Black Is The New Wit
Terrapin Beer Company

Black Is The New WitBlack Is The New Wit
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From:
Terrapin Beer Company
 
Georgia, United States
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
7.4%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 8.25%
Ratings:
94 | reviews: 17
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 29, 2020
Added:
Dec 04, 2014
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  21
Collaboration with New Belgium Brewing Company

Imperial Black Rye Witbier aged on Sassafras wood.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DocRoc:
Photo of DocRoc
Reviewed by DocRoc from Kentucky

3.94/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A -black as 0'dark:30, full fluffy, dingy head >20sec
S -root beer, liquorish, and coriander spice
T -light brewed sweeten coffee, ginger bread and malty
M -wee heavy, nice coating
O -nice, very nice...
Sep 09, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.08 by buckyp from South Carolina

Jan 29, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Feb 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.02 by psmith161 from Indiana

Jul 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by T_Hass from Georgia

Jun 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.52 by bluehende from Delaware

May 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.56 by zachthelaxer93 from South Carolina

May 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by StoutAtTheDevil from Alabama

Apr 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by MGibbons from Maryland

Mar 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.47 by Mersh from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2016
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.69/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
"Showing their true colors of creativity, New Belgium Brewing and Terrapin Beer Company have teamed up to bring you this extraordinary style of beer. 'Black is the new Wit' gets its absence of color from intensely roasted wheat and dehusked roasted barley. Components of rye and both malted and unmalted wheat complete the mouthfeel while coriander, orange peel and Sassafras wood aging gives this beer its distinctive flavor." Brewed in the style of a Witbier with Black Rye added, and aged on Sassafras wood. Available as a one-off collaborative release between New Belgium and Terrapin, available on limited draft and in 22 oz. bottles.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a medium tan/light brown tone over a deep cola brown body with very low opacity. Retention is above average and lacing is light and patchy. 3.75

(Smell) Medium roast barley, bready rye and tangy cereal wheat forward with bittering undertones of orange rind and effervescent spice, namely coriander and white pepper. Effervescent and bright, yet roasty and rich makes for a complication of aromas, something certainly experimental in the end with mixed results. Potency is moderate. 3.5

(Taste) Peppery coriander and bitter orange peel up front for a decidedly witbier start, quickly gives way to a rich, specialty-malt complex body, finishing on a note of roasted malt, a soft syrupy malt body of toasted caramel, a pinch of chocolate cocoa and bready, chewy rye bread malts. More agreeable than the muddied delivery of the aroma, I'm most pleased that the majority of the flavors come through in the end result, even if they come through separately. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, slick, lightly chewy, moderately residual, medium dry. Carbonation is medium, generating a medium frothiness and a mildly crisp finish. Body is medium/heavy for the style of Witbier and medium/heavy overall. Balance is slightly acidic and earthy bitter over sweet. Alcohol presence is mild and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) One of the more unusual hybrid styles as of late, although I'm pleasantly surprised that the coriander and orange peel was not blocked out by all the specialty malts going into the beer. Not remotely true to any one style in particular, but I personally found it more enjoyable than not, rich yet juicy, roasty meeting effervescence, polar opposite ingredients coming together in a surprisingly harmonious way. 3.75

Terrapin Beer Company's
Black Is The New Wit (With New Belgium Brewing)
3.69/5.00
Dec 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by rspauldi from Texas

Dec 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by NatSmith from South Carolina

Dec 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by Bandi from New York

Nov 26, 2015
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.72/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: The beer is essentially jet black in color—when held up to a bright light traces of dark red are visible near the bottom of the glass. It poured with a quarter finger high off white head that died down, leaving a patch of bubbles on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of Sassafras wood are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell, having lots of flavors of Sassafras wood along with notes of roasted wheat. I can't pick up any flavors from the coriander and orange peel.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a unique beer that tastes more like a root beer than a witbier. Sassafras seems to be an acquired taste so this might not appeal to everyone's taste buds.

Serving type: bottle
Nov 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by NPMooney from West Virginia

Nov 07, 2015
Photo of outdoor7or24
Reviewed by outdoor7or24 from Georgia

3.71/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bottle poured into snifter glass.
A: pours a dark reddish brown cola body color, thin light brown foam head, spotty lacing
S: roasted malt, brown sugar, wood, rye spiciness (mmmh!), sassafras
M: medium body with silky syrupy resin on the tongue
T: wood, roasted malt, cola, hints of orange peel, some rye spice, brown sugar, hint of molasses, most likely is the sassafras, it kinda reminds me some of sorghum syrup
O: the more I sipped on this brew the more I liked it, try it!
Oct 25, 2015
Photo of TonyLema1
Reviewed by TonyLema1 from South Carolina

3.54/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L: jet black, thin tan head
S: wood and Belgian yeast
T: light roasted flavor, some sweetness
F: coats the tongue like a Tripel
O: not bad, definitely different, glad I tried it
Oct 23, 2015
Photo of rockernino
Reviewed by rockernino from California

3.35/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Old bottle. Was opened two days before Best By date. Smelled like funky cheese with spices in it. Tasted a bit better with some roasted malt flavors. Overall, not good, especially this late after bottling.
Oct 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.79 by xbrettfavrex from Pennsylvania

Sep 20, 2015