Hoegaarden Original White Ale | Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
Brewed by:
Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
Belgium
hoegaarden.com
Style: Witbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by purplehops on 07-08-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 5,373 | Reviews: 1,812
3.75/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Smells like a White beer, looks like it. Taste is some carbonation and some of that fruit. Also honey and citrus. Could be apple, grapefruit, even spearmint. Couldn't finish so it was good that it was popular with my mates. Would be refreshing summer ale. Had on-tap in March 2005 and was terrible, again in May 2005 and was marginal again.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Smells like a White beer, looks like it. Taste is some carbonation and some of that fruit. Also honey and citrus. Could be apple, grapefruit, even spearmint. Couldn't finish so it was good that it was popular with my mates. Would be refreshing summer ale. Had on-tap in March 2005 and was terrible, again in May 2005 and was marginal again.
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3.85/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Schooners Patio Grille in Santa Clarita, CA.
Pours a murky light orange with a 1/2 inch foamy white head that settles to a thin cap. Small chunks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of wheat, banana, spices, and some yeast aromas. Taste is of wheat, banana, and yeast. The spices come through on the aftertaste. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good witbier that is tasty and very easy drinking.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Schooners Patio Grille in Santa Clarita, CA.
Pours a murky light orange with a 1/2 inch foamy white head that settles to a thin cap. Small chunks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of wheat, banana, spices, and some yeast aromas. Taste is of wheat, banana, and yeast. The spices come through on the aftertaste. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good witbier that is tasty and very easy drinking.
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3.85/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
everyone tries to copy this white ale, but it still stands distinctly alone as the original for me. cloudy and citrusy smelling, with a big pillowy head. has notes of spice and orange cream as well as a mellow floral hop profile. lighter body makes it a really easy session, but only when its super cold. i find this one gets a little bitter and funky yeasty when it warms up, so best to guzzle it down well its still chilly. too expensive for what it is, but a great white!
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
everyone tries to copy this white ale, but it still stands distinctly alone as the original for me. cloudy and citrusy smelling, with a big pillowy head. has notes of spice and orange cream as well as a mellow floral hop profile. lighter body makes it a really easy session, but only when its super cold. i find this one gets a little bitter and funky yeasty when it warms up, so best to guzzle it down well its still chilly. too expensive for what it is, but a great white!
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3.08/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This beer was one of the first Wit beers I ever had. Purchased a bottle of it at the Laystone Pub in Bethlehem PA back in 2007. This beer was a hazy yellow with a bright white head. The beer smells very refreshing and citrusy. The beer was served with a lemon which I tried it without it first. It wasn't much better with or without. The mouthfeel is light and the beer is great for sometime.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This beer was one of the first Wit beers I ever had. Purchased a bottle of it at the Laystone Pub in Bethlehem PA back in 2007. This beer was a hazy yellow with a bright white head. The beer smells very refreshing and citrusy. The beer was served with a lemon which I tried it without it first. It wasn't much better with or without. The mouthfeel is light and the beer is great for sometime.
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4.24/5 rDev +12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I always saw this at the store and saw it was one of the original "Belgian Wit's" so I thought I'd give it a try after having numerous of its American versions.
I was pleasantly surprised.. this is a great beer. Pours a nice cloudy yellow as expected but this taste of it is just. unique. Very full in body and has a nice spicy kick to it while going down smooth. Very easy to drink and enjoyable all the way thru... would buy a sixer of this in future for sure.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I always saw this at the store and saw it was one of the original "Belgian Wit's" so I thought I'd give it a try after having numerous of its American versions.
I was pleasantly surprised.. this is a great beer. Pours a nice cloudy yellow as expected but this taste of it is just. unique. Very full in body and has a nice spicy kick to it while going down smooth. Very easy to drink and enjoyable all the way thru... would buy a sixer of this in future for sure.
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4.01/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: It poured cloudy light yellow in color with a bright white head. The head didn't last that long, but a high amount of carbonation is visible through the haze and preserves a thin layer of bubbles floating on the surface.
S: There are pleasant, light aromas of lemon and orange in the nose along with some hints of spices and sweetness.
T: The overall taste is well balanced between flavors of citrus and spices.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate with lots of carbonation.
D: The beer is very refreshing and quite sessionable, particularly during the warm weather in the summer months.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: It poured cloudy light yellow in color with a bright white head. The head didn't last that long, but a high amount of carbonation is visible through the haze and preserves a thin layer of bubbles floating on the surface.
S: There are pleasant, light aromas of lemon and orange in the nose along with some hints of spices and sweetness.
T: The overall taste is well balanced between flavors of citrus and spices.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate with lots of carbonation.
D: The beer is very refreshing and quite sessionable, particularly during the warm weather in the summer months.
