eXile X-2: Imperial Wit
DuClaw Brewing Co.
- From:
- DuClaw Brewing Co.
- New Jersey, United States
- Style:
- Witbier
- ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.46 | pDev: 13.01%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 11
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 31, 2016
- Added:
- Jul 07, 2010
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
First brewed in 2010, the 2nd experiment in the eXile series, X.2: Imperial Wit, is very similar to our “Sawtooth Belgian Wit”, but more intensely flavored, and with a higher 7.8% abv. X.2 is cloudy and gold in color with a thick, white, long lasting head, and medium body with a soft, fluffy texture derived from a small portion of torrified (puffed) wheat in the grain bill. Dominating flavors and aromas of citrus, coriander and real Curacao bitter orange are well balanced by a subdued hop presence, leading to a spicy, refreshing finish. Feeling open to experimentation?
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by ckollias from Maryland
3.97/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed this bomber bottle out of a large snifter glass.
A: Pours a hazy orange hue with a very thin white head that dissipates into nothing.
S: Citrus fruit aroma – mostly oranges - with Belgian ester scent and some coriander.
T: Sweet orange flavor with a Belgian candi background. Finishes very sweet and dry.
M: Medium body and minimal carbonation.
O: Excellent Imperial Wit. I feel every beer tastes better when it is imperialized. I polished the one off and wanted more.
Sep 14, 2012A: Pours a hazy orange hue with a very thin white head that dissipates into nothing.
S: Citrus fruit aroma – mostly oranges - with Belgian ester scent and some coriander.
T: Sweet orange flavor with a Belgian candi background. Finishes very sweet and dry.
M: Medium body and minimal carbonation.
O: Excellent Imperial Wit. I feel every beer tastes better when it is imperialized. I polished the one off and wanted more.
Reviewed by tlazaroff from Virginia
3.91/5 rDev +13%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.91/5 rDev +13%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
They did an excellent job getting the right aroma on this one. Big on coriander with a light backbone of orange peel and biscuits!
Its a nice solid hazy orange in color with no speakable head or lacing which is unfortunate.
The orange comes through much more on the palate than in the aroma, and the coriander takes a back seat. There is a nice herbal spiciness to it that I really like on the finish, and a hint of booziness.
Its full bodied, and smooth. moderately carbonated. Its a good beer, but for me the X-5 is the pinnacle of the eXile series. You just cant beat it.
Jun 03, 2012Its a nice solid hazy orange in color with no speakable head or lacing which is unfortunate.
The orange comes through much more on the palate than in the aroma, and the coriander takes a back seat. There is a nice herbal spiciness to it that I really like on the finish, and a hint of booziness.
Its full bodied, and smooth. moderately carbonated. Its a good beer, but for me the X-5 is the pinnacle of the eXile series. You just cant beat it.
Reviewed by dtreindl from Virginia
3.38/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Decent high abv version of a wit. Personally I've never found an imperial wit I really loved. I just don't think its a good beer style to "imperialize". But I tried this one anyway because I'm open-minded and wanted it to be good. But it just didn't wow me. The alcohol comes through a little strong for my preference. It's high abv and it tastes like it! I mean wits should be refreshingly drinkable, but when you make it an imperial with strong alcohol fumes it makes for a contradictory drinking experience. That's probably more of a description of my problem with the general concept of an imperial wit, rather than a specific criticism of this attempt. But DuClaw sure didn't do a very good job hiding the alcohol in this one either.
On the positive side, the flavor profile has nice notes of banana and clove. Also a little lemon citrus. Overall it's good, but not worth the premium price I paid for this bomber.
Mar 18, 2012On the positive side, the flavor profile has nice notes of banana and clove. Also a little lemon citrus. Overall it's good, but not worth the premium price I paid for this bomber.
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia
3.93/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.93/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: Hazy and gold, with a thin white head. Minimal lacing. Standard fare for a wit (even though this is a double), but a poor head hurts it.
