Hoegaarden Speciale
Brouwerij van Hoegaarden

250 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.7%. Hazy straw colour, large to moderate white head. Strong wheaty and yeasty aroma of citrus / orange peel, coriander and cloves, hints of bananas. The flavour is citrussy and refreshing, followed by moderate spicy notes of coriander and cloves, banana in the finish. Very moderate hops.

 

Poured into a regular drinking glass from a 25 cl. bottle.
-The color is very opaque and it has a dinstinctive orange color, unusual for a witbier, as they use to be more yellow. It has a small foam head.
-Less citric than other witbiers.
-The mouthfeel and taste are quite good, it isn't neither heavy nor bitter.
-The feel is nice
Overall, I would describe it as an unsual witbier but still within the guidelines of the style and definitely worth trying it.

 

 

 

 

 

250ml bottle from Beers of Europe website (£1.89):
Slightly hazy, light amber a 2cm, foamy white head that holds well & shows signs of carbonation.

Clove & wheat initially followed by some clove and a little orange. A few citrus notes along with some spice and a touch of yeast also make an appearance.

Clove & hints of coridander upfront with some orange coming through and a little spice. There is some citrus as well and this one does a fairly good job of mirroring the nose. There is spice and various fruits with a slightly sour taste towards the end.

Smooth for the most part with some spice on top of a medium body and good, solid carbonation that gives the beer a nice kick.

Quite a nice beer but very similar to Hoegaarden itself, to be honest I can't tell what the difference is meant to be and am questioning whether this is a gimmick or not. Regardless this one is an enjoyable beer that runs the original very close & is a touch stronger in taste.

 

As a big lover of the famous Hoegaarden whitebeer I was interested whether this Speciale wheatbeer would have an own style or that it would be something the same (or worse) than the orginal. I'm quite suprised that this beer is something completely different - and of great quality!

L: the looks are quite bad; no retention;
S: comes close to the origal, but with more depth, real lemon smell;
T: the taste is really interesting and suprising; it doesn't look like any other Belgian whitebeers or German Weisener; spiciness, tiny orange, honey;
M: this is absolutely great; perfect alcohol, very drinkable; nice, bit dry finish and aftertaste;
O: could drink this one almost as often as the famous brother; if that one's sold out, I will fill my evening with this one!

250ml bottle served in a tulip glass.

A: Pours a slightly cloudy yellow to orange color forming a small bubbled white head, Small retention and few lacings formed and left in the glass

S: Sweet and spicy. Sweet grains, honey, wheat, cloves, cinnamon, orange zest, flowery hops, Belgian bready yeasts

T: Slightly sweet malts upfront. Notes of honey, cloves, cinnamon, orange zest, wheat, Blegian yeasts. Mild hops bitterness in the end

M: Light body and medium carbonation. Aftertaste is slightly sweet and quite spicy, mainly made of wheat, cloves and orange zest

O: Easy drinking beer. Very smooth and pleasant in the mouth. A sweeter version of the classic Hoegaarden with stronger notes of the spices used. Recommended

19th Oct 2012: bottle in 't Puur Genot, a strange irish type bar in Diest. Noticed the advertising card on the table when we poured into the pub from it's outside area when the rain started: decided to risk one.

Cloudy, murky and misty: once I'd cleaned the glass I poured the beer in, it too was cloudy, murky and misty. No head to talk of, just a few bubbles exploding on the surface.

Usual Hoegaarden lemony/orangey/citrusy notes: whats special about this speciale then? certainly not the smell.

Tasted very simular too (as the normal brew): they may have added some sweeter fruit syrup into the brew to make it less tart and refreshing, would like to compare side by side with the original Hoegaarden.

Not unpleasant, but not great either: a kind of sweeter less fizzy Hoegaarden in my eyes.

exp 8/25/12

A: Hazy, pretty bright orangy yellow. Basically no head, and just a few sporadic bubbles jumping to the top. Poured without the yeast at the bottom.

S: Like a solid wit, I don't have this side by side a standard Hoegaarden, but I feel it's pretty similar. Orange citrus yeast, sweet, refreshing and inviting.

T: Not as sweet as the nose, generally more sedated than the nose, nothing negative, not bitter at all, a hair of sourness, not as bright as a standard hoegaarden. It's good, but doesn't take your breath away.

Edit: But wait, as I'm nearing the bottom of the glass, a sort of childrens, fruity medicinal flavor enters. Interesting.

M: More of a sense of pushing outward, but not carbonation pops felt. Nice.

O: Very decent wit.

Nice aroma, but the rest leaves a bit to be desired. Taste is wet paper, honey, lemons, with abrupt and dry finish. SHould have known this was going to be disappointing

 

Nose smells of wheat but also the traditional Witbier fruity apricot-peach in a way. The mouth is warmer than the classic Hoegaarden and there sees a strong aspect syrupy not always really nice with the aforementioned fruit and slight nutty palate. Finish softer but also more syrup and unfortunately less refreshing.

