Spotlight Series: Scrü Wit
Stone Brewing
- From:
- Stone Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Witbier
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.65 | pDev: 20.27%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 6
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 24, 2017
- Added:
- May 14, 2016
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 6
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
When it came to the 2016 Stone Spotlight Series competition, brewers Brandon Jacobs & Alex Rodriguez said, “Screw it! Let’s brew something Stone would ‘never’ brew.” They took this independent, go their own way mentality and combined a Finnish sahti, medieval European gruit and Belgian imperial wit together. In doing so, they invented a new beer style they nicknamed SahGruWit—say it fast a few times and you’ll see what we did here. The result is a crazy delicious success courtesy of their ingenuity paired with the unlikely, hard-to-source ingredients of mugwort, wormwood & juniper berries. This beer is extremely unique, which is why it was the hands-down winner of this year’s competition.
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Reviewed by doktorhops from Australia
3.88/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As you all well know - my modus operandi when choosing which brew to review generally goes like this: “What is the craziest beer that I can get my hands on?”. The answer once again lies in a Stone beer (these guys can’t seem to hold themselves back now can they?), in this case SCRÜ WIT, which is a delightful sounding mixture of 3 of the most random and my favouritest styles: Sahti, Gruit and Belgio Imperial Witbier. Yes, it sounds like a party in my mouth that SCRÜ WIT is invited to. Now if you are yet to try the styles of Sahti or Gruit (both of which date back to the middle ages before hops were used in brewing) my suggestion is to seek them out as they are the bomb.
Poured from a 650ml “bomber” bottle into a Duvel tulip.
A: Cloudy amber body with a few suspended particles of what is probably yeast, and a thin off-white lace ring (which is pretty acceptable for an 8.% ABV brew). Looks pretty tasty, interestingly very amber for a Wit though. 8/10.
S: Aroma of pickles (I kid you not!) comes through on first whiff. Second whiff is definitely more in Wit territory with clove and cardamom spice, a touch of banana bread as well. Dry cracker and pepper notes come through with further whiffs. That pickle note is one of the oddest aromas I’ve ever detected in a beer, and I’m guessing it must be from the wormwood. 7/10.
T: Juniper and wormwood come across with a green herbal flavour that carries throughout this intriguing palate. However a bulk of the flavours are typical Wit flavours: Clove, cardamom, banana bread, dry cracker and pepper. The finish has a light but sharp bitter herbal character that balances out all that Wit sweetness. There’s some nice fruity esters coming through too. Damn there are almost too many flavours vying for my taste buds here, enjoyable though it be. 8/10.
M: Medium bodied with a nice creamy carbonation - excellent body that works well but also makes the sugars in this brew cloy a little too much. 8/10.
D: Bizarre and herbal with a strong Wit base, this is indeed quite an idiosyncratic brew from Stone that manages to showcase why they are up there with the best of craft brewers - because they take risks. They could easily rest on their laurels and churn out the same stuff again and again, but no: They throw three disparate styles together and say “drink this!”. Granted, the Wit flavours dominated the other styles, however this is still a beer I would try again. 8/10.
Food match: Pickles! Or hamburgers with pickles (not Maccas you heathen!).
Jan 19, 2017Poured from a 650ml “bomber” bottle into a Duvel tulip.
A: Cloudy amber body with a few suspended particles of what is probably yeast, and a thin off-white lace ring (which is pretty acceptable for an 8.% ABV brew). Looks pretty tasty, interestingly very amber for a Wit though. 8/10.
S: Aroma of pickles (I kid you not!) comes through on first whiff. Second whiff is definitely more in Wit territory with clove and cardamom spice, a touch of banana bread as well. Dry cracker and pepper notes come through with further whiffs. That pickle note is one of the oddest aromas I’ve ever detected in a beer, and I’m guessing it must be from the wormwood. 7/10.
T: Juniper and wormwood come across with a green herbal flavour that carries throughout this intriguing palate. However a bulk of the flavours are typical Wit flavours: Clove, cardamom, banana bread, dry cracker and pepper. The finish has a light but sharp bitter herbal character that balances out all that Wit sweetness. There’s some nice fruity esters coming through too. Damn there are almost too many flavours vying for my taste buds here, enjoyable though it be. 8/10.
M: Medium bodied with a nice creamy carbonation - excellent body that works well but also makes the sugars in this brew cloy a little too much. 8/10.
