Grey Lady | Cisco Brewers Inc.

3.06/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

L -- very hazy orange. Light head
S -- pond water, orange peel, lemon, coriander, sulfur, mild
T -- cinnamon, nutmeg, pine, toffee. Low bitterness
F -- Thin. Not much to report here
O -- the spices are a nice touch, but overall not the greatest wit

★ 248 characters

3.77/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I had this Wit at the Cisco Brew Pub at Boston Logan Airport last night. It is not a top notch and I found it a bit bland but refreshing.

(L) It had a hazy yellow hue and a very thin head.

(A) A modest but pleasant aroma, a bit citrusy and a bit floral.

(T) Wheat, citrus, barely noticeable hop spice.

(F) Light with significant carbonation, easy drinking, and refreshing.

★ 377 characters

3.15/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Bottle.

A: Perfumy, lightly spicy, faint citrus, coriander that finishes with a light malt sweetness.

A: Straw colored, totally clear, with a thin white head that settles into a fine film above the glass.

T: Lightly floral, with some spice, citrus, and coriander. The beer has a light sweet, honey character with a grainy finish.

M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation; drinks a little thin with no creaminess or tartness.

O: Alright; definitely drinkable, though the aroma and flavor is perfumy, floral, and lacks much citrus. The beer also drinks a bit thin and could use more body.

★ 597 characters

3.53/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

I tried this on a recommendation from a co-worker. I really wasn't sure what to expect at first sip. I'm not one for a floral aroma when it comes to beers but this one was a taste I knew but couldn't place right away. When poured properly it formed a nice tight head which I enjoyed especially on a lighter beer. As I was sipping along I finally realized what the taste was. It was rose water. I'll certainly be looking for a 6-pack of this for the fridge.

★ 456 characters

4.7/5  rDev +33.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Like a sophisticated older lady with grey hair. It IS grey in color. Very subtle smell/taste/texture. Don't drink with spicy thai food as I once made the mistake. It does take the heat off, but you do not get to enjoy the beer. Very subtle but pleasant, maybe with crackers and cheese, or vegetables, or just by itself.

Very strange beer, but if you like tea and broth (soup) you will love the uniqueness of this one. Slightly smokey even. Light like a rice beer. Definitely not the traditional wheaty heavy satisfying feeling after drinking. Great with vegetarian potsticker dumplings. Not with a burger and fries. That being said, it is still strangely satisfying, in the same way that regular beer is, and I keep coming back for more.

★ 738 characters

3.94/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

I liked this despite the lukewarm reviews. Nice Wit beer on a hot afternoon in Nantucket. Although everything tastes better here as everyone is wearing red shorts and collared shirts ......the only thing not obnoxious on this island is the beer

★ 246 characters

3.69/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Great tasting Ale. Very light in color and a light taste and feel. You can definitely taste the mild spice. Very smooth going down. Have only tried one other ...Whales Tale Pale Ale. I would by again.

★ 200 characters

3.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours a cloudy straw yellow color with some stray chunky sediments floating around. Fizzy at first, but that seems to dissipate quickly. Cloves with some fruity esters make up its aroma profile.

The taste is mild, with a clove-like something noticed. A little bit of lemon zest in the finish. Reminds of a hefeweizen, yet even more crisp and refreshing. Somewhat thin-bodied, but that was to be expected. Very nice prickly carbonation. Highly drinkable, especially on a summer day.

★ 490 characters

3.16/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy yellow gold with white head. Bread, citrus, and some spice on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied, nice carbonation. Finishes with lingering yeasty notes.

★ 182 characters

4.01/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The spice! *squinting Kyle Maclachlan face*

This beer is so neat, a real collision between present, pungent spice flavors, and a clean drinking belgian body. The first one was alright, but once I'd adjusted my expectations, has become a real favorite; hard to find local belgian styles, too, and this a good one. A beer out of time, but I recommend it.

★ 354 characters

2.17/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2

Wow what a strange one this is. Very herbal almost overpowering. Nothing like I have ever tasted in a beer and I have had 100's. Almost like a crazy herbal, ginger mix that you just cannot get past. If you want something very strange maybe, but i just cant see this one.

★ 270 characters

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy straw like the sun trying to burn its way through an early morning fog. The head is surprisingly thin for a wit. Smell: Perfumey and spicy, citrus, white bread, traces of banana and wheat. Taste: Spicy, ginger, orange, wheat, hint of banana. Mouthfeel: Medium body and slightly above medium carbonation.

★ 320 characters

3.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12-oz bottle into pilsner glass

A - cloudy golden yellow body under three fingers of white foam; tons of visible carbonation

S - citrus, spices, floral, herbal

T - citrus, spices (coriander predominates), wheat bread

M - light body, medium/high carbonation

O - Impressive nose, decent taste, interesting wit. Taste and feel both seem rather light--seems like a good summer brew.

★ 385 characters

3.8/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a very hazy yellow color with a nice off white head that trails the glass. The smell is full of all spice and orange peel. The taste was very refreshing with a lemon peel in the beginning with the malt and spice coming in on the finish. Very interesting and tasty beer.

★ 275 characters

2.97/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Can into tulip thanks to Cisco rep at Beachwood BBQ Seal Beach who just happened to be eating at the same time I was. Light yellow with thin white head. Aroma is coriander, clove, citrus zest, wheat malt. Flavor is similar with earthy bitter undertones. Spice notes are very strong. Finish is crisp and dry. Light bodied and thin feeling with moderate carbonation. Not something I’d go back to.