S: It smells delicious. It has the standard Belgian esters. It has a rich vanilla scent with light tart smelling fruitiness, laced with coriander.
T: It tastes great, and is very similar to the smell. The tartness comes across a little more in the flavor. I only get a slight alcohol flavor.
M: It is very rich and coats well in the mouth. It's a bit more heavy set than I'd expect, but the carbonation maintains an uplifting effervescence.
O: Overall I enjoyed the beer. I've had other double wits before, and they tend to be more malty. I congratulate DuClaw for keeping this in as true to a regular Belgian wit as possible, while making it a double. Unfortunately I feel that one of the parts to a wit is the head, which this lacks significantly. While drinking the beer, the head went away entirely.
Feb 26, 2012S: It smells delicious. It has the standard Belgian esters. It has a rich vanilla scent with light tart smelling fruitiness, laced with coriander.
T: It tastes great, and is very similar to the smell. The tartness comes across a little more in the flavor. I only get a slight alcohol flavor.
M: It is very rich and coats well in the mouth. It's a bit more heavy set than I'd expect, but the carbonation maintains an uplifting effervescence.
O: Overall I enjoyed the beer. I've had other double wits before, and they tend to be more malty. I congratulate DuClaw for keeping this in as true to a regular Belgian wit as possible, while making it a double. Unfortunately I feel that one of the parts to a wit is the head, which this lacks significantly. While drinking the beer, the head went away entirely.
Reviewed by Viciousknishs from Virginia
2.56/5 rDev -26%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.56/5 rDev -26%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A- pours a translucent golden color with a finger of near white head. Very poor retention as the head recedes into nothing.
S- classic corriander and orange peel aromas with wheat hits the nose at first. Disjointed alcohol stings the nose with some sugary candied characteristics on the finish.
T- wheat flavor with herbal corriander and pithy bitter orange peel hit the palate at first which is pretty tasty. However it finishes a boozey mess with grain alcohol heat and cloying sugary characteristics.
MF- slick sticky mouthfeel with a medium body and average carbonation.
D- poor drinkability
Overall a cloying boozey brew that could use some work.
Feb 25, 2012S- classic corriander and orange peel aromas with wheat hits the nose at first. Disjointed alcohol stings the nose with some sugary candied characteristics on the finish.
T- wheat flavor with herbal corriander and pithy bitter orange peel hit the palate at first which is pretty tasty. However it finishes a boozey mess with grain alcohol heat and cloying sugary characteristics.
MF- slick sticky mouthfeel with a medium body and average carbonation.
D- poor drinkability
Overall a cloying boozey brew that could use some work.
Reviewed by Chaney from District of Columbia
4.05/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I've never understood the style "Imperial Wit" since I always view witbiers as summer session beer drinkers.
A: Poured a solid orange color, extremely cloudy, and with a mild, wispy head that really didn't add up to much at all.... maybe a few bubbles.
S: Clove, coriander, and orange pixie stick dust is all I really got. This was all somewhat understated.
T: This was VERY fruity and citrusy overall. I've gotta admit.... this was pretty colorful! I could definitely taste the wheat in there, which was what made this a witbier to begin with, but the sweet, citrus component was actually popped!
M: Sure, this was on the sweet side, but I though that layed really well on the palate against the wheat. Lots of spices that many wit lovers like myself will definitely recognize. Not much lacing at all.
O: I think I liked this one better than most, however, this style is still an anomile to me.
Feb 21, 2012A: Poured a solid orange color, extremely cloudy, and with a mild, wispy head that really didn't add up to much at all.... maybe a few bubbles.
S: Clove, coriander, and orange pixie stick dust is all I really got. This was all somewhat understated.
T: This was VERY fruity and citrusy overall. I've gotta admit.... this was pretty colorful! I could definitely taste the wheat in there, which was what made this a witbier to begin with, but the sweet, citrus component was actually popped!
M: Sure, this was on the sweet side, but I though that layed really well on the palate against the wheat. Lots of spices that many wit lovers like myself will definitely recognize. Not much lacing at all.
