Brasserie Blonde
Arbor Brewing Company - Plymouth Taproom

A- Pours a very cloudy dark orange/mahogonay. Very little head and almost no lacing

S- Sweet lemony and orange tones come out, along with pine and just a touch of grains

T- A well balanced brew: nice combination of sweetness and tartness with good citrus tones as advertised but no bitterness, and pretty weak in the flavor department. I’m not expecting an IPA or anything but I would be tempted to label it watered down. Alcohol is warming in the throat as a good wine.

M- Goes down smooth and refreshing, and yet leaves a lemony freshness in your mouth.

D- There’s not anything exceptionally wrong with this beer, but it is not the most flavorful by any means. It’s like a really really good version of Corona.

Presentation: 11oz bottle in a classic conical pint glass

Wonderful initial nose as it poured crisply & lively, full of carbonation. Soft yet persistent orange rind/zest, corriander fresh off the plant, somewhat creamy, summer fields, nice, inviting. Some sweet apricot is noticable as it warms. Head was a pinky's worth of lively, agitated loose off-white foam that faded quickly to a sheen. Color is thick, clouded, a warm unfiltered cider quality, slightly amberesque, honey. A slow, steady parade of bubbles fought their way up through the murkiness.

Hmmm, a very nice, pleasing Witbier. All the classic components are present but not overpowering. The orange and corrinader are nicely balanced against the wheat quality, a light pepperiness is there as a counterweight. Its almost creamy in its understated balance, no one taste rising above the other...nice. Its crisp and somewhat dry, adding to the mix. This is a complex little vixen, but yet so coy, soft. I'm digging this. It gets a little bitter and crisper, drier on the palate, the peppery quality of that dryness rising, raking my tongue. It finishes with a citrus-orange kick, a little thicker than I exected, almost a wee bit syrupy, maybe a little apricot. The aftertaste is dry, not filmy, hard to describe, perhaps a unsweetened tart? I'm getting some toasted/baked wheat qualities, and the fruit. This is most interesting.

Damn, I was not expecting this. What a pleasant surprise. This is a very well crafted Witbier that does not overdo any of its components nor allow any of them to really sing solo. I would love another, but alas this is my only one. I like Witbiers, and this was one of the most enjoyable I've had in a while. To all those in Michigan lucky enough to drink this I would do so in a minute. I highly recommend this, one of the best of the genre I've had.