★ 396 characters

3.66/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into a tulip that I'm told is more like a pokal.

Appearance: Pours a semi-foggy yellow with a two-finger bone white head. Lots of bubbles. Some lacing on way down. Nice looking beer.

Aroma: Citrus, coriander, spices, lemon, wheat are all present.

Taste: Taste follows the nose, but is slightly more subdued than I'd expected. It's kind of light and easy on the palate. Citrus and coriander come forward as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Somewhat light. Summery. I'd like a wee bit more body from a witbier, but not a deal breaker.

Overall: Nice little number from Cisco. Yet another beer I'd hand to Blue Moon Guy and be like, "Guy, try this instead."

★ 667 characters

4/5  rDev +13.6%

Excellent and very different. I remember asking the server about it and she said, "I haven't tried it but someone else said it tasted like soap.". I'll take one!!! Pleasantly suprized and wound up having 2.

★ 206 characters

2.54/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.25

Happy #WitbierDay, and with the oddball warm November day here, the day for a white ale couldn't be better. From a 12 ounce bottle, on to the beer:

Looking paler goldenrod in the glass, while on top rests a semi-creamy white head which shows some head retention. It smells okay, offering vague spices, though they don't smell like the traditional witbier spices. It smells closer to ginger ale, according to my nose. Yes, I'll check my nose after the review.

Weak. Grey Lady has a watery flavor, and even then it's not exciting. I don't know what I'm tasting at the beginning...it's spicy, but why am I thinking lime and chili? The base grains offer a little creaminess and sweetness, but also bring some rough edges to the palate. Vague bubblegum as well. The beer is light bodied with a somewhat creamy texture, which is sadly the best part of drinking this beer.

Let's forget about the Grey Lady and wish everyone around you a #WitbierDay.

★ 946 characters

3.84/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

this is hopelessly underrated. that, or the recipe has changed a lot over time, because this is a wonderful belgian wit, funky as heck, almost saison, even a touch of brett almost in the yeast profile, which makes the beer. but lemongrass and lemon verbena radiate in the nose and the taste too. faint copper hue to this pale yellow brew, head is short lived, but my pint glass might be a little greasy. the flavor is great, bright wheat malt base, and a fantastic herbal character, both hoppy and grassy and botanical like. its super carbonated, huge bubbles explode on the tongue, and the finish is about as dry as you can get. im not sure what more people were looking for in this, maybe body? its really light, so easy down as to be easier to drink than water on a hot day. the low abv makes this okay though, or at least it does for me. the infinite session beer, flavorful and dynamic, expressive and well crafted. cisco has always impressed me. everything i taste from them reaffirms my admiration for them, this is very unique as wits go and positively delicious.

★ 1,071 characters

3.4/5  rDev -3.4%

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a yellow/whiteish color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of spices, some lemons. Taste is tart up front, lemons, wheat, some spice, but not as much as the smell would have indicated. Refreshing but somewhat mild. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer.

★ 303 characters

3.08/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Pours a bit cloudy, with no head on my pint from the bartender.

Faint aroma, a bit spicy and wheaty.

Taste has obvious coriander - not too much, but quite obvious. Leads to an earthy taste, a bit spicy, but not too much. Citrus also shows up with the strong wheat flavor.

Not a bad beer for the summer.

★ 305 characters

3.44/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass
Chill-hazed light gold in color, with a cap of fluffy bright white foam.
Aroma-Pale malt, faint spices
Taste-Wheat,in-the-background spiciness. Very subtle flavors, but very refreshing and easy-drinking. A pleasant warm weather brew to be sure.

★ 298 characters

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy blonde with a frothy ivory head that lingers.

Aroma is dominated by lemon and wheat, with a bit of orange peel and coriander.

Flavor is fairly lemony and minerally, with a soft wheat kick at the finish.

A little more citrus than I prefer, but a refreshing, easy drinking beer. Becomes floral late. Kinda flat.

★ 335 characters

3.55/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Grey Lady is a clouded pale gold color or, more accurately, sort of dusty near-medium yellow. The off-white head is sparse, peaking at just under half a finger of big-bubbled froth and leaving spotty lacing while leaving a layer atop the beer for the duration.
The spiciness is prominent in the smell, sort of an allspice and cardamom before a light hint of sweetness coming from the yeast kicks in to add a touch of banana and something like pear. The earthiness expected is there, and some lemon under dry wheat.
The flavor is likewise spiced, though a distinctive note of something like bergamot makes itself known, and I wonder if that's intentional. Otherwise it's very floral and perfumy, while the wheat sets the foundation and a lemony twang comes out front. more Belgian character would do this beer some good, but it's far from bad.
It's got a little more spritz than crispness, but it does have a nice running dryness with a spicy bite on the tongue, and it's fairly smooth as well.

★ 993 characters

3.56/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a hazy/murky yellow, slight lacing, 2 inch foamy white head

S - citrus, spice, lemon, very fruity

T - grain, what, citrus, lemons, multiple spices, herbal tea

M - light bodied, crisp, refreshing

O - Interesting combination of the herbal tea, lemon, and the fruity citrus. The aroma is quite nice that leads into a bit underwhelming taste, but still a nice beer. Very zesty and refreshing. I would enjoy this beer more if the spices and fruit were a bit more powerful.

★ 481 characters