River Horse Double Wit
Another of tone77's drop-offs from the other night. It is great to have a local trader! Thanks, man. I am going to try this beer two ways - the Bros' review recommends AGAINST agitation prior to pouring while that is the standard serving style. Slow, gentle pour: A quarter-finger of fizzy bone-white head that quickly dropped to wisps. Color was a deep golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose was heavily spiced, resulting in a black pepper smell (coriander?) along with a slight mustiness. Mouthfeel was big and full, lots of carbonation on the tongue. Taste was kind of odd with an admixture of lemony citrus, black pepper spiciness and yeasty mustiness. Finish was super dry, perfect for an afternoon that is slowly ramping up to be another scorcher. Post-agitation pour: Never one to shy away from the lees, it was now a hazy fresh squeezed grapefruit color. Nose remained constant. Wisps for head as the heat of the day increased. No change in flavor, either. Same with its finish. Bottom line: Decide on your preferred presentation. When I think of a Wit, I am expecting cloudy with a chance of spice. If you dig clarity, go for it, but decant slowly so as to have some to experiment with, especially if you have to buy in bulk (like here in PA with our case laws). One way may be preferable to another ... Finally, back to the Bros: "Double"?, indeed. I don't understand the designation and it only served to diminish my enjoyment of it based on my expectation. I know from a recent thread that we are not supposed to read others' reviews ahead of time, but I often find other people's input to be helpful (especially WRT presentation) and I try very hard not to let anyone else cloud my judgment.