Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale | Cigar City Brewing
Brewed by:
Cigar City Brewing
Florida, United States
cigarcitybrewing.com
Style: Witbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Pours cloudy straw in color with moderate notes of orange peel, coriander and hints of vanilla. Flavor has upfront citrus with coriander notes that lead into lemon/lime like notes and finishes with citrus and flowers.
18 IBU
Added by ktrillionaire on 05-19-2011
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Ratings: 1,502 | Reviews: 216
4.13/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Can Date: 7/21/17
Palate Contaminants: other beer
Looks like white grapefruit juice with some fine head.
It smells like... fresh wheat. Plus there's a little bit of sweet floral something present. Almost cloves. As it warms up, I can't avoid the fresh banana bread.
Taste is moderately sweet banana bread with raisins. (I just report; you decide.) There's some savoriness, and I haven't had that from this style in quite some time. I'm glad to have that back. The citrus notes are notably non-acidic, and really seems to go in tandem with a blossom flavor. Sweetness is in the light-moderate range. Slight bitterness on the back end.
Feel is a bit thin for the type, and prickly carbonation comes out fairly easily.
719 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Can Date: 7/21/17
Palate Contaminants: other beer
Looks like white grapefruit juice with some fine head.
It smells like... fresh wheat. Plus there's a little bit of sweet floral something present. Almost cloves. As it warms up, I can't avoid the fresh banana bread.
Taste is moderately sweet banana bread with raisins. (I just report; you decide.) There's some savoriness, and I haven't had that from this style in quite some time. I'm glad to have that back. The citrus notes are notably non-acidic, and really seems to go in tandem with a blossom flavor. Sweetness is in the light-moderate range. Slight bitterness on the back end.
Feel is a bit thin for the type, and prickly carbonation comes out fairly easily.
719 characters
3.78/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
From the bottom of the can: "CANNED ON 05/22/17"
Appearance: The body of the beer is a beige color that is very hazy. The head is medium-large, fluffy, and white. The head also has very good retention.
Aroma: The beer has a nice soft lemon coriander aroma.
Taste: There is a nice mix of what tastes like lemon, coriander spice, and peppercorn.
Mouthfeel: It is soft and smooth. The beer has a nice full texture but isn't heavy.
Overall: It is simply a well made and very clean beer with very good flavors. It is a very enjoyable beer to drink and I would recommend it.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
From the bottom of the can: "CANNED ON 05/22/17"
Appearance: The body of the beer is a beige color that is very hazy. The head is medium-large, fluffy, and white. The head also has very good retention.
Aroma: The beer has a nice soft lemon coriander aroma.
Taste: There is a nice mix of what tastes like lemon, coriander spice, and peppercorn.
Mouthfeel: It is soft and smooth. The beer has a nice full texture but isn't heavy.
Overall: It is simply a well made and very clean beer with very good flavors. It is a very enjoyable beer to drink and I would recommend it.
573 characters
4.21/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I don't drink too many Wits so I'm not the best judge of character for this style. That being said, this is probably pretty good. Decent flavor but a bit thin. Has some Hefe taste and feel with hints of clove, banana, pepper, etc. Good finish with some fruit and yeast. Ok, maybe it's better than pretty good. I just don't care for the style. Figured I'd try it since I haven't had one in so long. Oh well.
406 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I don't drink too many Wits so I'm not the best judge of character for this style. That being said, this is probably pretty good. Decent flavor but a bit thin. Has some Hefe taste and feel with hints of clove, banana, pepper, etc. Good finish with some fruit and yeast. Ok, maybe it's better than pretty good. I just don't care for the style. Figured I'd try it since I haven't had one in so long. Oh well.
406 characters
3.84/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Served in a pint from the draft.
Appearance: Hazy darker gold color with medium bubbles and a white head rising just about quarter of an inch. Slight sticky lacing.
Smell: Light banana skin and citrus fruit. Little bland but not bad.
Taste: Smooth malts and banana fruit, you feel orange and malts. It's a light feel which definitely accompanies a warm weather day.
Mouth: Bready citrus finish which feels a touch sweet. Not sticky but just enough.
Overall: Grabbed this little gem at a bar and grabbed another three glasses considering there wasn't much out there. Still worth grabbing if it ever crosses your eyes, Salud!
632 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Served in a pint from the draft.
Appearance: Hazy darker gold color with medium bubbles and a white head rising just about quarter of an inch. Slight sticky lacing.
Smell: Light banana skin and citrus fruit. Little bland but not bad.
Taste: Smooth malts and banana fruit, you feel orange and malts. It's a light feel which definitely accompanies a warm weather day.
Mouth: Bready citrus finish which feels a touch sweet. Not sticky but just enough.
Overall: Grabbed this little gem at a bar and grabbed another three glasses considering there wasn't much out there. Still worth grabbing if it ever crosses your eyes, Salud!
632 characters
3.41/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.63/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.93/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On tap:
A pale yellow to amber cloud of liquid. A nice, tight mini-bubble head adorns this body and laces the top of the glass.
Nose is like a Belgian wit, with a slight citrus lean. Wheat comes through and there is a little fruity ester that seems distinct from the light citrus peel I also get.
Taste leans a bit on the wheat, with the citrus taking a bit of a lemony note first. A light yeasty flavor joins the wheat in a tame bit enjoyable mix of flavors. A little earthy herbal note hides fairly well, and turns just a bit towards biting.
