Thai Chili Wahoo | Ballast Point Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Ballast Point Brewing Company
California, United States
ballastpoint.com
Style: Belgian Witbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our Thai Chili Wahoo is a favorite in our tasting rooms for its complex balance of ingredients. Citrus and spice have long been a part of our trademark Wahoo White. In this edition, we added a dose of Thai Chilis, even more heat from ginger, and a counterpunch of lime. The flavors in this beer need to be experienced first-hand, so grab one and try it for yourself.
Added by notchucknorris on 01-19-2012
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 262 | Reviews: 50
Reviews by keeganfrank:
More User Reviews:
3.74/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - Hazy yellow orange color with a micro-thin white lacing and steady carbonation.
S - Wheat, yeasty, ginger, lime, and chili peppers.
T - Follows the nose with a wheaty presence, yeasty, some lime, some ginger in the middle, and finishes with a pronounced burn on the back end.
M - Big medium body, chewy, definite chili pepper burn in the back of the throat, and the heat coagulates the saliva on the trongue.
O - I wouldn't spend another $10 for a bomber of this stuff but I would be interested in pairing it with the right Asian dish.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A - Hazy yellow orange color with a micro-thin white lacing and steady carbonation.
S - Wheat, yeasty, ginger, lime, and chili peppers.
T - Follows the nose with a wheaty presence, yeasty, some lime, some ginger in the middle, and finishes with a pronounced burn on the back end.
M - Big medium body, chewy, definite chili pepper burn in the back of the throat, and the heat coagulates the saliva on the trongue.
O - I wouldn't spend another $10 for a bomber of this stuff but I would be interested in pairing it with the right Asian dish.
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3.11/5 rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22 oz bottle. Pours slightly hazy bright yellow with a medium creamy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is funky yeasty malt with chili spice and some lime.
The flavor is funky yeasty Belgian malts with citric lime and ginger and quite a bit of chili spice in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, an interesting beer with a lot of spice.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22 oz bottle. Pours slightly hazy bright yellow with a medium creamy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.
The aroma is funky yeasty malt with chili spice and some lime.
The flavor is funky yeasty Belgian malts with citric lime and ginger and quite a bit of chili spice in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, an interesting beer with a lot of spice.
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3.84/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bomber bottle, w/o freshness/bottling date info to be found
Pours hazed lighter near dull golden, minimal head and leaving a tiny bubble film and next to no lacing.
On the nose its the advertised lime, ginger and chili...alot of chili
Snappy and flavorful brew, lots of chili, if chili beer is not your thing this is NOT the one for you. Bright notes of more ginger, lime, some wheaty malts and yeast and then their is the chili....Thai chili...thai chilis are tasty and they can be very hot....the chili here, according to my chili loving taste buds, is about at a 4 or 5 level..not to hot, not overpowering, but also present..I'd love to try this along with some tasty and spicy thai food, or any spicy food....well worth a try and happy to find this BP variant
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bomber bottle, w/o freshness/bottling date info to be found
Pours hazed lighter near dull golden, minimal head and leaving a tiny bubble film and next to no lacing.
On the nose its the advertised lime, ginger and chili...alot of chili
Snappy and flavorful brew, lots of chili, if chili beer is not your thing this is NOT the one for you. Bright notes of more ginger, lime, some wheaty malts and yeast and then their is the chili....Thai chili...thai chilis are tasty and they can be very hot....the chili here, according to my chili loving taste buds, is about at a 4 or 5 level..not to hot, not overpowering, but also present..I'd love to try this along with some tasty and spicy thai food, or any spicy food....well worth a try and happy to find this BP variant
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3.66/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.21/5 rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours hazy gold under a 1/2 “ white sudsy foam cap that disappears with champagne like speed.
S: Ginger and lime aromas are initially apparent from 3’ away. Closer up some light vegetal and malt aromas fill in the background.
T: Starts calm and lightly sweet with lime and ginger flavors but as it moves to the finish the heart from the ginger and the Thai chili intensifies. The Thai chili heat builds as you drink the beer.
F: Bracing and refreshing with lingering and gradually building heat. The body is light and the carbonation is fizzy.
O: The heat is not sweat inducing but it does build.
607 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours hazy gold under a 1/2 “ white sudsy foam cap that disappears with champagne like speed.
S: Ginger and lime aromas are initially apparent from 3’ away. Closer up some light vegetal and malt aromas fill in the background.
T: Starts calm and lightly sweet with lime and ginger flavors but as it moves to the finish the heart from the ginger and the Thai chili intensifies. The Thai chili heat builds as you drink the beer.
F: Bracing and refreshing with lingering and gradually building heat. The body is light and the carbonation is fizzy.
O: The heat is not sweat inducing but it does build.
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4.21/5 rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a chalice.
Appearance: Pours a hazy straw golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Slight finger of white head that settles into a thin patchy layer.
