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
Ratings: 5,250 | Reviews: 1,784
3.85/5 rDev +0.5%
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.
480 characters
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.
480 characters
3.85/5 rDev +0.5%
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!
474 characters
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!
474 characters
3.08/5 rDev -19.6%
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.
392 characters
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.
392 characters
4.24/5 rDev +10.7%
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.
463 characters
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.
463 characters
4.01/5 rDev +4.7%
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.
592 characters
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.
592 characters
4.45/5 rDev +16.2%
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
3.7/5 rDev -3.4%
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
3.15/5 rDev -17.8%
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
3.8/5 rDev -0.8%
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
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
3.12/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle - Hazy white brew with a nice white foamy head with good retention. Aroma of coriander is strong but pleasant. Body is medium and good have been a bit stronger. Very refreshing beer for those hot summer days. Wow, this is a good beer but I wouldn't have expected people to rate this one that high!
304 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Bottle - Hazy white brew with a nice white foamy head with good retention. Aroma of coriander is strong but pleasant. Body is medium and good have been a bit stronger. Very refreshing beer for those hot summer days. Wow, this is a good beer but I wouldn't have expected people to rate this one that high!
304 characters
3.75/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Large white head leaves a nice lacing above a clearish light golden colored beer.
Light yeast and wheat grain aroma.
Classic wheat beer taste with light wheat, light yeasts coming through.
A lightly bitter dry aftertaste with a bit of the wheat beer tastes remaining with this light bodied ale.
This is the classic wheat beer taste, if that is what you are looking for look right here.
389 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Large white head leaves a nice lacing above a clearish light golden colored beer.
Light yeast and wheat grain aroma.
Classic wheat beer taste with light wheat, light yeasts coming through.
A lightly bitter dry aftertaste with a bit of the wheat beer tastes remaining with this light bodied ale.
This is the classic wheat beer taste, if that is what you are looking for look right here.
389 characters
3.2/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Appearance: Nice presentation - the bottles and six pack holder look awesome. The beer itself is pale yellow and slightly hazy, though not as cloudy as many wits out there. Head retention could be better.
Smell: A mild aroma of coriander, wheat and citrus.
Taste: Dry and (very) lightly hopped, this beer has very little bitterness. A subtle malty sweetness is present amongst stronger flavors of orange peel and coriander. The spices give some character to what would otherwise be a rather ordinary and bland beer. It finishes clean, without lingering on the tongue too long.
Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, crisp, very easy on the palate.
Drinkability: A solid beer, and very sessionable. There are better wits around, but this is easy to find and it's really quite decent.
772 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Appearance: Nice presentation - the bottles and six pack holder look awesome. The beer itself is pale yellow and slightly hazy, though not as cloudy as many wits out there. Head retention could be better.
Smell: A mild aroma of coriander, wheat and citrus.
Taste: Dry and (very) lightly hopped, this beer has very little bitterness. A subtle malty sweetness is present amongst stronger flavors of orange peel and coriander. The spices give some character to what would otherwise be a rather ordinary and bland beer. It finishes clean, without lingering on the tongue too long.
Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, crisp, very easy on the palate.
Drinkability: A solid beer, and very sessionable. There are better wits around, but this is easy to find and it's really quite decent.
772 characters
Hoegaarden Original White Ale from Brouwerij van Hoegaarden
3.83
out of 5
based on 5,250 ratings.
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.
340 characters