D: Bizarre and herbal with a strong Wit base, this is indeed quite an idiosyncratic brew from Stone that manages to showcase why they are up there with the best of craft brewers - because they take risks. They could easily rest on their laurels and churn out the same stuff again and again, but no: They throw three disparate styles together and say “drink this!”. Granted, the Wit flavours dominated the other styles, however this is still a beer I would try again. 8/10.
Food match: Pickles! Or hamburgers with pickles (not Maccas you heathen!).
Reviewed by gotzilla from California
4.17/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Golden color
Persistent foamy head
Smells like Christmas
Complex taste. I like the coriander, banana, clove... There is something ash/smoke about it that keeps me from loving it even though it gives it another layer.
Aug 31, 2016Persistent foamy head
Smells like Christmas
Complex taste. I like the coriander, banana, clove... There is something ash/smoke about it that keeps me from loving it even though it gives it another layer.
Reviewed by Viaduck from California
4.07/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bottled 5/10/16. Slightly hazy Amber/orange body with a nice off white head. Aroma of malt & yeast & spiced, very pleasant. Tastes fruity, mostly banana with the spices coming through at the finish. Nice mouthfeel. Very enjoyable.
Aug 07, 2016
Reviewed by neurobot01 from Germany
4.07/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bomber dated 5/10/16 into a large Burgundy glass at fridge temp.
Look: deep orange with a small but persistent offwhite head. Fairly clear, save for some sediment.
Smell: I definitely get the wit character; not detecting much other than the clove/ester notes.
Taste: boysenberry, banana, smoke, cardamom, almond extract, alcohol. Not nearly as alien as that makes it sound. Errs on the side of sweet, but not overly so.
Feel: medium and lush. Medium dry.
Overall: I already knew from Saison Du BUFF that Stone knows their way around Belgian styles with weird additions. I prefer that beer to this one, but this is quite different, and very good in its own right.
Jun 09, 2016Look: deep orange with a small but persistent offwhite head. Fairly clear, save for some sediment.
Smell: I definitely get the wit character; not detecting much other than the clove/ester notes.
Taste: boysenberry, banana, smoke, cardamom, almond extract, alcohol. Not nearly as alien as that makes it sound. Errs on the side of sweet, but not overly so.
Feel: medium and lush. Medium dry.
Overall: I already knew from Saison Du BUFF that Stone knows their way around Belgian styles with weird additions. I prefer that beer to this one, but this is quite different, and very good in its own right.
Reviewed by GRG1313 from California
3.74/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Amber gold in color with a nice and long lasting white head.
Nose is floral yet spicy with all kinds of layers of fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs. A bit of a saison herb note probably overrides.
Mouthfeel is a bit too creamy for me. Extremely light on the carbonation which I personally don't mind but I suspect too little carb for most. A bit heavy bodied without the nicer brighter acid balance I'd prefer.
Flavor profile is very big, bold and layered and follows the nose. Tons of spice, herbs and whisky brown and rye bread. Complex and worth trying. Good food beer with big and bold dishes. Review scores are perhaps a little generous.
May 21, 2016Nose is floral yet spicy with all kinds of layers of fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs. A bit of a saison herb note probably overrides.
Mouthfeel is a bit too creamy for me. Extremely light on the carbonation which I personally don't mind but I suspect too little carb for most. A bit heavy bodied without the nicer brighter acid balance I'd prefer.
Flavor profile is very big, bold and layered and follows the nose. Tons of spice, herbs and whisky brown and rye bread. Complex and worth trying. Good food beer with big and bold dishes. Review scores are perhaps a little generous.
Reviewed by Zorro from California
3.38/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.38/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Hazy amber colored ale with a tall off-white colored head.
Very aromatic.
Smells strongly of spice and slightly sour. Scents of clove and white wine. Powdery yeast and coriander. Scent of black pepper and ethanol.
Starts out sweet and sour and spicy. Mild bitterness. Slight taste of ash and apple. Slight taste of salt.
Mouthfeel is OK.
Overall, just OK. Expected more, just an Imperial Wit.
May 15, 2016Very aromatic.
Smells strongly of spice and slightly sour. Scents of clove and white wine. Powdery yeast and coriander. Scent of black pepper and ethanol.
Starts out sweet and sour and spicy. Mild bitterness. Slight taste of ash and apple. Slight taste of salt.
Mouthfeel is OK.
Overall, just OK. Expected more, just an Imperial Wit.
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