Blood Orange Wit
Refuge Brewery

Blood Orange WitBlood Orange Wit
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Refuge Brewery
 
California, United States
Style:
Witbier
ABV:
5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.82 | pDev: 10.99%
Reviews:
35
Ratings:
134
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 13, 2021
Added:
Jul 31, 2013
Wants:
  14
Gots:
  59
This beer is the freshest to taste and the easiest to drink among others we offer, and it has also happened to be the best selling one. By using over 200lbs of fresh blood oranges in every batch, we came up with a beer that explodes with flavor yet balances its sweetness with just a pinch of tartness. It is this balance combined with an extraordinarily light wheat body that makes this brew perfect for any occasion, any time of the year!
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mdfb79:
Photo of mdfb79
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York

3.99/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From 09/24/15 notes. 16oz. can into a tulip.

Pours a hazy bright orange color with two inches of white head and high carbonation evident. Spices wheat, bready malts, citrus, oranges, and coriander. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth but a little less carbonation would be perfect.

Overall a nice witbier. I prefer the local NY Blood Orange beer from South Bay, but a good beer none the less. Would be a good summer or beach beer too.
Sep 25, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.61 by simonrgilbert57 from California

Jun 13, 2021
Photo of ElCucuyBeerReviews
Reviewed by ElCucuyBeerReviews from California

4.48/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I am a man of the wheat/wit bier variety, club one would say; it takes a lot to satiate my thirst when it comes to this sub-brew.

Can Appearance
Right away, the can has one of the most exquisite and aesthetically pleasing designs by dimension and artwork on the label. From here, my expectations were incredibly high and Refuge did not disappoint, dude.

Opening and Pour Gravity
It's crisp upon opening, didn't flow out of the opening from rise like some beers, but did "snap" and some residual head shot off the corner of the top. Going into the glass you notice it's not a crazy heavy pour (compared to a black/tan or porter/stout) but not incredibly light either, it's balanced and easy like it was on a superb draft tap.

On the Nose
You notice once it's in your glass, during the pour it's easy to control the amount of head you want at the top of the glass. I used to prefer more head, now in my yonder years I prefer less so I appreciate it not turning into Mt. St Helens. You take a deep inhale or retrohale upon the beginning of enjoying this beer, and it's a twinge bitter from the citrus, with underlying yeast and some remote sweet fructose (think a full, rich orange vice a small tart tangerine) culminating a scant metallic essence on the back end.

The Taste
This is where it gets really good. You're now standing in an orange field, wind is blowing thru your clothes and it's about 65 degrees fahrenheit. It's full body has the immediate metallic twinge you left off on the nose, but without a bite that causes your jaw to clench like the strongest of IPA's or Cabernets. You keep going and suddenly it's just crisp, refreshing orange and yeast again (like going backwards on the nose).

The Feel
This isn't an overly heavy beer, you can't chew this very effectively, but we're drinking a damn awesome Wit here. There's no discomfort upon drinking quick, even when cold, and it doesn't sit on the teeth or tongue longer than you're comfortable with. After you finish this beer, you can think about it without getting scolded by your dentist (or spouse). In the belly there's no other beer I've had until now that offers a level of solidarity and comfort. This is one of those beers that are lifetime list worthy.

4.5/5
Nov 18, 2020
Photo of WilliamGustin
Reviewed by WilliamGustin from Nevada

3.18/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Start at the bottom review and work your way up, it’s been a story!

Second update!: It’s grown on me. I’ve learned how to drink it. Take my advice on my first update and multiply by 2. Ya gotta swirl that last 10%! Give it a chance to breath by pouring in a tall glass and waiting a good couple minutes. It’s a little strange to have some sludge on the bottom, but if it is reincorporated it’s a much better beer. Still don’t really get a robust blood orange flavor but it’s definitely more satisfying than my first attempt. Just proves details matter! Glad I bought four and gave it a real test. Taking my 2.95 avg score a bit higher into the 3s - it deserves it.

Update: I tried a couple more - I was a little harsh. Pour the WHOLE CAN, swirling at the bottom like they instruct on the can. Do NOT drink from can. Also, let it warm up just a bit, flavors/spice is better. Still not my favorite, but taking this from a 2.67 score up a bit to reflect a better test of this beer.

I agree with some of the lower reviews here. I don’t get it. Pours well, has a good look and head and...that’s about it. Kinda tart but quite watery and ‘thin’ to me. Didn’t get a mouthfeel much beyond liquid on the palate. Don’t want to be too negative here, maybe just me, but I’ve had better wheat beer and more flavorful blood orange options before. If you get it, buy just one to try it first. Drink by date on mine was 11/24/20 - well within range. 2017 Gold winner at ABF. Something just not adding up...hope others get more from it than I did.
Oct 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.97 by Jjl329 from California

Feb 24, 2020
 
Rated: 3.06 by TrackBeer from California

Oct 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.37 by antihero404 from California

Sep 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.86 by rsuarez1982 from Texas

Aug 04, 2019
Photo of deranker
Rated by deranker from California

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Neat looking can
Great smell
Decent mouth feel
May 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.51 by Waveoff from Pennsylvania

Apr 08, 2019
Photo of Nvrmind16
Rated by Nvrmind16 from California

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Very good blood orange beer
Mar 11, 2019
 
Rated: 3.4 by Wontonst from California

Dec 17, 2018
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.94/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Interesting and reflects well on San Diego patrons that this is Refuge's bestseller.

Poured from a can, I get a pretty wit. Smells are mostly orange. Tastes start there and add a nice complexity with an effective yeast working the wheat. Sits fine in the mouth, though not as well as the body of this brew.

Went fine with lunch (sandwich) at the SD airport after 3 days of intense research on the local industry.

My first, I went on Refuge's website and they seem to have it together for a brewery just over five years. Distributed in three states, packaged in stand-out, attractive cans and what looks like a great taproom that I will have to save for next research trip.
Nov 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.28 by Flyte from California

Sep 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by Gobzilla from California

Sep 23, 2018
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

3.18/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
May 27th, 2015 - The Refuge Blood Orange Wit looks like an intense kaffir lime soda, practically green in its shade of yellow, with a haziness to rival the haziest New England IPAs. And the aroma shocks too. The cut of a twangy shandy slices at the nostrils. The flavor is much milder with a light palate and a light flavor, with some orange juice citrus notes that skate on the lighter mouthfeel. Refreshing but strong on the nose, I am glad the taste isn't as strong as the olfactory would suggest.
Jul 19, 2018
Photo of atomicbeer
Reviewed by atomicbeer from New Mexico

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft pint at Sheraton hotel bar on San Diego Bay. Cloudy yellow-gold with small white head. Medium carbonation is a good compliment. Light powdered orange aroma. Taste similar but orange flavor stronger than the aroma over a grassy wheat backbone with just enough zing from the blood orange. Refreshing on a delightful brilliant blue sky San Diego day.
Jun 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by Hopsohard from California

Jun 24, 2018
Photo of Parmesan
Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado

3.81/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: Pours a slightly hazy, almost lemonade like yellow with a small white head and no lacing.

S: Strong note of blood orange, some wheat, and notes of a stronger Belgian yeast, some pepper, and lemon.

T: Strong notes of blood orange, some wheat, nice notes of some spicy Belgian yeast, a little pepper of coriander.

F: Creamy and easy drinking, medium body.

O: This is a fairly solid wit, it just is very orangey.
May 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by BlueSpader from Washington

Mar 18, 2018
Blood Orange Wit from Refuge Brewery
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 134 ratings