamon, star anise, clove and green pepper around the edges. Good witbier smell.

Taste is similar. Lots of candied orange particularly upfront before spice takes over midway and onto the back. Cinnamon and coriander that gets slightly astringent and leaves a slight bitter hang. Again, to style, and pretty decent.

Mouthfeel is slightly too fizzy, bit of carbonation shining through and I would have expected a bit more presence from the sediment.

Really surprising to find out it's 8.4% as it tastes and feels like a to-style wit. I guess, points for hiding the alcohol but at the same time I feel it should be bigger and more exciting for all of that. The main difference between this and a 5% wit is simply that this will get you drunk quicker.
Dec 06, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Syraquse from New York

Sep 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by dgilks from Australia

Jul 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by gregory12 from Connecticut

Apr 12, 2012
Photo of BillyBoysPie
Reviewed by BillyBoysPie from Kentucky

4.85/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
On tap at Sergio's World Beers, Louisville, KY.

In a pint glass. Healthy inch and a half of dense bone white foam over very bubbly golden liquid. It looks great.

Effervescent in the nose - rhubarb, golden delicious and granny smith apples, light barley scents and crisp pine notes. Great light smell, but there's clearly substance here. Some of the sweet yeast is present. I'm excited about getting to drink this.

Yum. Super flavor - starts with some bitter lemon and rhubarb. Sweet yeast and apples are next. Then crisp pine notes, but very subdued so the fruit flavors still dominate. Super.

Very few things beat the feeling of this beer in your mouth. Effervescent, lightbodied, and refreshing but still has depth of flavor, is easy to drink, and makes you remember why you drink beer.

Great beer. Really, really great. I'm hoping to encounter this again even though it was brewed once.
Jan 22, 2010
Photo of pershan
Reviewed by pershan from Maryland

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this on-tap at Frisco Grille in Columbia, MD.

Let me just say that the very first keg I ever had on tap at home on my CO2 system was a keg of Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (15.5 gallons of heaven, IMHO). I have always been a fan of their beers, and their Grand Cru is no exception:

A: A slightly cloudy straw-yellow with a thin white head poured into a pint glass - so far, so good.

S: Maybe it was because I had just had a Flying Dog Woody Creek White, but I didn't discern much of anything in the aroma - maybe just a bit of malt sweetness.

T: A big malt and hop presence, with alcoholic esters, caramel, and hop bitterness dominating - this is a big beer to be sure.

M: A slight bit of fizziness, with some bitterness and astringency on the sides of the tongue and back of the mouth, but not cloying or overdone.

D: A nice addition to Brooklyn's stable of beers, well worth the price - good job to Garrett Oliver and the rest of the crew at Brooklyn.
May 07, 2009
Photo of rtratzlaff
Reviewed by rtratzlaff from North Carolina

4.42/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Brooklyn Grand Cru came to the table a cloudy golden body with a bone white head.

This beer is bready and spicy in the nose.

Taste is similar to the smell with an alcohol presence that pleasing rather than hot and sharp.

Overall, a good spicy beer with plenty of character.
Mar 24, 2009
Photo of JohnQVegas
Reviewed by JohnQVegas from Tennessee

3.97/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Growler from Bierkraft, Brooklyn.

Pours hazy gold with a slight orange tint, with a healthy white head.

Aroma is fruity - bananas and apricots, with a big fresh-baked-bread note coupled with a spicy yeast presence.

Taste is sweet candy and wheat up front with a big yeasty spice presence, with overripe golden fruit coming on a fairly clean, lightly yeasty finish.

Light bodied, creamy carbonation.

Really a nice beer, very drinkable for the abv and style.
Jan 31, 2009
Photo of BDIMike
Reviewed by BDIMike from Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very nice cloudy golden color with a bit of a darker tint. There isn't much of a head to the beer, just a thin white one that goes away immediately.
Smell has a nice fresh wheat to it, but also a strong bit of sugar as well.
Taste is much richer than the smell. It starts with a nice fresh wheat taste, but has a very strong sugary punch to it along with some plum-like fruits.
Mouthfeel has a smoothness to it. There is almost a grainyness to the sugar, like it hasn't been stirred in yet, which I actually like.
Drinkability is great for such a strong and complex beer. There is a ton of taste to this beer, but nothing that overbears the tastebuds. Great beer that has awesome taste and even good for a long session of drinking, which I think I might commence right now...
Jan 10, 2009
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap.

