Don Perfecto
Barley Forge Brewing Co.

 

 

5.1% ABV | 17 IBU

The look comes off nice in this witbier. A nice golden haze with some bottle lacing and light head that almost vanishes instantly. Bubbles constantly rising even after sitting for almost a half hour.

The smell on this beer initially hit me with that malty scent. After letting it sit for a minute or two and coming back to it I caught some cinnamon/vanilla that you would expect from the horchata profile. I did catch that burnt plastic that everyone talks about but it took some time for this to hit me.

The taste to me is what you expect, at first. It's light, malty like you are expecting with a witbier that delivers a horchata flavor of cinnamon and vanilla. I didn't catch any of the lactose like they mention but eventually the beer developed a plastic or processed taste to it.

The feel on this beer is light and lacking carbonation. The beer doesn't have much of a lasting taste but if it does it leaves some cinnamon and processed feel to it.

Overall, this beer just isn't good which is a real downer. Being a Socal native I was hoping it would bring more to the table but it just bad. It is almost as if they tried too hard to get to the horchata flavor and in the end leaves you with a processed feel to it. The beer really lacks any good profile and I had to force myself to finish it because no good man wastes a cold beer.

I'm always on the lookout for a new beer to try, and as a Southern Californian, I like giving local beers a try.

The pour was very much like any other Belgian wit you might expect. A light and quickly dissipating head, a slightly cloudy and golden appearance. The initial flavor was surprisingly not strong on the horchata side. In fact that was very subdued, and it felt more like a light and mellow Belgian wit. However, in not sold on this one and that may be due to the lactose. The flavor, while not bad initially, had a slight off flavor as it passed over your tongue. The cinnamon and vanilla was only apparent later as a slight aftertaste.

I'd say it's still worth a shot if you want to try a new beer and don't mind forking over $10 for a six pack of 12oz. bottles.

http://i.imgur.com/eiHV0w0.jpg

 

 

 

wow. I wasn't expecting this.... I get the 'horchata' flavor others refer to .... I expected some spices but not like this. the vanilla is very, very nice on this although I believe it's coming from the lactose. this was a very good new beer to try for me.....

 

Appearance: Hazy yellow, medium white head with a constant little streams of bubbles

Smell: Light smell of cinnamon and vanilla

Taste: A mild wheat backbone with a good balance of Horchata spices (cinnamon and vanilla).

Mouthfeel: Light to medium light

Overall: This is a very good Witbier. The balance of spices are spot on. There is just enough there where one tastes them, but it doesn't over power the beer. This beer is very refreshing and quenches the thirst very well.

Horchata is in per beer trends, so seeing a horchata-styled witbier should comes as no surprise. Coming out of a 12 ounce bottle bought at the brewery itself, on to the beer:

A slow settling white head tops this pale goldenrod beer. A little hazy in the body. The aroma hits the mark for what they want; a horchata-styled witbier. I smell succulent cinnamon, creamy oats, grass, honey, and vague phenolic (burnt plastic) notes. That last note is not so appetizing, even in the small dose that it hits at. I continue to taste that phenolic note, putting a small dent in the solid base of cinnamon and pears. The beer is light bodied and low in carbonation. It's a more than fair witbier, and certainly a fun twist to the common one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a murky orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, yeast, spice, and burnt plastic aromas. Taste is much the same with spice, vanilla, earth, yeast, and burnt plastic flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a poor beer that sounds interesting on paper, but this is just a mess of burnt plastic qualities that ruin any sort of drinkability.

Serving type: bottle.