The feel is a bit thin and not as soft as I might expect. That's about the only thing I found disappointing, while on the high side, the look was impressive. The rest and whole was solid.
740 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On tap:
A pale yellow to amber cloud of liquid. A nice, tight mini-bubble head adorns this body and laces the top of the glass.
Nose is like a Belgian wit, with a slight citrus lean. Wheat comes through and there is a little fruity ester that seems distinct from the light citrus peel I also get.
Taste leans a bit on the wheat, with the citrus taking a bit of a lemony note first. A light yeasty flavor joins the wheat in a tame bit enjoyable mix of flavors. A little earthy herbal note hides fairly well, and turns just a bit towards biting.
The feel is a bit thin and not as soft as I might expect. That's about the only thing I found disappointing, while on the high side, the look was impressive. The rest and whole was solid.
740 characters
4.03/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Smell: bready cereal. very citrusy, like OJ almost. sustained honey sweetness from the wheat malt. peppery-like spices are up and front.
Look: pours a very hazy straw color with an inch thick frothy white head that unfortunately (and longevity is expected in this style) dissipates rather quickly leaving a thin 1/8" head. No lacing observed.
Taste: very citrusy orange juice with plenty of malt sweetness and just enough bitterness for balance only. coriander creates a peppery sensation on palate.
Palate: the body is medium, the texture very creamy, carbonation is crisp and astringency subtle. right on! Finish is long and sweet with all its citrusy glory lingering.
Overall: I like this beer a lot although the citrusy levels and spicy character are a bit more in your face than would be expected for the Belgian Wit style. But somehow it works. Refreshing and delicious. Only fault is the weak head retention which is characteristic of Wits.
948 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Smell: bready cereal. very citrusy, like OJ almost. sustained honey sweetness from the wheat malt. peppery-like spices are up and front.
Look: pours a very hazy straw color with an inch thick frothy white head that unfortunately (and longevity is expected in this style) dissipates rather quickly leaving a thin 1/8" head. No lacing observed.
Taste: very citrusy orange juice with plenty of malt sweetness and just enough bitterness for balance only. coriander creates a peppery sensation on palate.
Palate: the body is medium, the texture very creamy, carbonation is crisp and astringency subtle. right on! Finish is long and sweet with all its citrusy glory lingering.
Overall: I like this beer a lot although the citrusy levels and spicy character are a bit more in your face than would be expected for the Belgian Wit style. But somehow it works. Refreshing and delicious. Only fault is the weak head retention which is characteristic of Wits.
948 characters
3.41/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.88/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Everything this brewer does works for me.
A: Pours a large flowing multi finger head with a murky straw body, but settles fast and no lace.
S: As it warms it's plenty aromatic. Offers sweet lemon, citrus, grass, yeast, white cracker.
T: Abundant lemon up front yeasty esters over a white cracker malt body, with a spicy, peppery finish.
M: Crisp, refreshing. Light and wine like, semi dry finish.
O: great craft, great belgian style. move other other wits.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Everything this brewer does works for me.
A: Pours a large flowing multi finger head with a murky straw body, but settles fast and no lace.
S: As it warms it's plenty aromatic. Offers sweet lemon, citrus, grass, yeast, white cracker.
T: Abundant lemon up front yeasty esters over a white cracker malt body, with a spicy, peppery finish.
M: Crisp, refreshing. Light and wine like, semi dry finish.
O: great craft, great belgian style. move other other wits.
464 characters
3.61/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
4.15/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.27/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Poured into a custom shaped grip glass: color is straw, not too dense but hazy.
Smell is citrusy more so then wheat or spice, prominent notes of lemon dominate, very subtle wheat and moderate coriander.
Taste is similar with a interesting dominant flavor of citrus or lemon, almost watered down wit flavor with a strong citrus note; wheat and coriander are present but not notable.
Mouthfeel is crisp, a little sweet, not quite so dry as the 'french saison' yeast would seem to create.
Overall a citrusy witbier with lighter wheat/spice flavor.
549 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Poured into a custom shaped grip glass: color is straw, not too dense but hazy.
Smell is citrusy more so then wheat or spice, prominent notes of lemon dominate, very subtle wheat and moderate coriander.
Taste is similar with a interesting dominant flavor of citrus or lemon, almost watered down wit flavor with a strong citrus note; wheat and coriander are present but not notable.
Mouthfeel is crisp, a little sweet, not quite so dry as the 'french saison' yeast would seem to create.
Overall a citrusy witbier with lighter wheat/spice flavor.
549 characters
4.72/5 rDev +27.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I'm in love with this beer, which is perfect to drink in the hot, humid temperature of the South.
Cigar City continually impresses me and is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries in the S.E.
L: golden
S: nice smell
T: Heaven
F: clean and crisp, very refreshing
O: it's like a better version of Allagash White
319 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I'm in love with this beer, which is perfect to drink in the hot, humid temperature of the South.
Cigar City continually impresses me and is quickly becoming one of my favorite breweries in the S.E.
L: golden
S: nice smell
T: Heaven
F: clean and crisp, very refreshing
O: it's like a better version of Allagash White
319 characters
Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
3.71 out of
5 with
1,502 ratings
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75