Blanche De Saisis
Brasserie Ellezelloise

Blanche De SaisisBlanche De Saisis
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From:
Brasserie Ellezelloise
 
Belgium
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
5.9%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 12.34%
Reviews:
45
Ratings:
52
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 15, 2016
Added:
Oct 04, 2003
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TheLongBeachBum:
Photo of TheLongBeachBum
Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: I’m a big fan of Brasserie Ellezelloise, if not just for the fact that they produced the best damn stout in Belgium for my money. So it was great when I spied an offering from them that I have never tried before. Full marks for presentation, it comes in a Grolsch like swing top stoppered 11.2 fluid ounce brown glass bottle. A thick brown paper vertical neck band covers the swing top steelwork to ensure that it has not been tampered with. The main brown label has the words ‘La Bière des Collines’, which means beer of the Hill Country, the area where the Brewery is located and which is rumored to be full of Witches – hence the picture of the Broom Maiden on the label. Labeled as 5.8% Alc.Vol. but listed in Tim Webbs Guide as 6.2%, maybe the label wants to shows a beer below 6% !?
The label is nicked with Best Before October 2004 & Lot 17.

Appearance: A massive “phurp” accompanied by a thin projectile of high velocity “steamy beer” emitted once the swing top was pushed back. It pours with a perfectly lucid straw-golden color, it looks filtered. The voluminous head that forms soon settles to a very smooth collar like head that is composed of a myriad of fine sized white bubbles. Some lacing on the glass sides but not much.

Nose: Yeasty nose with a sweet hint. Hops are there also, but the nose is a little restrained straight from the fridge. Definitely gets more of a farmyard Belgium odor as it warms.

Taste: This is a mellow White Ale that is nevertheless extremely well put together. It starts with a dry lightly hopped feel. Wheat really does not rise until the middle of the beer when it balances the hops. The malt comes through in the back end which finishes with a light sweetness. Dry finish. There are actually no spices in this White Ale believe it or not, but the yeast adds a very pleasing pepper feel and you often feel that there is a hint of mellow spice there at times also. The Acidity of the crisp hops also has a lemon aspect at times.

Mouthfeel: Silky feel on the tongue, the carbonation is high but the bubbles have a smooth Nitrogenous feel.

Drinkability: A silky smooth beautiful Bière Blanche that dances in the mouth and pirouettes on the tongue. Fantastically easy to imbibe in great quantities.

Overall: The bottom of the obverse label clearly states that the beer is “Refermented in the Bottle – Contains Active Yeast”. There was certainly a nice ring of yeast left in the bottom of the bottle, but it has must been sticky because none of it ever exited the bottle.

This is a cracking un-spiced White Ale that is highly drinkable.

Recommended.
Dec 28, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.62 by windowside from Germany

Aug 15, 2016
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Blanche De Saisis pours a hazy golden amber with a vigorous, 2” pillowy off-white foam cap. The nose is sweet malt, spicy banana and citrus aromas. It offers a hearty and full flavored palate with honey and malt sweetness, traces of caramel seasoning traces of banana and citrus – particularly orange. Medium body and carbonation it comes across as heartier and maltier than most wits. Still refreshing and enjoyable.
Jan 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by UniversitateaDeBere from Romania

Jan 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Nov 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Coren from Belgium

Aug 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 10, 2013
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.59/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 1.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
undated 11.2 oz bottle served in a snifter.
Just plain ugly looking: a murky orange amber with almost no head; minimal lacing left on the glass. Some sediment included in the pour but most left on the bottom of the bottle.

Aroma: fruity, including plums, currants and apples. Biscuit (malt) base.

T: no detectable hops although this is only mildly sweet. Fruity, modest complexity, with a light wheat note. A trace of lemony tartness. Little banana-yeasty flavor for style.

O: low pressure upon opening and low carbonation revealed in the pour suggest a bottle past its prime. Still tasty and enjoyable but likely better fresher.
Apr 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by t0rin0 from California

Sep 26, 2012
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

1.74/5  rDev -54.3%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5
Apearance: I have never given out a "1" before on "Appearance" but this one merits it - looks like a glass of apple juice, not beer

Smell: Smells a bit like a blend of honey and apple juice

Taste: Graham cracker malt, up front, with the honeyed apple juice making an entrance and dominating the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and flat

Overall: Who knows how long this has been on the shelf but it is a disaster of a beer right now
Jun 13, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of BeardedBoffin
Reviewed by BeardedBoffin from New Mexico

3.47/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Much of this beer reminds me of a tawny port. The tawny color of the beer was highlighted by a diminutive cap of foam. The aroma is reminiscent as well. A sweetness with a big dose of apple permeates the nose and the flavor as well. Brewers grain brings forth more sweetness. Not much more than a whimper at the end.

