Celis White | Michigan Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Michigan Brewing Company
Michigan, United States
michiganbrewing.com
Style: Belgian Witbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
None provided.
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
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Reviews: 264
| Ratings: 326
3.53/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Prominent white colour, wheat sour and strong carbonation worked. Coriander and orange taste, some pepper and spiciness. fresh tasting though it's the Fall. Rounded with malt and smooth and drinkable. Light-medium mouthfeel. Tangy acidic aftertaste, drying.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Prominent white colour, wheat sour and strong carbonation worked. Coriander and orange taste, some pepper and spiciness. fresh tasting though it's the Fall. Rounded with malt and smooth and drinkable. Light-medium mouthfeel. Tangy acidic aftertaste, drying.
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3.31/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle date of 5/12/12.
Pours a murky yellow with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, celery, lettuce, and spices. Definitely some weird aromas going on here. Taste is of grain, yeast, spices, and a very slight vegetal flavor but nothing like the smell. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer flavor wise but the aromas of leafy vegetables are definitely quite odd.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle date of 5/12/12.
Pours a murky yellow with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Foamy swaths of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, celery, lettuce, and spices. Definitely some weird aromas going on here. Taste is of grain, yeast, spices, and a very slight vegetal flavor but nothing like the smell. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer flavor wise but the aromas of leafy vegetables are definitely quite odd.
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3.5/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer poured out as a decent looking hazy yellow cold. The head was foamy at first before it sunk into the glass. The lacing was decent. The smell of the beer was citrusy and yeasty. The taste of the beer was light, fruity and had a touch of spices in it. The mouthfeel wasn't too bad for this style. Overall it's not a bad attempt at making a Belgian White.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer poured out as a decent looking hazy yellow cold. The head was foamy at first before it sunk into the glass. The lacing was decent. The smell of the beer was citrusy and yeasty. The taste of the beer was light, fruity and had a touch of spices in it. The mouthfeel wasn't too bad for this style. Overall it's not a bad attempt at making a Belgian White.
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4.15/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
There are a few noble and illusive beers out there that I haven't had the pleasure to sample. This is one of them. But with the history, infamy, and legendary status of the history of the beer, how can the flavors compete? As do most Witbiers, this opens with a silky looking pour, giving a lot of airiness and froath to the glass. Softly carbonated and canary yellow in color, the beer has an impressive look. Aromas of corriander, oranges, and wheat dominate the nose and carry over to the flavors nicely. Lightly estery, peppery, and phenolic, the beer balances with the sweet pilsner malts well without the slightest hint of graininess or astringency. Light lemon flavors prevail in the finish, giving the beer high marks for drinkability. The texture is as smooth as it looks with a powdery, thirst quenching finish. The beer certainly meets the hype.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
There are a few noble and illusive beers out there that I haven't had the pleasure to sample. This is one of them. But with the history, infamy, and legendary status of the history of the beer, how can the flavors compete? As do most Witbiers, this opens with a silky looking pour, giving a lot of airiness and froath to the glass. Softly carbonated and canary yellow in color, the beer has an impressive look. Aromas of corriander, oranges, and wheat dominate the nose and carry over to the flavors nicely. Lightly estery, peppery, and phenolic, the beer balances with the sweet pilsner malts well without the slightest hint of graininess or astringency. Light lemon flavors prevail in the finish, giving the beer high marks for drinkability. The texture is as smooth as it looks with a powdery, thirst quenching finish. The beer certainly meets the hype.
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3.75/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
This is a great witbier for spring and summer. I managed to polish off 5 over Labor Day, and it was solid and refreshing. For all intent and purposes, this beer looks like Hoegaarden, but tastes more like an American Pale Wheat. That's disappointing considering it's namesake. The bland yeast tended to overpower the subtle orange peel/coriander combo. Maybe drinking it ice cold would help.
If you are a witbier fan, it's worth trying, but there are better examples out there.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
This is a great witbier for spring and summer. I managed to polish off 5 over Labor Day, and it was solid and refreshing. For all intent and purposes, this beer looks like Hoegaarden, but tastes more like an American Pale Wheat. That's disappointing considering it's namesake. The bland yeast tended to overpower the subtle orange peel/coriander combo. Maybe drinking it ice cold would help.
If you are a witbier fan, it's worth trying, but there are better examples out there.