Pours very pale yellow with large white head that quickly subsides. Aroma is sweet lemon and yeast.

Taste is fruity spice, wheat and very light bitterness. The beer becomes sweeter towards the end and light warming feel sets in during the faint citrusy aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium-full with moderate carbonation.

Speciale is rather drinkable, but seemed a bit too sweet at the end of the glass.

A: Pale hazy yellow, almost no head

S: Grains, lemon and a hint of vanilla

T: Grains and hops, and a citruslike vanilla flavour in the back.

M/D: Kind of flat, very thin carbonation, not very pleasant. Very drinkable though.

Not really my cup of tea but pretty good.

Pours a cloudy tan color with an off white head that leaves some lacing around the glass.

Smell has yeast, bread, some floral notes.

Taste starts out with some yeast up front which then changes to a floral spice, has some bread flavor, some hints of orange, finishes with more yeast. Wish I had more than a 25cl bottle of this to review with. It's like a tease of what regular Hoegaarden could be.

I really enjoyed this beer and wish I had bought more. I don't if it's just me or not but Hoegaarden original has been really crap lately, this is what they should be selling in the huge 66cl bottles.

Alas. We come to the third and final installment of this seasons Hoegaarden family brews.

Pours a fully clouded brown hued orange. Thin white head that falls fast. Nose is earthy, doughy, floral tones. Flavor brings much of the same. Leans on the earthy side over anything else. Hints of biting citrus are there as well. Feel is thick and smooth on liquid. Carbonation is lower but slightly biting. I like this one. Quite earthy, but with nice subtle characteristics balancing it out.

Looks like pale lemonade with a bit of foamy head that sticks the the glass fairly well. Smells of Belgian yeast, some citrus, and European hops. The taste is primarily the Belgian yeast, but there's a balance of wheat malt and citrus, and the citrus lingers into the aftertaste. Lighter medium body, easy to drink, pretty well-rounded.

25cl bottle obtained at "The Cave" on Great Western Rd. in Glasgow. Expiration date of 2 10 09.

Pours a semi-cloudy tangerine colour, with minimal head-even with a vigorous pour.

Smell is sour wheat, some citrus, and lots of orange. Flowery character lingers in the background.
Taste is fruity citrus up front, some spice in the middle that fades into an acidic fruitiness with a sourness lingering.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, leaving a chalky feeling on the palate.

Drinkability is pretty good. Not the most interesting beer in the world...

Beer bottle (33cl.), tasted in 2007.

Appearance : golden blond color, with white foam head.
Smell : slightly spicy and releasing a pronounced smell of coriander
aromas of yeast, fresh spices, a hint of citrus.
Taste and mouthfeel : round in the mouth, it develops a taste for slightly roasted malt with hints of honey.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Witbier

25 cl bottle sampled on 7 April 2008. This beer is pretty easily available in Luxembourg supermarkets. I forget which one I picked it up at.

Beer poured a cloudy golden color with some floating particles in the body. There was a sold but not thick head. Leaves a lasting ring on the glass edge. The nose had some decent wheat and citrus tones. The taste was a bit peppery and accompanied by a wheat taste, along with a bit of earthiness and citrus. Slight hop presence on the back end. Easy to drink and a decent beer overall.

25cl bottle poured into 30cl tulip.

A- Explosive 4 finger head with excellent retention and lacing. Cloudy pale yellow

S- Oranges, coriander, some bready malts, citrus, vanilla

T- As in the tastes, lots of orange and coriander, some passionfruit. Sweet citrus finish.

M- Spritzy, light

D- Very drinkable, much more flavoursome than the original but without the alcohol kick of the grand cru. Super!

A murky yellow beer with a thock, stable head.

Smell has lots of wheat and a little musty grains, perfumy and old orange zest and a little chewing gum. Some off-flavors, but nothing too disturbing.

Taste has wheat and grains, with the yeast providing the phenols that are typical for a witbier. The spices are subtle, but can be tasted very easily. There is the orange peel that has gone a little stale and the coriander is perfumy. Mouthfeel is pretty dry and slightly sticky.

The colour is gold-yellow-orange; the liquid is a bit hazy (the beer is bottle conditioned). The finger thick foam quickly sinks down to a thick white lid, leaving no lacing.

The smell is sour-yeasty, like a wit is supposed to be. There are notes of citric fruits (oranges, bitter oranges, lemons) and a mild earthy touch.

The taste is a lot bitterer than the witbiers I have reviewed so far. It is much dryer than I had expected, too. Earthy notes of yeast blends with fruity flavours of apricots, orange peels and green grapes. There are sour “wheat notes”, too. The aftertaste got some passing sweetness, some mild bitter flavours as well as a dry note of sour candy.

The carbonation is mild – the liquid is thick, almost like syrup.

I cannot really understand the point of this beer – it’s like someone had mixed the standard Hoegaarden wit with a lager beer.