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3.7/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at one of the local 'see and be seen pretty people' places, the very same one at which I first sampled this beer many years ago. Appropriate, and consistent, at least.
This beer arrives on the bar in a monstrously solid broad rimmed 'pint' glass, the kind I would want in any kind of bar/street fight, for sho. The cute and earnest bartendress noted its heftiness by proclaiming that 'you know it's a German beer, when the glass is so big!' Anyways, it appears a rather cloudy medium golden yellow hue, with one finger (easily two on a standard vessel) of puffy, and pleasantly creamy dirty white head, which leaves no lacing as it recedes.
It smells of grainy pale malt, light unripe banana esters, mild muddled citrus, white pepper, and yeast. The taste is more gritty bananas, sort of marshmallow-esque in their bearing, plain pale wheat malt, aerosol creamy citrus, a hint of indistinct clove/coriander spice, and earthy, dry yeast.
The carbonation is quite soft and frothy, the body a decent medium weight, perhaps a touch mealy, but generally smooth. It finishes off-dry, moderately fruity, and yeasty, as ever was.
Quite refreshing, overall, and decently balanced for your summer drinking needs. Maybe more than a tad overpriced, but that may be more a function of the environment, than anything.
1,317 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at one of the local 'see and be seen pretty people' places, the very same one at which I first sampled this beer many years ago. Appropriate, and consistent, at least.
This beer arrives on the bar in a monstrously solid broad rimmed 'pint' glass, the kind I would want in any kind of bar/street fight, for sho. The cute and earnest bartendress noted its heftiness by proclaiming that 'you know it's a German beer, when the glass is so big!' Anyways, it appears a rather cloudy medium golden yellow hue, with one finger (easily two on a standard vessel) of puffy, and pleasantly creamy dirty white head, which leaves no lacing as it recedes.
It smells of grainy pale malt, light unripe banana esters, mild muddled citrus, white pepper, and yeast. The taste is more gritty bananas, sort of marshmallow-esque in their bearing, plain pale wheat malt, aerosol creamy citrus, a hint of indistinct clove/coriander spice, and earthy, dry yeast.
The carbonation is quite soft and frothy, the body a decent medium weight, perhaps a touch mealy, but generally smooth. It finishes off-dry, moderately fruity, and yeasty, as ever was.
Quite refreshing, overall, and decently balanced for your summer drinking needs. Maybe more than a tad overpriced, but that may be more a function of the environment, than anything.
1,317 characters
4.45/5 rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
There seems to always be a distinct pleasure when drinking a beer that basically defined the style. As originator of today's witbiers, it's hardly arguable that there are any better.
With a soft glow of canary yellow color, the haze of wheat protiens and yeast are evident. The protiens allow for a froathy, cotton head of mousse-like proportions. A very elegant and initing appearance.
Citrus, spice, and floral aromas are a careful blend of corriander, sweet orange peel, and a soft peppery scent; all of which rests on a wheaty scent of light breads or bread dough. Lemony esters and mild malted milk scent give a sturdiness to the nose with zeal and zest.
Lemon flavor with curaco take the early command with an assertive citrus taste. Fresh winter wheat and pilsner malt flavors give a soft bread impression along with mild powdered sugar sweetness and crisp grain flavor follow up and easily govern the middle palate. Crisp lemony notes close the flavor along with a refreshing lactic tartness and malted milk whimsy.
Creamy and somewhat expansive early with a fleeting, spicy finish that reduces to near-watery feel with semi-dry character.
Hoegaarden is the opidome of refreshment with high character and quality. Where the flavor and aroma profiles carry enough complexity with effortless ease, the body might make too quick of a transition and surpasses refreshment into a slight empty or watering ending. Still, nearly an ideal session.
1,452 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
There seems to always be a distinct pleasure when drinking a beer that basically defined the style. As originator of today's witbiers, it's hardly arguable that there are any better.
With a soft glow of canary yellow color, the haze of wheat protiens and yeast are evident. The protiens allow for a froathy, cotton head of mousse-like proportions. A very elegant and initing appearance.
Citrus, spice, and floral aromas are a careful blend of corriander, sweet orange peel, and a soft peppery scent; all of which rests on a wheaty scent of light breads or bread dough. Lemony esters and mild malted milk scent give a sturdiness to the nose with zeal and zest.
Lemon flavor with curaco take the early command with an assertive citrus taste. Fresh winter wheat and pilsner malt flavors give a soft bread impression along with mild powdered sugar sweetness and crisp grain flavor follow up and easily govern the middle palate. Crisp lemony notes close the flavor along with a refreshing lactic tartness and malted milk whimsy.