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3.85/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Celis White is a hazy, straw color with a good level of carbonation. The head is large, sticky, and ultra-white. The aroma is spicy and yeasty, with clove and coriander smells standing out. A sip starts with an initial bite of yeast flavor, somewhat clove-like, with a good level of an almost lemony spice flavor. Coriander is definently in the mix, but some sweeter spice is also present. The underlying wheat body occaisionally makes itself known and adds another layer to a tasty beer. This probably isn't the best wit I've had, but the style is well-represented with no complaints from me.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Celis White is a hazy, straw color with a good level of carbonation. The head is large, sticky, and ultra-white. The aroma is spicy and yeasty, with clove and coriander smells standing out. A sip starts with an initial bite of yeast flavor, somewhat clove-like, with a good level of an almost lemony spice flavor. Coriander is definently in the mix, but some sweeter spice is also present. The underlying wheat body occaisionally makes itself known and adds another layer to a tasty beer. This probably isn't the best wit I've had, but the style is well-represented with no complaints from me.
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3.7/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a cloudy lemon yellow color with a modest head that quickly declined to a ringlet and left no lacing
Smell: A touch of banana, citrus and coriander
Taste: Starts with a wheat bread character that is quickly assaulted, after the swallow, by a wave of very sweet banana and coriander flavors; joining the intense sweetness is a tangy orangey citrus flavor on the finish
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with prickly carbonation
Drinkability: Despite its flaws, I find this beer to be eminently drinkable; I really enjoyed it for one bottle but I think I might be put off by the strong flavors and lack of balance if I were to have another
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a cloudy lemon yellow color with a modest head that quickly declined to a ringlet and left no lacing
Smell: A touch of banana, citrus and coriander
Taste: Starts with a wheat bread character that is quickly assaulted, after the swallow, by a wave of very sweet banana and coriander flavors; joining the intense sweetness is a tangy orangey citrus flavor on the finish
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with prickly carbonation
Drinkability: Despite its flaws, I find this beer to be eminently drinkable; I really enjoyed it for one bottle but I think I might be put off by the strong flavors and lack of balance if I were to have another
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3.8/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Well there's not much to be said here that hasn't already been said; and I wish I could avoid the comparison to the original and just let this beer stand on it's own, but I can't. It's more malty than the original, and that drags down its drinkability a bit. Otherwise, it's pretty much right on as I remember it. The yeast is not quite the same, and the coriander was a touch heavy handed, but I'll certainly have another! I'm glad to see one of my favorite beers revived; and quite relieved that it's been done fairly well.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Well there's not much to be said here that hasn't already been said; and I wish I could avoid the comparison to the original and just let this beer stand on it's own, but I can't. It's more malty than the original, and that drags down its drinkability a bit. Otherwise, it's pretty much right on as I remember it. The yeast is not quite the same, and the coriander was a touch heavy handed, but I'll certainly have another! I'm glad to see one of my favorite beers revived; and quite relieved that it's been done fairly well.
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3.45/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
A beer I have had a few times back in the day and now I see its new to western NY on tap,poured a slight hazed dirty blond with a thin white head.Lighter aromas of coriander spice and lemon rind with some toasty wheat malt underneath,somewhat watery going down when compared to the Rocky River SubChaser I had before but it lended to its drinkability a bit.It seemed a bit lighter in flavor than from what I remember light citrus and toasty malt with hints of coriander.Its refreshing and very delicate but I could use some oomph but it is good for what it is no doubt.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
A beer I have had a few times back in the day and now I see its new to western NY on tap,poured a slight hazed dirty blond with a thin white head.Lighter aromas of coriander spice and lemon rind with some toasty wheat malt underneath,somewhat watery going down when compared to the Rocky River SubChaser I had before but it lended to its drinkability a bit.It seemed a bit lighter in flavor than from what I remember light citrus and toasty malt with hints of coriander.Its refreshing and very delicate but I could use some oomph but it is good for what it is no doubt.
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4.15/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
And for the hat trick of the night…..meaning my third and final bottle of healing from my hockey game is Celis White from Michigan Brewing Company…..An authentic Belgian-style wheat beer. The color is a very cloudy (un-filtered) yellow with razor thin white head. The nose provides hints of spice, orange, and touch of clove. WOW….this might be the best Belgium beer I have ever tasted. Very subtle with the clove, spice and citrus….this isn’t bad…..and coming from a guy that really isn’t a fan of Belgium styles. The subtle taste helps to keep the mouthfeel at a nice level. I think I could survive a SESSION of this beer. Not too shabby!!!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
And for the hat trick of the night…..meaning my third and final bottle of healing from my hockey game is Celis White from Michigan Brewing Company…..An authentic Belgian-style wheat beer. The color is a very cloudy (un-filtered) yellow with razor thin white head. The nose provides hints of spice, orange, and touch of clove. WOW….this might be the best Belgium beer I have ever tasted. Very subtle with the clove, spice and citrus….this isn’t bad…..and coming from a guy that really isn’t a fan of Belgium styles. The subtle taste helps to keep the mouthfeel at a nice level. I think I could survive a SESSION of this beer. Not too shabby!!!