A - Pours a cloudy gold, with a finger of creamy white head. Small bubbles of carbonation keep it solidly in place.

S - Pronounced clove, citrus, wheat, mixed spice.

T - Initial clean citrus flavour. Clove appears towards the middle and slowly builds all the way to the finish. It's flavour remains in the aftertaste, along with bubblegum and wheat.

M - Medium, crisp, refreshing, creamy body. Soft carbonation.

D - Tasty beer with an impressive mouthfeel. Unsurprisingly, very easy to consume.

Poured from one of those cute 8.4 bottles Scaldis (Bush) uses for their full line and others occasionally use for special or exceptionally strong brews.

Anybody familiar with Hoegaarden would approach this beer expecting a suped up version of said classic. That is exactly what they'll be getting.

The Orange zest is there in abundance and the body is very similar to the original. The extra alcohol, in my opinion, makes it taste less 'cheap' than the original. As indeed overall it tastes considerably less mass produced. Color is decidedly less yellow than the original, more of an orange.

Still inferior to St Bernardus Wit, but if you're looking for a wit with a little less intensity of flavor than that one, you'd do well with a Speciale.

The speciale is what it is, special. More tasteful than the classic witt ale but less bodied and malty than the Gran Cru. So this is the perfect witbier for me, wonderful paired with slices of salmon on buttered bread or even alone when you need something cool and tasteful. Very pleasant and satisfying, this is the most drinkable and desiderable of the Hoegaarden family.
Hoegaarden is a very small village in the middle of Belgium: they put a big fermentor on the roundabout that leads to the centre of the village, coasting the Hoegaarden factory. Just a little village, but what comes out of it!

250 ml. A whitish colour with lots of creamy foam. Strong on the wheat and some spices, it gives a sharp sourish wheat. Normally I despise this style when it goes milk sour, but this one I liked. For what it wants to accomplish, I think it succeeded. Interesting.
I can see why you love or hate this one.

Not exactly a turbocharged version of original Hoe, but a smart try to emphasize on its cloudiness, spiciness and fruity character.

Same color as Original White Ale, but more cloudy. Carbonation level, head and lace identical.

Smell is stronger, spicier, very interesting. I prefer the aroma of 'regular' Hoe.

Taste is pretty much the same - complex, fruity, yeasty, spicey, with noticeable orange peel, lemon & coriander. Mouthfeel is heavier and finish too sour.

Probably an answer to those who claim that Original White Ale have lost its character. The claim is wrong, but here's a welcome addition to brewery's range. Cheers!

Big thanks to hopdog for this…
Appears a hazy light gold with a small white film and collar that slowly fades.
Smell is of wheat, yeast, and coriander.
Taste is of the same aromas…perhaps a slight step back though.
Mouthfeel is watery with mild yeast and corn syrup blending around in the mix.

25cL bottle poured into a snifter. It pours a hazy pale yellow color with two fingers of head that die off quickly. There's a little bit of lacing. The smell is fantastic. It's a lot more spicy than the regular Hoegaarden. Lots of pepper and some lemon in the background. Great wheat and yeast aromas as well. The taste is fairly spicy as well. Nice citrus taste as well. A kinda weird finish that I can't pick up. The mouthfeel is decently thick and smooth. The drinkability is great. A tasty witbier. Thanks to Chris for sharing!

Pours a nice white color with a finger of head that falls to a light coat. Nose is very spicey. Lost of corriander and an almost vanilla/chamomile character. Very full. Flavor is not quite as full, but still very tasty, even if slightly metallic to me. Creamy, corrinader spicey. Very tasty wit. Feel is nice moderate and creamy with a light to moderate carbonation. A well built beer. Tasty and very easy to drink. Very glad to have had it.

I am a little biased... Hoegaarden is my favorite beer, so to find this on the shelves was an absolute treat. It pours a cloudy gold color, and smells a little more pungent than regular Hoegaarden, and more than other witbiers. The head depends on the pour... a direct pour will yeald a large foamy head while a tilted pour will yeald a small-moderale sized head. The lacing on the glass is very intricate regaurdless of the pouring style. The taste is similar to other special summer witbiers, although it is much sweeter than many I have tasted. Member JETSBEER was correct in saying if you like regular Hoegaarden, then you will love this beer!

An amazing white beer from Hoegaarden. Take everything that you love about their original White Ale and take it to the next level and that is what you get with Hoegaarden Speciale! a super creamy yellowish/white pour with a gigantic fluffy, pillowy head. An aroma that is just bursting with lemon, spices, and grains. A lucious taste with w afull creamy, mouthfeel, and to top it all off. A very high gluggability factor.
An A+ beverage by Hoegaarden(maybe interbrew has only gotten to the original white ale so far!!!;-)
cheers!,
F

very nice brew, deeper yellow and even hazier than their regular white, smooth citrusy and spicy, decent body and decent flavour, highly enjoyable. Would maybe drink this over regular Hoegaarden.