W'09 Belgian Style Ale
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

W'09 Belgian Style AleW'09 Belgian Style Ale
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From:
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 13.57%
Reviews:
56
Ratings:
64
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 28, 2021
Added:
Jan 13, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Onslow:
Photo of Onslow
Reviewed by Onslow from Texas

3.82/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
got from an in person trade with Lindsey624, thank you sir, enjoy your DFH ... . . my 2nd brew to kick off cinco de mayo (1st was joose dragon shared with scoobs during the 3-1 semi win for man utd vs arsenal, CL final here we come!)..

Pours a slight murky golden hay colour ..
Has medium foam, with extremely good lacing...

Happy to say, Flavour is awesome! light sweetness, light bitterness: playful flavours within, honey, yeast and a eerily awesome honey cornflakes taste, wonderful!!

i didn't even get a chance to mow her...

sweet light aromas in the nose, This brew so far is really respectable and truly Belgian inspired...

The best widmer i have had, and honestly the only one that i would recommended (highly), and i would buy it again!!

Hank, keep the dog in the house for an hour!
May 06, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Scrappy notes from 2010.
6 pack of 12 ounce bottles.
Has a clear copper color with good hops and yeast smell. The taste is relatively sweet, like candy sweet and it is yeasty with a short hop bite. Not too heavy tasting and is easy to drink. It's a little bit dry at the end Reminds me somewhat of the classic Belgian beer called Palm Ale and it is very good.
Nov 28, 2021
 
Rated: 3.5 by jaydoc from Kansas

Feb 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kopfschuss from Oregon

Aug 18, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by IDABEERGUY from Idaho

Jun 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by netshark from Colorado

Sep 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by shelby415 from Oregon

Mar 01, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Wetpaperbag from Washington

Feb 08, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Stoffel from Texas

Jan 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by PhatAtUT from Texas

Dec 11, 2011
Photo of philbertk
Reviewed by philbertk from Washington

3.98/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, Ltd.--W'09 Belgian Style Ale--Brewmasters' Release 2009--12 oz. Bottle. 6.50% ABV--26 IBU's. (4.0 / 5.0) Belgian Ale--Golden--Flat light lace white head. Clear bright yellow gold color. Mellow floral Belgian mild hop front. Crisp mild sweet creamy mellow Belgian fruit ester banana clove rich tasty body. Clean mild hop spice EtOH hint mild citrus end. Tasty rich mellow Belgian Golden. Sampled 11/10/2009. 6-Pack $6.99.
Jul 10, 2010
Photo of randawakes
Reviewed by randawakes from Alaska

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
More impressed by the Widmer Brothers (I have not been too fond of the other --about 5--beers from this brewery, but this is the best I've had to date), The ale base is solid with good hops and slightly sweetish candy sugar/ yeasty notes on the finish and the nose that shows the Belgian side. The beer is easy to drink and has a strong mouthfeel.
Dec 12, 2009
Photo of ChopperSmith
Reviewed by ChopperSmith from Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: A slightly hazy, golden-orange color. Minimal head and lacing.

Aroma: Slight sweetness and some spice. Very little of the good funky yeast smell I associate with good Belgian Pale Ale's (one of my favorite beer styles).

Taste: Same as it smells, some interesting sweetness and a little spice...but again, it's lacking a strong yeast profile that most Belgian Pale Ale's have.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and smooth with good carbonation.

Drinkability: Not bad, but I prefer more of a Belgian yeast profile in my BPA's.
Sep 06, 2009
Photo of JBogan
Reviewed by JBogan from California

3.19/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
What started out as a thick creamy white head atop a bright golden body soon turned into a thin film which left moderate lacing. Decent appearance but nothing spectacular.

The aroma was very promising. A bit of fruitiness anchored by sweet malt, some spices (perhaps cinnamon) and yeast.

Unfortunately the taste wasn't up to par with the smell. The same traits prevailed as in the nose, but in a much more muted way. It seemed a bit tame compared to what the aroma first promised.

The mouthfeel could have used a bit more body and carbonation. The beer just felt flat and lifeless.

When all is said and done I found this to be an average brew at best. It's nice to see Widmer and other American brewers make an attempt at a Belgian style brew, but while this is not a bad beer, it's well below the beers it tries to imitate.
Sep 02, 2009
Photo of canucklehead
Reviewed by canucklehead from Canada (BC)

4.15/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
. A change of pace for the W Bros and a nice example of a easy to drink, not too high ABV Belgian style pale ale. The ale base is solid with good hops and malt balance but what stuck with me is the slightly sweetish candi sugar/ yeasty notes on the finish and the nose that shows the Belgian side. The beer is easy to drink and has a strong mouthfeel. This was a present from a friend in Seattle but I am guessing a six pack probably sells for about the same as their other beers which make this very good value for the style.
Aug 24, 2009
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Obviously filtered, the W'09 pours a crystal-clear orange amber body beneath a head of mildly off-white. The head retention is limited for the style, and it drops fairly shortly to an average collar and wispy surface covering.