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3.72/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Acquired via trade from plaztikjezuz, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a light yellow color, with a very thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma is of wheat and Belgian yeast with some spice and a touch of hops.
T: The taste is nicely balanced with a strong wheat flavor up front and complimentary flavors of Belgian yeast, spice and a little citrus. The malt character is just slightly heartier than most Witbiers and there’s a mild hops presence. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium-to-high carbonation, finish is clean.
D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good representation of style, the kick is pretty mild which makes it a very poundable beer. Personally, however, I would prefer something a little bit stronger even within the style. Overall, though it’s a pretty good beer.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Acquired via trade from plaztikjezuz, so a big “Thank you” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a light yellow color, with a very thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma is of wheat and Belgian yeast with some spice and a touch of hops.
T: The taste is nicely balanced with a strong wheat flavor up front and complimentary flavors of Belgian yeast, spice and a little citrus. The malt character is just slightly heartier than most Witbiers and there’s a mild hops presence. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium-to-high carbonation, finish is clean.
D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good representation of style, the kick is pretty mild which makes it a very poundable beer. Personally, however, I would prefer something a little bit stronger even within the style. Overall, though it’s a pretty good beer.
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3.8/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip.
a - Pours a murky golden color with one and half fingers of fluffy white head and moderate to high carbonation evident. Nice lacing.
s - Smells of bananas, yeast, spices, fruity malts, and citrus. Also some cloves.
t - Tastes of bananas, spices, yeast, and light citrus.
m - Light body and moderate carbonation.
d - Not a bad witbier at all. This is probably the best beer I've received in the beer of the month club since I started getting it in February, and it reminded me a lot of Southhampton's Double White Ale. Lots of nice bananas, and Belgian styule spices and yeast in the smell. Would definitely have this beer again.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip.
a - Pours a murky golden color with one and half fingers of fluffy white head and moderate to high carbonation evident. Nice lacing.
s - Smells of bananas, yeast, spices, fruity malts, and citrus. Also some cloves.
t - Tastes of bananas, spices, yeast, and light citrus.
m - Light body and moderate carbonation.
d - Not a bad witbier at all. This is probably the best beer I've received in the beer of the month club since I started getting it in February, and it reminded me a lot of Southhampton's Double White Ale. Lots of nice bananas, and Belgian styule spices and yeast in the smell. Would definitely have this beer again.
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3.85/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lucent straw--that resembles Chablis--with a bright white cap that is large, fluffystiff and styrofoam-like. Unfortunately, it deflates within minutes, isn't the least bit tacky and leaves nothing more than a short, scalloped collar of lace. The nose consists of clove (primarily), orange zest (secondarily) and a lightly funky yeastiness that is the best part of the whole deal.
The wheat malty backbone is firm enough to provide a more than acceptable amount of body and sweetness. I'm finding it hard to nail down the body/mouthfeel and have decided to land on medium-full for the style. The sweet maltiness gives it an expansive, slightly viscous feel while the carbonation is abundant enough to keep it on the quaffable side.
The flavor is good, but not outstanding. Clove is still the dominant actor, but it isn't so strong as to overpower the orange zest. Even though the various elements of the flavor profile really do work well together, something seems to be missing. The 'impressed' signal just isn't making it to my brain for some reason. Note: enough voltage got through by the bottom half of the bottle for me to kick the taste score up a notch. More yeast perhaps?
It's a shame that none of us will ever be able to sample the original Celis White. This version is tasty though and even if it doesn't make it into my witbier upper tier, it should please most lovers of the style.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lucent straw--that resembles Chablis--with a bright white cap that is large, fluffystiff and styrofoam-like. Unfortunately, it deflates within minutes, isn't the least bit tacky and leaves nothing more than a short, scalloped collar of lace. The nose consists of clove (primarily), orange zest (secondarily) and a lightly funky yeastiness that is the best part of the whole deal.
The wheat malty backbone is firm enough to provide a more than acceptable amount of body and sweetness. I'm finding it hard to nail down the body/mouthfeel and have decided to land on medium-full for the style. The sweet maltiness gives it an expansive, slightly viscous feel while the carbonation is abundant enough to keep it on the quaffable side.
The flavor is good, but not outstanding. Clove is still the dominant actor, but it isn't so strong as to overpower the orange zest. Even though the various elements of the flavor profile really do work well together, something seems to be missing. The 'impressed' signal just isn't making it to my brain for some reason. Note: enough voltage got through by the bottom half of the bottle for me to kick the taste score up a notch. More yeast perhaps?
It's a shame that none of us will ever be able to sample the original Celis White. This version is tasty though and even if it doesn't make it into my witbier upper tier, it should please most lovers of the style.
