Belgian Fog
Willoughby Brewing

 

This from the brewery website: "In this, the 3rd in our Belgian Weather Series, brewer Larry Hazen has pulled out all the stops and come up with quite a unique brew. Using nearly 50% wheat malt and custom blending Belgian wit and saison yeasts, combined with blood oranges, spices, hibiscus flowers into this first of its kind concoction. Step out of "the norm" and go gently into the fog... 9.5% abv. 37 IBU's."

Some indication from the brewery representatives present was that this was a particular type of beer and not exactly a Trippel. Perhaps another long-lost style making its way back into the frey? The beer does seem to borrow a lot of character from both Trippels and Saisons. It begins with a dull golden-straw hue with a Witbier-like haze. Aromas are strongly malted and bready with large amounts of estery fruits, spicy phenols and a lot of acidity and tartness. Flavors are more forgiving, allowing the malt to establish a sweet base and not as dry as a Trippel. Oranges, apples, and berries round out the fruitiness while clove, white pepper, and other spices fuel the phenols and make the beer qutie complex. Acidic tartness (lemon-like) cuts through the thickness and makes the beer quite easy to drink. I look forward to trying more of this beer, but am having some difficulty deciding what to make of it all.

Growler filled from tap at Willoughby Brewing Company in Willougby, Ohio

A Dark Caramel, brown, orange

S Fruitty, alcohol smell

T Fruitty, nutty, bouncing with flavor, traces of cinnamon, very interesting.

M Full, active, interesting.

D Fair due to high alcohol content but this is one great beer!

Notes: I have been really impressed with Willoughby Brewing Company and I will be back again soon. When I do go back I will order a Belgian Fog if they still have it.