Peppercorn Imperial Wit
Monkless Belgian Ales - The Brasserie
- From:
- Monkless Belgian Ales - The Brasserie
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Witbier
Ranked #32 - ABV:
- 8.2%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #17,084 - Avg:
- 3.97 | pDev: 5.54%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 16
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 19, 2026
- Added:
- Jul 06, 2017
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
It's time to re-think your Wit! At 8.2% PIW is the big brother to our classic Belgian Witbier, Shepplekofeggan. Peppercorn Imperial Wit is headlined by the addition of our four-peppercorn blend, fresh orange peel and coriander. The result is a big, yet light bodied Witbier brimming with robust bright citrus and pear aromas with a clean and dry, peppery finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by CoasterRider from Washington
4.16/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a golden color with a minimal head. The aroma is citrus and slight sweetness. Nice light-bodied and easy drinking for an 8.2%. It has a slightly mild spicy finish. Really good beer. 30 IBUs
Mar 04, 2025
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.19/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Monkless
A- hazy golden color with a one finger creamy white head that has great retention
S- toasted wheat, cracked pepper, floral hops, orange peel, coriander, better as it warms
T- citrusy up front with zesty orange, followed by toasted wheat and coriander. Mid-palate gives some phenolic notes with pear, clove and peppery yeast. The finish gives toasted wheat with a peppery linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation, foamy mouthfeel that continues into a creamy finish
Jul 23, 2024A- hazy golden color with a one finger creamy white head that has great retention
S- toasted wheat, cracked pepper, floral hops, orange peel, coriander, better as it warms
T- citrusy up front with zesty orange, followed by toasted wheat and coriander. Mid-palate gives some phenolic notes with pear, clove and peppery yeast. The finish gives toasted wheat with a peppery linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation, foamy mouthfeel that continues into a creamy finish
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.9/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can. Bottom lip has a stamp of 'BATCH # 565'.
Unfiltered look, with a straw colored body. One finger of shimmering white head. Leaves behind spots and waves of lacing.
Aroma of wheat malt tanginess, along with pencil eraser yeast, some orange citrus, and coriander spice.
Taste is initially a combo of wheat malt and yeast esters, and then the orange citrus and coriander join in. The peppercorn addition is somewhat there but mostly shows up at the very end. Some tang, some juice, some yeast dryness, and peppercorn spice.
Medium mouth feel. Higher ABV% is hidden. Dry and clean finish. Good carbonation.
More tang and yeasty than sweet, but with orange fruit flavor.
Dec 10, 2023Unfiltered look, with a straw colored body. One finger of shimmering white head. Leaves behind spots and waves of lacing.
Aroma of wheat malt tanginess, along with pencil eraser yeast, some orange citrus, and coriander spice.
Taste is initially a combo of wheat malt and yeast esters, and then the orange citrus and coriander join in. The peppercorn addition is somewhat there but mostly shows up at the very end. Some tang, some juice, some yeast dryness, and peppercorn spice.
Medium mouth feel. Higher ABV% is hidden. Dry and clean finish. Good carbonation.
More tang and yeasty than sweet, but with orange fruit flavor.
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
3.99/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
draught
IBU: 40
Off-dry, creamy white head. Fairly cloudy, light amber look. A savory spiced, medium light and caramelized malt aroma, with a tiny coriander/lemon note, on the side. Easy level of bright herbal/lemony flavor, with a savory note of the pepper (barely) and good foundation of caramelized light toast malt, with the wheat giving this a bright note to the flavor.
Feb 05, 2023IBU: 40
Off-dry, creamy white head. Fairly cloudy, light amber look. A savory spiced, medium light and caramelized malt aroma, with a tiny coriander/lemon note, on the side. Easy level of bright herbal/lemony flavor, with a savory note of the pepper (barely) and good foundation of caramelized light toast malt, with the wheat giving this a bright note to the flavor.
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.75/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Crowler from Growler Guys-Bend. Light bodied with nice frothy head. Kind of hazy. Grassy aromas with a hint of savory spice. Peppercorns become more pronounced in the taste, adding a nice crisp snap. Not a huge fan of witbiers, but this one was much better than I expected.
Oct 23, 2022
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.79/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
3.79/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Since I just bought a 4 pack at Woodman's Kenosha, I later review this Wit in greater depth and defend my rating.
But unlike some other comments, the shortage of peppercorn is not the problem for me. (I like wits as a summer table ale and too much pepper limits the number of foods.) This Peppercorn's key problem is the yeast is not full of life and nor are the fruits in this fruity beverage. Being fruity, this limits the meals that Peppercorn can help. Depending on how much Peppa you use and like (which for my is below the gourmet standard), Peppercorn is better for refreshment than food.
Being a Belgo-phile, I've given great Overall Hugs to Monkless. But my concern with these guys (and this is only my 5th so I make the criticism guardedly) is that their marketing is better than their yeast. It is fine to enter the Belgian tradition and focus on it, but know that you have to learn, and maintain, the yeasts to compete with the masters. That said, it is another thing to think that your marketing will carry you until you figure it out. Monkless is still assuming too much about their marketing and should focus instead on their yeast. But I still like Monkless and give them good OA Hugs.
5/15/22 Still not having paired with summer fare, I drank this second can after playing tennis and it was refreshing... even on cloudy Spring day. So I improved the Feel a tad... but will keep count over at UnTappd.
May 09, 2022But unlike some other comments, the shortage of peppercorn is not the problem for me. (I like wits as a summer table ale and too much pepper limits the number of foods.) This Peppercorn's key problem is the yeast is not full of life and nor are the fruits in this fruity beverage. Being fruity, this limits the meals that Peppercorn can help. Depending on how much Peppa you use and like (which for my is below the gourmet standard), Peppercorn is better for refreshment than food.
Being a Belgo-phile, I've given great Overall Hugs to Monkless. But my concern with these guys (and this is only my 5th so I make the criticism guardedly) is that their marketing is better than their yeast. It is fine to enter the Belgian tradition and focus on it, but know that you have to learn, and maintain, the yeasts to compete with the masters. That said, it is another thing to think that your marketing will carry you until you figure it out. Monkless is still assuming too much about their marketing and should focus instead on their yeast. But I still like Monkless and give them good OA Hugs.
5/15/22 Still not having paired with summer fare, I drank this second can after playing tennis and it was refreshing... even on cloudy Spring day. So I improved the Feel a tad... but will keep count over at UnTappd.
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
3.24/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.24/5 rDev -18.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
16oz can (no apparent date) poured into 16oz tulip. Poured a fully cloudy and hazy orange-yellow (nowhere near white, as the word Wit implies) with an inch of white head that had moderate retention and almost no lacing.
The aroma had bright had nice yeast, and some spice at the front, with a soft grain base. The expected orange peel was non-existent.
Same on the tongue, with the peppercorns having more prominence.
The body was the typical light of the style, perhaps a bit towards medium, carried good carb, and had a nicely dry finish.
Drinkability was good, a pleasant quaff.
Overall, a nice brew. Worth grabbing if you see it.
Mar 20, 2022The aroma had bright had nice yeast, and some spice at the front, with a soft grain base. The expected orange peel was non-existent.
Same on the tongue, with the peppercorns having more prominence.
The body was the typical light of the style, perhaps a bit towards medium, carried good carb, and had a nicely dry finish.
Drinkability was good, a pleasant quaff.
Overall, a nice brew. Worth grabbing if you see it.
Rated by True_Bodhisattva from California
3.49/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pretty good. Has a slight, yeasty funk on the nose. Light peppercorn and orange peel upon tasting. Pretty light bodied.
Jan 05, 2021
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