Poured a medium and hazy golden color with a smaler sized white head. Aromas of fruitiness (bananas), citrus, and some spiciness. Tastes of same fruitiness (applies, pears, and bananas), citrus, and spices. Lively body. Reminded me of a Tripel.

Notes from: 7/30/08
Jan 07, 2009
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

2.24/5  rDev -45.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Reviewed on 9/3/08. On tap at the Gingerman. Pours a light yellow orange with a small white head. Aroma is pretty faint but predominately honey. Flavor of Belgian yeast, honey and other fruitiness, very odd tasting. Thick and syrupy texture, almost like a mead. Couldn't finish the glass. This is an odd, strong, sticky, heavy beer and I did not care for it.
5/4/4/2/10 (2.5/5)
Dec 26, 2008
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Funky aroma with a nice yeast. Orange with a white head and big lacing. A little aggressive carbonation. Taste is yeasty, orangey,corriander, cloves, and the mouthfeel of honey and wheatish - it rolls off the tongue.
A great Belgian, lovely.Cole's with Mike.
Dec 10, 2008
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Always nice to try a new creation from Good ole Brooklyn Brewery. On tap at Barcade in Brooklyn (within a mile of the brewery) Poured cloudy light yellowy amber, off white head, spritzy nose of clove, banana, lemon/lime and a hint of ginned up alcohol. Flavorful, bold, com0lex and truly tasty stuff. More of all the flavors picked up by the nose. Citrus, pepper, tart apple, Belgian yeasty goodness carry the freight. Love the style, nice job here by the Brooklyn brewing crew. Bottle this one please.
Nov 30, 2008
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

3.89/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Goblet on tap at Cole's in Buffalo.

Pours a cloudy light amber, almost banana yellow, very thin white head forms, quickly settles down to a thin ring, then disappears completely, few spots, looks alright. Smell is neat, bananas, oranges, lots of spice, vanilla, bubblegum, apples, alcohol, yeasty bread, pretty neat, spice is just right. Taste is banana and clove, bubblegum, wheat, honey, yeast, alcohol, oranges, spices, oats, dry bready finish. Mouthfeel is medium to light bodied with high carbonation, a little rough on the palate but generally pretty well done. I wouldn't turn this one down.
Nov 26, 2008
Photo of BeerFan
Reviewed by BeerFan from New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Previous draft-only Brewmaster Reserve beer that was on tap in my basement. I used my old Blanche de Brooklyn tumbler for this one. Poured a cloudy yellowish color with a nice, white fluffy head. Nice lacing down the entire glass. I could smell the orange and lemon peels. Taste starts out on the sweet side. Picking up notes of honey and coriander. The Hallertauer Perle hops then move in on the back end micely so it's not too sweet. Very easy drinking for a 8.4% beer. Brooklyn's website describes this as a Strong Spiced Ale. A witbier is spiced and this is on the strong side, but I prefer to call this a Double Wit with some Tripel characteristics. Excellent carbonation for this medium-bodied beer.
Nov 18, 2008
Photo of PBoegel
Reviewed by PBoegel from New York

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From notes on tap late summer at Mahar's in Albany.

Aroma profile was outstanding, light perfume like flower and spice, a touch a munich like maltiness as well as subtle peppery spice.

Flavor was much the same leaning toward a little more peppery spice from the yeast in the finish, extraordinarily drinkable and another great beer from the Reserve series.

Hopefully this is one that gets made at least once a year.
Nov 06, 2008
Photo of waltonc
Reviewed by waltonc from California

4.32/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Blind Tiger. Apparently this is a witbier, but it was definitely much different than any witbier I have had before. The first flavor that jumped out at me when sipping this was, surprisingly, corn! Maybe my tongue was just thrown off from drinking stout beforehand, but I was definitely tasting corn in this. Floral, slightly sweet, and very well balanced. Mouthfeel was medium with fairly generous carbonation. A very good brew overall.
Nov 06, 2008
Grand Cru from Brooklyn Brewery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 53 ratings