Hoegaarden Original White Ale | Brouwerij van Hoegaarden | Page 63 | BeerAdvocate
Reviews: 1,764 | Ratings: 5,169
3.78/5 rDev -1.3%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5Im very glad that this beer is fairly widely available. Its one of the top quality beers that I can find walking into just about any grocery store in the area, a jewel nestled among the adjuncts. I find it on tap occasionally, too, and this is the serving style this review focuses on. The main difference is that the nose is slightly stronger on tap. That nose is bright and highly citrusy. A slight musk is present, but it is not unpleasant. The color is quite nice  pale yellow and cloudy. The head is about ½ inch and is snowy white. The spice characteristic of this beer is quite strong: cloves, pepper and nutmeg are all evident. There is a heavy orange citrus that blends perfectly with the spice. A sweet bubblegum flavor balances out the heat. The mouthfeel is heavy but well carbonated. 811 charactersfoXXtail, Feb 02, 20054.5/5 rDev +17.5%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5On tap at Sole Restaurant in Philly Town.
The taste was sweet and sour - lots of traditional wheat characteristics with nice malt and yeast. A spicy fruitiness is followed by a sour aftertaste that lingers for quite a while. Neither thick nor oily, it was a very pleasant session beer. Highly recommended. 458 characterscncbofh, Feb 01, 20054.42/5 rDev +15.4%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5This beast pours a foggy wheat color with a white head that diminished substantially, but didn't completely evaporate. The bottle denotes that this cloudiness is to be expected, as it is unfiltered. The nose is strong in grains with a bit of acidity and fruits. It tastes of yeast, hops, and a modest sweetness on the end. This is a gem, in my book anyway. Enjoyable year-round! 378 charactersOpethsprite, Jan 31, 20054.3/5 rDev +12.3%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5On tap at MJ Grill in Lower Manhattan. Served way too cold. Had to let it warm up a bit to really enjoy.
Light in body and very drinkable. Pair this with spicy Thai or Indian food. 727 charactersCitadel82, Jan 29, 20053.9/5 rDev +1.8%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5Ah... Hoegaarden, the beer that brought the witbier style back from the dead. I think we owe much to Mr. Pierre Celis for resurrecting this style, as it is one of the most quenching styles of beer imaginable while still being quite flavorful. This may be an InBev beer now, but it is still probably one of the best wits that I have had to date.
I would have loved to try this beer before Interbrew/InBev got its hands on it. Still a world class beer in my opinion. When I eventually get to Belgium (I'll do it sometime in my life) I'll have to give it a try to see how it compares. Very refreshing and very easy to drink, which epitomizes a witbier. 1,721 charactersBeastdog75, Jan 18, 20053.86/5 rDev +0.8%look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 5Came in a slim 12oz bottle; served in a pint glass. Pours a cloudy pale yellow with a thin pure white head, which dies quickly with thin lace. A mild smell of citrus, lemon, and yeast. Tastes very zesty and lemony with a thin mouthfeel. Extremely drinkable.
This beer is the supposed king of white beers. Besides it's impressive history, I can see why, too--a very drinkable and tasty lunch beer. 399 charactersCVC, Jan 13, 20054.7/5 rDev +22.7%look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.512/23/04- On tap at the Toronado in San Francisco, CA
Drinkability- This has always been one of my favorites. Much better from the tap than the bottle as most beers are. One of the most refreshing beers I have had. 781 charactersGClarkage, Dec 24, 20043.31/5 rDev -13.6%look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5cloudy banana yellow in color, but no almost no head at all. very few bubbles dancing around the top of the beer.
overall a fairly good beer. didnt seem to work as well as a hefeweizen. but thats just my opinion. 573 charactersjoecast, Dec 24, 20044.15/5 rDev +8.4%look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5The beer pours with a fluffy generous head that slowly drops, leaving a lace around the glass. The beer itself is light straw colored and somewhat cloudy.
The aroma is citrusy and spicy. The coriander and orange peel are evident. There are also floral honey notes, mingling with a touch of malt and bread. There are little estery notes in this sample and no hop aroma, but on the whole, the aroma is balanced and pleasant.
The start is clean but slightly malty. Very little sweetness is evident, and the tartness quickly follows. The beer is spicy, grainy and tart as it follows through and it swallows with a crisp tart finish. The tartness and spiciness linger in a pleasant and not overpowering way.
