Black Is The New Wit
Terrapin Beer Company

Bomber marked 524 1405 10.5.15 at 40 degrees into Terrapin shaker
Aroma of sassafras and licorice; aroma fades as beer warms
Head large (6 cm, aggressive pour), light brown, frothy, slowly diminishing to frothy irregular ring and partial layer
Lacing OK – partial rings of irregular froth
Body dark brown, clear
Flavor – not really picking out any identifiable flavors, just muddled; no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate medium, oily, soft carbonation

Appearance 4.25, Aroma 4, Flavor 2.75, Palate 4, Overall 3.75

 

 

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...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"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

 

 

 

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

 

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!

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

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.