BlackBerry Hibou
Gilman Brewing Company

The main weakness here is freshness. And I bought this while visiting the Berkeley brewery. (Untappd also has only 3 Checkins in the past 30 days, confirming me.). Despite not being fresh, there is value in this wit.

First of all, blackberry is an unusual flavouring in North American wits. There is a subtle berry sweetness and tartness. This then goes on to create a nicely crisp, light malt backbone for a balanced, refreshing beer.

Second, Gilman is a saison house, rare outside of Belgium and perhaps a dozen brewers in North America. And a saison house will know better how to a brew a wit since they both rely on the yeast and a mix of grains.

Third, I had this with Gilman's pizza and it paired well and with their Brussels Sprouts. This seems to be a food friendly wit.

My first from Gilman, I went on their website and they have done well for a 12 year old; opening three taprooms and a restaurant. They are mostly Belgian-inspired and started in a town I was a graduate student in. For all that, I giver them very good Overall Hugs.

 

Had this “wit” off tap at the Gilman brewery in Berkeley. Tasted more like a blackberry take on a Berliner sour than a wit. Couldn’t find the Belgium connection to this wit. If they had called it a sour, I would have scored it higher. But chalkboard menu called it a Belgian wit with blackberry. Couldn’t imagine myself back in Brussels when I had this beer. It was too light and fizzy to drink seriously, so it went down refreshingly quick. No complaints, thirst quenching, but not a beer I would order again for $8.