I was surprised to learn that this was a witbier. I wouldn't have guessed it. The sweetness, the graininess and the images of port as I drank did not conjure up visions of witbier. In any case, at $5.89 for 33 cl bottle, I'm not sure I would purchase this again.
Jul 12, 2011
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

2.91/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Very small head, particularly for a wheat. It dies to literally no bubbles and therefore no lace. Dark gold color and clear.

Flowery aroma is my first impression. Overall quite sweet like smelling an apertif. Similar to a LBV Port.

Relatively thin and very mild up front. The sweetness shows up near the swallow. It's as if someone added a little port to this beer. The finish is milky and short lived. I detect no wheat. The body is quite thin. This beer misses on many levels.
May 27, 2011
Photo of Hachiman
Reviewed by Hachiman from Japan

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured as a cloudy gold with a snow-white head. Chill haze faded as it warmed. Lacing was particularly fine-textured or detailed.

The smell was quite sweet, almost like corn syrup, with a bit of hops herbage.

Taste was simpler than I expected, mostly caramel, some pepper, well-rounded hoppiness. None of the typical banana odor or taste.

Mouthfeel was smooth yet slightly viscous, more like a saison than a witbier.

Definitely an interesting beer, but not one of the best witbiers I've tasted
May 15, 2011
Photo of gyllstromk
Reviewed by gyllstromk from Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours slightly hazy copper with a very light head. Notes of hops, honey, grape, and fig on the nose. The palate has a vinous character with notes of raisins or fig, perhaps a hint of sherry. Delivers thin, dry, and nearly devoid of carbonation.

I wonder if the swivel top let some carbonation slip and some oxidation occur. The reddish hue for a wheat supports this.
Dec 01, 2010
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Bobby for sharing this one.

A: The pour is a hazy straw color with a nice white head.

S: Lots of sweetness in the nose. Lightly floral and honey-like with sweet orange aromas too. Some sweet wheat crackers too.

T: The flavor is also very sweet and reminiscent of honey. I like the floral, orange blossom flavor and it goes well with the sweet citrus and wheat notes.

M: Somewhat light in body with a lively level of carbonation.

D: An interesting sort of witbier. A lot sweeter and less "yeasty" than I'm used to.
Aug 05, 2010
Photo of RuudJH
Reviewed by RuudJH from Netherlands

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Wheatbeer, Witbier, from Ellezelloise, one of the well regarded Belgian breweries, imho.
With so many beer in this style, from both Belgian and German origin, to choose from, this particular brewer still has my attention with this.

First smell from the bottle is fresh baked white bread.
Pouring it into a chalice, It shows dark golden beer, with a fluffy thick head. Not much carbonation, but floaty bits are there.
Smell is extremely dominant. I don't even have to put my nose to the glass to get the white bread scent. It's hard to pick up anything else though.
Full flavour too. Malty and bready, a bit hops, good clean yeast, soft fruits.
Mouthfeel is smooth and refreshing.
Well drinkable.

This is quite different from what I've experienced in this style.
May 07, 2010
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3.71/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours out a delicately hazed, light yellow body with a sudsy, enduring, white head.

Smell: A nose of wheat-based crackers with some playful, sweet-smelling notes of wildflower honey and day-old cakes, though the nose implies more sweetness than comes through in the final flavor. Lighter hints of citrus and spice.

Taste: Light tastes of wheat and barley with some initial crackery tones before a subtly sweet taste of glazed honey cake glides in. Mild, middling yeast spiciness. Small spritz of lemon. Lightly floral hop character with enough bitterness to be felt. Drying, reasonably crisp finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: Not bad! With it's refreshing lightness and crispness, it's definitely better suited to the outdoors on a warm, sunny summer afternoon.
Feb 23, 2010
Photo of weissbierdrinker
Reviewed by weissbierdrinker from Belgium

3.35/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear golden color with a crisp white head that fades leaving a small amount of lacing.

Smells of wheat and yeast.

Taste is of wheat, biscuit, alcohol, lemon zest.

Finish is dry and has a lingering aftertaste of lemon.

Pretty easy drinking beer, but not the best wit beer I've had.
Jan 18, 2010
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

3.18/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Swing-top 330ml bottle into a pint glass. Thanks to my friend Adam for the share.

Shows a straw-peach body with a dirty haze from the yeast. Average head retention to the eggshell white foam. Crazy aroma...like a blend of honeydew, butterscotch, band-aids, caramel, and orange peel. Can't say I'm much of a fan, but it does get points for being unique.

Vanilla and hops with some off-flavored phenols. Wheat and pale malts add a creamy base, but the finish is woody and tastes a bit like dead yeast. Mouthfeel is on the thin side of medium, smooth, and creamy with a hint of hoppy bitterness on the finish. Drinkable, sure, but not exactly a witbier that I would want to revisit.
Jan 10, 2010
Blanche De Saisis from Brasserie Ellezelloise
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 52 ratings