Creamy and somewhat expansive early with a fleeting, spicy finish that reduces to near-watery feel with semi-dry character.
Hoegaarden is the opidome of refreshment with high character and quality. Where the flavor and aroma profiles carry enough complexity with effortless ease, the body might make too quick of a transition and surpasses refreshment into a slight empty or watering ending. Still, nearly an ideal session.
1,452 characters
3.15/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Hoegaarden bottle into Hoegaarden pint glass in low altitude Galway, Ireland.
A: A three finger head of fair cream, thickness, and retention. Clear hazy yellow colour.
Sm: Lemony esters abound, backed by other fringe citrus notes.
T: Lemony body; maybe too much zest. The citrusy notes do come through on the climax, though not like they do in the draught version. Built simply but well. Kind of defines the style.
Mf: Fizzy but smooth, and wet and refreshing. I don't like the finish texture, which is sort of dryly irritating and almost choking. You'll taste what I mean.
Dr: Priced fairly by Irish standards, but not a fantastic beer.
647 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Hoegaarden bottle into Hoegaarden pint glass in low altitude Galway, Ireland.
A: A three finger head of fair cream, thickness, and retention. Clear hazy yellow colour.
Sm: Lemony esters abound, backed by other fringe citrus notes.
T: Lemony body; maybe too much zest. The citrusy notes do come through on the climax, though not like they do in the draught version. Built simply but well. Kind of defines the style.
Mf: Fizzy but smooth, and wet and refreshing. I don't like the finish texture, which is sort of dryly irritating and almost choking. You'll taste what I mean.
Dr: Priced fairly by Irish standards, but not a fantastic beer.
647 characters
3.41/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Poured out a pale, golden color with a fluffy, white, one-finger head. Left very small amounts of lacing.
S - It smelled strongly of yeast and wheat. Also, a good bit of citrus aromas.
T - It tasted of clove and wheat. The citrusy flavors reminded me of corriander.
M - It was relatively crisp and sharp. A light-bodied beer.
D - This is a nice wit. Good wheat and citrus flavors.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Poured out a pale, golden color with a fluffy, white, one-finger head. Left very small amounts of lacing.
S - It smelled strongly of yeast and wheat. Also, a good bit of citrus aromas.
T - It tasted of clove and wheat. The citrusy flavors reminded me of corriander.
M - It was relatively crisp and sharp. A light-bodied beer.
D - This is a nice wit. Good wheat and citrus flavors.
388 characters
4/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330 ml bottle into pint glass, best before 8/11/2014. Pours hazy golden straw color with a 2 finger dense and rocky white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lemon, pear, orange peel, light banana, coriander, clove, wheat, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, spice, and pale malt notes; with good strength. Taste of lemon, pear, orange peel, light banana, coriander, clove, wheat, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Minimal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon zest, pear, orange peel, light banana, coriander, clove, wheat, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, spice, and pale malt notes; with good robustness and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and light-medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with no warming present after the finish as expected of 4.9%, Overall this is a damn nice witbier. All around well balanced and robust flavors of fruity/earthy yeast, spice, and pale malt; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
1,375 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330 ml bottle into pint glass, best before 8/11/2014. Pours hazy golden straw color with a 2 finger dense and rocky white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lemon, pear, orange peel, light banana, coriander, clove, wheat, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, spice, and pale malt notes; with good strength. Taste of lemon, pear, orange peel, light banana, coriander, clove, wheat, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Minimal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon zest, pear, orange peel, light banana, coriander, clove, wheat, bread, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of fruity/earthy yeast, spice, and pale malt notes; with good robustness and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and light-medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly bready mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with no warming present after the finish as expected of 4.9%, Overall this is a damn nice witbier. All around well balanced and robust flavors of fruity/earthy yeast, spice, and pale malt; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
1,375 characters
3.8/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a cloudy pale yellow color with a frothy marshmallow head; some lacing
Smell: Wheat and lemon with a touch of coriander and banana
Taste: Starts out with a wheaty flavor on top of which various fruity esters and spices perform a tap dance; tart finish that doesn't linger as the flavor returns to its bready origin
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with plenty of carbonation
Drinkability: Refreshing and enjoyable, even if this is not my favorite style
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a cloudy pale yellow color with a frothy marshmallow head; some lacing
Smell: Wheat and lemon with a touch of coriander and banana
Taste: Starts out with a wheaty flavor on top of which various fruity esters and spices perform a tap dance; tart finish that doesn't linger as the flavor returns to its bready origin
Mouthfeel: Light bodied with plenty of carbonation
Drinkability: Refreshing and enjoyable, even if this is not my favorite style
465 characters
Hoegaarden Original White Ale from Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
Beer rating:
3.78 out of
5 with
5,373 ratings
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