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
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,493 | Reviews: 212
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.
464 characters
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
3.75/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.02/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.7/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.07/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Given the location of Cigar City, an excellent rendition of a hot weather beer is de riguer imo. This does not disappoint. A surprisingly larger head for a wit that stays a litter longer as well. A bit of lacing and a light ring as the head settles. The color is spot on, with a pale straw gold hue. Cloudiness give the perfect "double shine" that is expected and I find so inviting in this style.
As I bring the glass to my mouth I get a full blast of lemony tartness and a wheat malt twang. Light bubble gum and a bit of sweet green apple. Some faint soap and a mild floral hop flourish. The usual spices of coriander and curaçao pepper.
Taste is right down the strike zone for me. Tangy lemon with the aforementioned soap. Wheat malt twangs hard with just the right amount of light sugar and grain to balance. Faint bubblegum flows into a light melon rind. Juicy and dry, the finish is surprisingly crisp with a bit more hop presence than one would expect. Just a bit... and I like what they do. Helps to bring out a bit of peppery spiciness. The dryness makes for an longer finish than is typical. Depositing bits of grain and faint sweet dinner rolls. Then what seem like noble hops (Hallertau?) have the final say.
Feel is the weak link here. Carbonation is a bit too subdued for my tastes. Body is good, but the low carb kinda thins it out. Still, a pleasant enough pass along the tongue and swallow. Still retains a crispness that makes for a refreshing drink, especially on a hot day or night.
A really well done take on this style. In the upper echelon of this part of the beer world. This is one I'll be getting more of .
1,643 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Given the location of Cigar City, an excellent rendition of a hot weather beer is de riguer imo. This does not disappoint. A surprisingly larger head for a wit that stays a litter longer as well. A bit of lacing and a light ring as the head settles. The color is spot on, with a pale straw gold hue. Cloudiness give the perfect "double shine" that is expected and I find so inviting in this style.
As I bring the glass to my mouth I get a full blast of lemony tartness and a wheat malt twang. Light bubble gum and a bit of sweet green apple. Some faint soap and a mild floral hop flourish. The usual spices of coriander and curaçao pepper.
Taste is right down the strike zone for me. Tangy lemon with the aforementioned soap. Wheat malt twangs hard with just the right amount of light sugar and grain to balance. Faint bubblegum flows into a light melon rind. Juicy and dry, the finish is surprisingly crisp with a bit more hop presence than one would expect. Just a bit... and I like what they do. Helps to bring out a bit of peppery spiciness. The dryness makes for an longer finish than is typical. Depositing bits of grain and faint sweet dinner rolls. Then what seem like noble hops (Hallertau?) have the final say.
Feel is the weak link here. Carbonation is a bit too subdued for my tastes. Body is good, but the low carb kinda thins it out. Still, a pleasant enough pass along the tongue and swallow. Still retains a crispness that makes for a refreshing drink, especially on a hot day or night.
A really well done take on this style. In the upper echelon of this part of the beer world. This is one I'll be getting more of .
1,643 characters
Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
57.4% out of
100 with
1,493 ratings
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75