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4.1/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ouncer sampled, no freshness dating. I enjoyed this years ago when it was brewed in Texas, cant say I remember exactly how it tasted, but I was psyched to try this latest incarnation. This one pours the expected very cloudy dull yellow, with a bright white head and leaving some scattered lacing. Nose is all about cloves, pepper and some orangy bananas. Pleasant light bodied ale, more cloves, ripe bananas and pepper picked up. Finishes, smooth and slightly dry. Fine warm weather brew and with all sorts of salads, cheese, fish etc etc.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ouncer sampled, no freshness dating. I enjoyed this years ago when it was brewed in Texas, cant say I remember exactly how it tasted, but I was psyched to try this latest incarnation. This one pours the expected very cloudy dull yellow, with a bright white head and leaving some scattered lacing. Nose is all about cloves, pepper and some orangy bananas. Pleasant light bodied ale, more cloves, ripe bananas and pepper picked up. Finishes, smooth and slightly dry. Fine warm weather brew and with all sorts of salads, cheese, fish etc etc.
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3.16/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Poured from the bottle into a Hoegarden style glass.
Appearance is pretty decent. Head is tight bubbled with a real small bubbled foamy white head. Body is a typical cloudy lemon yellow and gray, but the head leaves some minimal lacing and a decent puck throughout drinking.
Nose is distinctly buttery with a small wheat chew fairly pleasant but sort of faulty.
Taste is chewy sweet with a sugar sense. Palate texture feels solid and fine, but grain and wheat angle seems a bit burried. Citrus angle seems strangely artificial if not totally non existent.
Overall a mild buttery but also overly sweet Witbier that is missing wheat backbone and a citrus angle.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Poured from the bottle into a Hoegarden style glass.
Appearance is pretty decent. Head is tight bubbled with a real small bubbled foamy white head. Body is a typical cloudy lemon yellow and gray, but the head leaves some minimal lacing and a decent puck throughout drinking.
Nose is distinctly buttery with a small wheat chew fairly pleasant but sort of faulty.
Taste is chewy sweet with a sugar sense. Palate texture feels solid and fine, but grain and wheat angle seems a bit burried. Citrus angle seems strangely artificial if not totally non existent.
Overall a mild buttery but also overly sweet Witbier that is missing wheat backbone and a citrus angle.
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3.97/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of oranges and spices. Taste is good, again oranges and spices, some grains. Feels full bodied in the mouth and is very drinkable. Overall this is a high quality beer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a cloudy golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of oranges and spices. Taste is good, again oranges and spices, some grains. Feels full bodied in the mouth and is very drinkable. Overall this is a high quality beer.
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3.33/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance: So far dead on as far as appearance looks like a hazy glass of lemonade with a big fluffy white very carbonated at that head leaves behind thick full patches of lace. Aroma: Sharp spritzy sweetness from the malted wheat with the coriander, zest, and yeast driven citrus like tones all there classic aromatics much like the original witbier. Taste: However varies a bit much more pronounced tartness with a creamy slightly chalky yeast profile lightly hopped in the finish with citrus and the coriander coming to play on the palate. Mouthfeel & Drinkability: Extreme carbonation tickles the back of the throat lighter bodied session ale made to be drank in number as refreshing summer brew, nice.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance: So far dead on as far as appearance looks like a hazy glass of lemonade with a big fluffy white very carbonated at that head leaves behind thick full patches of lace. Aroma: Sharp spritzy sweetness from the malted wheat with the coriander, zest, and yeast driven citrus like tones all there classic aromatics much like the original witbier. Taste: However varies a bit much more pronounced tartness with a creamy slightly chalky yeast profile lightly hopped in the finish with citrus and the coriander coming to play on the palate. Mouthfeel & Drinkability: Extreme carbonation tickles the back of the throat lighter bodied session ale made to be drank in number as refreshing summer brew, nice.
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3.75/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Okay, okay. So that thing I said about the last wit I had being the last of the season wasn't so true.
Pours a clouded yellow with athin white head. Nose is like popcorn. Minus the buttera and salt of course. Citrus is there as well. It's present in the flavor, but guess what else is there. Popcorn again! Ha! That's a new one. Overall though it's a nice earthy citrus mix. Quite citrus forward really. Feel has a fairly full and biting carbonation. Liquid is typical for the style. This is a good witbier. A spot on interpretation IMO.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Okay, okay. So that thing I said about the last wit I had being the last of the season wasn't so true.
Pours a clouded yellow with athin white head. Nose is like popcorn. Minus the buttera and salt of course. Citrus is there as well. It's present in the flavor, but guess what else is there. Popcorn again! Ha! That's a new one. Overall though it's a nice earthy citrus mix. Quite citrus forward really. Feel has a fairly full and biting carbonation. Liquid is typical for the style. This is a good witbier. A spot on interpretation IMO.
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Celis White from Michigan Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.77 out of
5 with
326 ratings
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