The aroma expresses clove, and a little bit of sugar that leads it to become like bubblegum, over a fairly straightforward grainy malt base. Some pepper spices it up; and some mild, faded hops appear as backdrop, floral and leafy, but also almost minty and herbal (perhaps that's just due to a combination with the characteristics of the yeast).

The flavor follows suit, and it's remarkably easy to drink. The clove is there, but not overdone, as is the malt, and some spicy notes (from yeast and hops?) perks it up. It doesn't really deliver flavors in any sequence, but just as one big ball of flavor. An underlying bitterness balances it, and the spiciness helps to dry it in the finish.

The body could be fuller for the style, but I think it still fits; and the soft, restrained carbonation leaves it quite smooth across the palate - although that should also probably be higher for the style.

Very nicely rounded and balanced, it's really quite drinkable. Tasty, and worth trying!
Aug 17, 2009
Photo of mrkc
Reviewed by mrkc from Alaska

2.91/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
I'm immediately struck by the moulded glass, with a compass rose and a W inlaid in the glass itself. A ring around the bottom says "Widmer Brothers Brewing Company," as if the red and beige label would leave any doubt as to who produced this. The label is a bit much, and makes the beer seem like it's trying too hard. The beer itself pours quickly, with little carbonation. It's a transparent, pale copper, perhaps a few hues from the colour of honey.

Immediately, the odour is sweet, with a heavy citrus hand. The beer isn't particularly odiferous, even in the most encouraging of stem-ware. Despite the low carbonation, the beer has a crisp feel in the mouth. The flavour principally dominated by wheat and yeast, definitely disappointing. Before leaving the mouth dry, there seems to be a few final notes of sweetness from the W'09. It's moderately heavy at 6.5% ABV, and would be easy enough to mindlessly drink. A unengaging beer.
Aug 05, 2009
Photo of natelocc787
Reviewed by natelocc787 from Texas

3.56/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Wow. I was very impressed with the nose on this beer. The aroma is fantastic and smells like a great belgian. So excited i was by the smell I was already thinking this could be a beer I would buy multiple sixers of.

No head in the tulip, no retention.

The taste let me down and the mouthfeel completely. Has the mouthfeel of a malty low carbonated witbier. The taste is so uncomplex and simple. This is a wannabe Belgian. Maybe a watered down duvel that sat opened in the fridge for 2 hours before reviewed. Yeast, coriander, apple, banana, pear.

All ingredients thrown together with a yeasty malty finish. The flavors are here but the beer should have been perfected long before it was bottled and released. This is an experiment gone wrong.

No more of these for me.
Jun 29, 2009
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

3.82/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a nonic, W'09 Belgian Style Ale is a clear gold with a white head. The head is a miss for the style - too loose and short lived, and doesn't leave hardly any lace.

Smell is spicy, clove esters and sweet cereal grains.

Taste is similar, but not as spicy, sweeter. Estery and phenolic, but a corn pop taste. Pretty tasty, but not as subtle as I'd like.

Mouthfeel is light bodied, with a dry finish.

Drinkability is pretty good, a tasty blond, particular considering the value. Drinking more then 3 of these though I'd probably get sick of the sweetness. I love estery blonds, but I can see this being to much for some.
Jun 07, 2009
Photo of Zorro
Reviewed by Zorro from California

4.22/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A change from Widmers usual pale ales and wheat beers.

Chill hazed orange colored beer with a good off-white colored head. Can't really call it amber though, this is decidedly orange.

Sweet spicy and very malty, strong scent of Belgian Candi sugar and spicy clove aroma. Hops are mildly herbal but quite tame for a Belgian beer. Something of a coriander smell here but it is mild and I am not sure that it isn't all Belgian yeast. Powdery smell of Belgian yeast is here in spades. This is a wonderfully aromatic beer and far better than I expected.

Taste starts out spicy and malty with coriander and ginger flavor up from with a BIG malt backbone and a powdered sugar doughnut aftertaste. Sweetish but not, think cake not frosting. Faint apple flavor and smell, slight herbal flavor but not really hoppy. Lots of yeast flavors in this one.

Mouthfeel is full.

Super easy to drink beer, too bad it is a special release. I could see making this a one of my regular beers, it is very good and would easily boot Affligem Blond from its place in my beer cooler.
Jun 06, 2009
W'09 Belgian Style Ale from Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 64 ratings