Smell: A pretty spicy Witbier style aroma with a scent of chili peppers, ginger, and lime. Big upfront scent of the chili peppers along with some ginger and lime. Belgian yeast with spice hints of pepper, clove, and slight coriander. Malt hints of wheat, grains, and cracker. Slight hints of citrus. A pretty interesting and solid aroma.
Taste: Like it smells, a pretty spicy and hot Witbier style taste with notes of chili peppers, ginger, and lime. Big upfront and fairly hot taste of chili peppers along with ginger and lime. Belgian yeast with notes of clove, peppers, and coriander. Malt notes of wheat and grains along with cracker. Subtle notes of citrus. A pretty nice taste.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Crisp and fairly hot with a drying finish.
Overall: A pretty unique and solid twist on a Witbier. The spices and lime blend well with the light Belgian flavors. Better as it warms.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a chalice.
Appearance: Pours a hazy straw golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Slight finger of white head that settles into a thin patchy layer.
Smell: A pretty spicy Witbier style aroma with a scent of chili peppers, ginger, and lime. Big upfront scent of the chili peppers along with some ginger and lime. Belgian yeast with spice hints of pepper, clove, and slight coriander. Malt hints of wheat, grains, and cracker. Slight hints of citrus. A pretty interesting and solid aroma.
Taste: Like it smells, a pretty spicy and hot Witbier style taste with notes of chili peppers, ginger, and lime. Big upfront and fairly hot taste of chili peppers along with ginger and lime. Belgian yeast with notes of clove, peppers, and coriander. Malt notes of wheat and grains along with cracker. Subtle notes of citrus. A pretty nice taste.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Crisp and fairly hot with a drying finish.
Overall: A pretty unique and solid twist on a Witbier. The spices and lime blend well with the light Belgian flavors. Better as it warms.
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3.37/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Yard House, Atlanta.
Pale Amber body with an good head.
Bready and lightly spicy aroma.
The flavor is way more spicy but with judicious use of chili and Thai spices such that it is not too hot and not so spicy as to mask the underlying wheat beer. Interesting and complex. (Chili) heat level is probably about right for most people.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Yard House, Atlanta.
Pale Amber body with an good head.
Bready and lightly spicy aroma.
The flavor is way more spicy but with judicious use of chili and Thai spices such that it is not too hot and not so spicy as to mask the underlying wheat beer. Interesting and complex. (Chili) heat level is probably about right for most people.
346 characters
4.15/5 rDev +14.3%
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
3.69/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
I like how the heat comes on with this beer. It isn't too spicy even for me, and I'm a wimp. I do wish it had more lime to balance it though.
141 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
I like how the heat comes on with this beer. It isn't too spicy even for me, and I'm a wimp. I do wish it had more lime to balance it though.
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3.88/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.68/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Enjoyed on-tap at Oblivion in Orlando. This beer has an interesting combination of ingredients with Thai chills, ginger, and lime. The taste is unquestionably unique and intriguing. I dig it for what it is. There is a lot of heat but the subtle lime and citrus help to balance it out a little.
293 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Enjoyed on-tap at Oblivion in Orlando. This beer has an interesting combination of ingredients with Thai chills, ginger, and lime. The taste is unquestionably unique and intriguing. I dig it for what it is. There is a lot of heat but the subtle lime and citrus help to balance it out a little.
293 characters
4.35/5 rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Tried this on tap at their homebrew outlet store on Linda Vista in San Diego on Tue 2/28. Please note that this was the third in a series of samples - it was preceded by the Sculpin IPA and Navigator Doppelbock, so I was a bit in hop overload at that point. In other words, I sort of did my testing bass-ackwards, so any subtle hints on the nose and tongue might not have been readily apparent. However, I have to say that even for chile beers, this was something else. The other beers have been your typical Corona-esque pale lagers, but the witbier makes a far better palate. The chile and lime was readily apparent and opened up the nostrils for sure, with the ginger as part of a nice crisp aftertaste. Comparing this to any other chile beer I have ever had would be like comparing a nice piece of sharp white cheddar to a chunk of Velveeta. Only caveat I can suggest is don't drink this if you have any cuts or abrasions on your mouth or gums, as I imagine it would sting a bit...
985 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Tried this on tap at their homebrew outlet store on Linda Vista in San Diego on Tue 2/28. Please note that this was the third in a series of samples - it was preceded by the Sculpin IPA and Navigator Doppelbock, so I was a bit in hop overload at that point. In other words, I sort of did my testing bass-ackwards, so any subtle hints on the nose and tongue might not have been readily apparent. However, I have to say that even for chile beers, this was something else. The other beers have been your typical Corona-esque pale lagers, but the witbier makes a far better palate. The chile and lime was readily apparent and opened up the nostrils for sure, with the ginger as part of a nice crisp aftertaste. Comparing this to any other chile beer I have ever had would be like comparing a nice piece of sharp white cheddar to a chunk of Velveeta. Only caveat I can suggest is don't drink this if you have any cuts or abrasions on your mouth or gums, as I imagine it would sting a bit...
985 characters
Thai Chili Wahoo from Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.63 out of
5 with
262 ratings
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