The mouthfeel is light and fluffy, as to be expected from a Wit. The carbonation is medium/high, but there is a distracting astringency as it finishes.
Wit is one of my favorite styles. I am quite familiar with the style and brew it often myself. This is a fantastic example of the style; much better than I remember from past years from this brewery. It is crisp and tart and refreshing, with only a hint of astringency to mar an other wise perfect experience. 1,176 charactersBiffster, Dec 24, 20043.31/5 rDev -13.6%look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4I had two pints of this at the company x-mas gathering yesterday. The difference in appearance between the two pints was dramatic. The first arrived with about 1/2 inch of head so dense and creamy that I suspect it was a nitro pour (although I've never heard of a belgian wit using nitro). It left pretty decent lacing. The second arrived with a faint wisp of a head and left no lacing. In all other aspects, these two pints were the same. Beer was light yellow and very cloudy, as typical of unfiltered wheat beers.
Very drinkable. Probably would have had another if the boss hadn't been sitting there. 820 charactersoracle, Dec 16, 20043.96/5 rDev +3.4%look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4I haven't yet had 100 different beers, so this takes the title of Oddest Beer to Ever Cross my Palate. Is this bananna flavored lemonade, or is it beer? Took me forever to try this one since It's sandwiched between a bunch of shitty imports at my local beer-buying location. Anyway, this beer is unfiltered. I love it when I can't distinguish objects when looking through my pint glass, so unfiltered beers get a high appearance score in my book. I've never seen a yellow unfiltered beer, so I'm giving Hoegaarden a five. It smells wonderful. I must have sniffed the white, frothy head about five or six times before I even took a sip, just because it smelled that good. This beer tastes like bananna-flavored lemonade. What I recognize as malt cannot be found in this beer. Just esters, hops, and yeastiness. (I tried one without yeast, then one with yeast since the back label says you should dump the yeast in.) I didn't notice anything about moutfeel one way or the other, so I give it a score of average. As for drinkability, this is a highly-flavorful light beer that a person could have quite a few of in a drinking session. Four for drinkability.
So, anyway. I don't like the taste of this beer and I"ll never buy it again. However, I do recognize it as a solid beer, even though it doesn't suit my taste. 1,318 charactersmoocey, Dec 14, 20044.3/5 rDev +12.3%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5Pours a cloudy yellow with a foamy white head that laces well. Aroma was a strong citrus smell with some spiciness as well, very different than other beers. Taste was refreshing like most witbiers, though this one tastes a little watery. Very citrusy and some coriander, definitely pleasant but use a little more "oompf". Light mouthfeel, but refreshing. I prefer this on draft on the bigger (20oz.) glass, but you must be careful, as many bartenders insist on adding a lemon wedge to it... It is much better without (of course). 529 characterstatterdash, Dec 14, 20043.65/5 rDev -4.7%look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4This poured to a good light gold and yellow color with a medium head that lasted well. It left a small amount of clumped-up lace.
The smell is a little light but still nice, having a bit of a citrus kick. The flavor in the taste similarly good but light. Spice undertones finish it off. The mouthfeel is smooth and light, and it's easy to drink. 348 characterswatermelonman, Dec 13, 20044.35/5 rDev +13.6%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5This is my second bottle of Hoegaarden Witbier. The first nose was citrusy, but now the yeast is more noticable (not in a bad way).
It forms a decent head, though it doesn't take long to settle.
I'm usually looking out for an off-taste in a white beer. That will make it one to avoid. But this beer taste like it should: a natural water source, wheat and yeast.
I can imagine this beer pairing well with a variety of foods. Perhaps the toughest being poultry. Hoegaarden Witbier would pass with flying colors.
Well worth a try.. and try again! 555 charactersMrSeth, Dec 11, 20044.07/5 rDev +6.3%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4My first foray into Witbier...I've had a few heffeweizen before, though.
Pours a yellow cloudy colour. Smells citrusy/orangey. Taste very similar: orange peel and coriander...do I detect a hint of clove? Not a christmas beer style, but the taste is christmas-y enough.