O: I think I liked this one better than most, however, this style is still an anomile to me.
Reviewed by Jimmys from Pennsylvania
4.06/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle into tulip.
A: a very hazed orange. white head is fluffy, but the retention is merely a rim. minimal lacing.
S: spicy phenols and corriander. smells like fresh banana bread. pears. a little bit of nutmeg. some grain in there behind all these fun aromas.
T: a good deal of grain in this body. meaty amount of wheat. the spiciness makes me think of rye. however, it probably is just from the yeast and wheat. cinnamon. typical wit fashion throws some light fruit notes.
M: the spiciness of the yeast/grain makes the mouthfeel feel a little effervescent. as full bodied of a wit as i have ever had.
D: definitely for those who just cant get enough wit flavor. this one sure does pack in all the favorites. coriander. wheat. banana. cinnamon. just wish the head had some better retention and some bottle conditioning would set this over the top.
Feb 11, 2012A: a very hazed orange. white head is fluffy, but the retention is merely a rim. minimal lacing.
S: spicy phenols and corriander. smells like fresh banana bread. pears. a little bit of nutmeg. some grain in there behind all these fun aromas.
T: a good deal of grain in this body. meaty amount of wheat. the spiciness makes me think of rye. however, it probably is just from the yeast and wheat. cinnamon. typical wit fashion throws some light fruit notes.
M: the spiciness of the yeast/grain makes the mouthfeel feel a little effervescent. as full bodied of a wit as i have ever had.
D: definitely for those who just cant get enough wit flavor. this one sure does pack in all the favorites. coriander. wheat. banana. cinnamon. just wish the head had some better retention and some bottle conditioning would set this over the top.
Reviewed by DeanMoriarty from California
3/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Picked up a 22oz bomber in a trade with Dawson's Liquor in Severna Park, MD and poured it into a Forestinne branded tulip glass - thanks fellas!
A: Pours a fairly clean straw-like hue with a thin head that dissipates quicker than I could bring the glass to my mouth, leaving no lacing.
S: Smell is exactly what I expected - pretty much a Witbier on steroids. Citrus malt bomb with a ton of booze on it, allspice and banana bubble gum finish. Absolutely no hop presence what so ever as others have mentioned.
T: Pretty much on point with the nose and what one would expect from the style. They definitely stuck within the boundaries of a Witbier and just juiced it up a bit. Way too sweet for me which does well to hide the booze, but gets to be a bit much midway through this one. Again, like the nose suggests - tons of malt, citrus and spice and big time banana esters and a hint of vanilla. Wow is it sweet!
M: Chewy (as everyone has mentioned and one would expect from this style) but with a viscosity that is just a bit too much to make this one enjoyable, lightly carbonated, full on medium bodied, and enough already with the citrus and spice - it just doesn't stop lingering!
Overall average ale for the style and an extremely sterile outing for a "special series" ale. Nothing "special" here unfortunately.
Nov 20, 2011A: Pours a fairly clean straw-like hue with a thin head that dissipates quicker than I could bring the glass to my mouth, leaving no lacing.
S: Smell is exactly what I expected - pretty much a Witbier on steroids. Citrus malt bomb with a ton of booze on it, allspice and banana bubble gum finish. Absolutely no hop presence what so ever as others have mentioned.
T: Pretty much on point with the nose and what one would expect from the style. They definitely stuck within the boundaries of a Witbier and just juiced it up a bit. Way too sweet for me which does well to hide the booze, but gets to be a bit much midway through this one. Again, like the nose suggests - tons of malt, citrus and spice and big time banana esters and a hint of vanilla. Wow is it sweet!
M: Chewy (as everyone has mentioned and one would expect from this style) but with a viscosity that is just a bit too much to make this one enjoyable, lightly carbonated, full on medium bodied, and enough already with the citrus and spice - it just doesn't stop lingering!
Overall average ale for the style and an extremely sterile outing for a "special series" ale. Nothing "special" here unfortunately.
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