Optimal Wit | Port City Brewing
Brewed by:
Port City Brewing
Virginia, United States
portcitybrewing.com
Style: Witbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Thorpe429 on 02-04-2011
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 369 | Reviews: 73
Reviews by Cresant:
More User Reviews:
2.98/5 rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Draft at Yard House-Springfield. Light bodied wit (I know, right?). Pale, hazy golden with minimal head. Aroma also very faint, taste brings this into the zone, but just. Finishes flat, chalky mouth fell. Almost there....
222 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Draft at Yard House-Springfield. Light bodied wit (I know, right?). Pale, hazy golden with minimal head. Aroma also very faint, taste brings this into the zone, but just. Finishes flat, chalky mouth fell. Almost there....
222 characters
3.46/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.87/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #62 (Mar 2012):
LOOK: Hazy golden
SMELL: Doughy, coriander, ripe plum, orange peel, earthy, floral, yeast
TASTE: Smooth, nutty, biscuity grain, yeast, coriander, mild bitterness, peppery, orange pith, faint saltiness, ripe fruit, spicy, grainy finish
Brewed to style with all the right bells and whistles going off, meaning that it does not taste like you have walked down the soap aisle in a department store. The use of grains of paradise adds that needed depth that most American brewed Witbiers lack.
541 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #62 (Mar 2012):
LOOK: Hazy golden
SMELL: Doughy, coriander, ripe plum, orange peel, earthy, floral, yeast
TASTE: Smooth, nutty, biscuity grain, yeast, coriander, mild bitterness, peppery, orange pith, faint saltiness, ripe fruit, spicy, grainy finish
Brewed to style with all the right bells and whistles going off, meaning that it does not taste like you have walked down the soap aisle in a department store. The use of grains of paradise adds that needed depth that most American brewed Witbiers lack.
541 characters
3.44/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
LOOK: Dirty blonde, cloudy, near opaque, foamy white head that fizzes away
SMELL: Powdery, floral, citric rinds, perfumey, yeast, grain husks
TASTE: Firm, oaty fullness and flavor, wheat, citric snap, orange peel, sweet bready grains, coriander, yeasty, earthy, dry floury finish
A bit heavier and darker than most traditional Witbiers, and it's missing that crisp, dry and effervescent edge that I've come to expect. Whatever percentage of oats they used seems to overpower a bit too much as well; lending too much flavor and body. Still, not bad.
551 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
LOOK: Dirty blonde, cloudy, near opaque, foamy white head that fizzes away
SMELL: Powdery, floral, citric rinds, perfumey, yeast, grain husks
TASTE: Firm, oaty fullness and flavor, wheat, citric snap, orange peel, sweet bready grains, coriander, yeasty, earthy, dry floury finish
A bit heavier and darker than most traditional Witbiers, and it's missing that crisp, dry and effervescent edge that I've come to expect. Whatever percentage of oats they used seems to overpower a bit too much as well; lending too much flavor and body. Still, not bad.
551 characters
4.36/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.72/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Tall can with brewed on dating (?) perhaps on the bottom - 6/01/16
Pours lightly hazed, dear dull golden, minor off white cap and leaving a delicate film, thin collar, and a few bit of fine lacing
Faint sniff of lime and perhaps some pepper
A bit better then middle of the road wit beer...some more lime, coriander and agian light pepper..decent but not striking me as anything very special....
397 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Tall can with brewed on dating (?) perhaps on the bottom - 6/01/16
Pours lightly hazed, dear dull golden, minor off white cap and leaving a delicate film, thin collar, and a few bit of fine lacing
Faint sniff of lime and perhaps some pepper
A bit better then middle of the road wit beer...some more lime, coriander and agian light pepper..decent but not striking me as anything very special....
397 characters
3.48/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.74/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Optimal Wit from Port City Brewing
3.8
out of 5
based on 369 ratings.
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured this 12 oz. into a footed tulip glass. No date. This one was a gift, I would never have purchased this one on my own due to this not being a favorite style. The body was clear, with a bright yellowy-gold color. The bright white head dissipated quickly.
The smell was cloves and fresh grain.
The taste was white peppercorns and spicy yeast. There was a snap of wheat. Crisp tartness was so refreshing and tasty! I enjoyed this one much more than I had anticipated.
The mouthfeel was medium to light in density. Adequate carbonation. Easy to drink and quite nice.
572 characters