A little thin and fizzy/tangy for my likes, but good. Very drinkable, almost like a spicy, natural orange pop. 385 charactersBDTyre, Dec 09, 20042.09/5 rDev -45.4%look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2Pale lemon color with creamy white head. Spicy chap stick aroma with eucalyptus to boot. Thin, acidic, carbonated lemon juice. Bleh, what the hell. Perhaps I will need to revisit this one. For now it was too phenolic, too thin, and too lemony. This can't be the beer that inspired so many other wonderful beers. 311 characterswaughbrew, Dec 08, 20044.72/5 rDev +23.2%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5Well this beer is on tap at a local bar. I walked in and told them it was my 21st birthday, which it was, and the owner poured me a Hoegaarden. Jeez, it was a delightful beer! It tastes pretty much the same in bottles, which i'm drinking now. Buy this beer! 257 charactersdanieltothemax, Dec 07, 20044.22/5 rDev +10.2%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4Pours a really really hazy beer thats pale and beige. Hard to see through and it has a thin foam that quickly leaves a thin lacing.
A very delicate and light beer thats really delicious. One of my favourites. 472 charactersstjarnflikka, Dec 01, 20044.53/5 rDev +18.3%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5What can I say, this beer was one of the first I have tried and it got me hooked into beer. But, it was before I joined here so I have only had a chance now to try this wonder on tap.
Pours hazy hazy white with yellow tinge, looks like lemonade. A little head that swirls around while lingering. Tastes include yeasts (soury) with citrus and banana notes. But, all the flavors meld very beautifully. Smoothness is incredible. It's without doubt one of my favorite beers...ever. 480 charactersaquatonex, Nov 11, 20044.09/5 rDev +6.8%look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5An cloudy pale yellow with a large, if somewhat soapy looking, white head. Nice lemon and orange citrus aromas. Starts off with primarily lemon and orange flavors, but quickly develops into spiciness and finishes with some balancing bitterness. A very well-executed intermingling of flavors, if perhaps a bit timid compared to past years. Light and creamy body which is appropriate to the style but not particularly distinctive. A very tasty and refreshing witbier which can be especially enjoyable on a hot summer day. Too bad it's less flavor-full than it used to be. 569 charactersdgallina, Oct 31, 20043.63/5 rDev -5.2%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4Appearance: Poured a murky, super-pale golden color, like fresh-squeezed lemon juice with a bright white, thick and pillowy head that resembled egg whites beaten to stiff peaks.
Drinkability: One of the easiest beers in the world to drink loads of. It tastes pretty good, is totally refreshing and it's straightforward witbier-ness doesn't challenge your brain too much while you're drinking it. 846 charactersoxmasterscream, Oct 29, 20044.68/5 rDev +22.2%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 512oz bottle. Poured a nice cloudy pale straw color with a good bit of head. Had a nice peppery smell with a hint of lemon zest. The taste was fantastic. Wits are among my favorites so I've tried many lately and this one never disappoints. Overall, a great beer. PR 4.75 269 charactersTexIndy, Oct 20, 20044.03/5 rDev +5.2%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4Pale straw color, cloudy with a strong white head. Lemon and grapefruit - citrus aroma. Lemon zest, pepper, slight tartness with a dry finish. Light to monerate body with fairly high carbonation.
This is still a fine beer. I never had a chance to drink Hoegaarden in its heyday, but I do know it is a good choice for a summer's day. (or any day you need refreshment) 369 charactersfrazbri, Oct 19, 20043.64/5 rDev -5%look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 412 oz brown bottle.
Easily consumable; very pleasant drinking, nothing spectacular in terms of flavor but a nice witbier nonetheless. 660 charactersNEhophead, Oct 10, 20044.02/5 rDev +5%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5Served on-tap at the Elmhurst Public House with the correct marked glassware. The beer is a very light cloudy yellow with a skimming of foam.
The taste is tart and refreshing. I like the way the spices work with and offset the fruit flavors. A very nice combination. No bitterness present at all, I wonder what the IBU rating of this beer is. The mouthfeel, at least for me, seems a bit stretched. Perhaps this is a more delicate beer than Im used to, but I have had some witts that are more chewy. Easy drinking beer here. This beer is a perfect compliment to a long, lazy, causal day of conversation on the deck or in the bar. 717 charactersRedrover, Oct 06, 2004