Beer Style Guide: Get to Know Witbier with Em Sauter

The witbier was the style that got me into loving beer thanks to Samuel Adams White Ale (now made as their holiday beer “White Christmas”) and it’s a unique and deliciously refreshing style of beer that stands out from the rest. I am very thankful to the witbier because if this beer style didn’t exist, I may not be writing about it today!

History of Witbier

White beers existed in Belgium in some form or another for centuries in the town of Hoegaarden. A “white” beer means a high usage of wheat which makes the beer paler than other red or brown beers. White beers fell out of favor in the mid 20th century and the last brewery in Hoegaarden closed in the mid 1950’s. A shrewd milkman named Pierre Celis revived Hoegaarden’s brewing tradition in the 1960’s and created the modern version of witbier. The beer (named Hoegaarden after the town) became the gold standard of what we know as witbier and is now a global phenomenon. The beer is still brewed there to this day.

Witbiers stand out from the rest of Belgian beers because they are spiced with coriander seed and curacao orange peel. Other Belgian beers like Trappist ales can use spices but these spices should be melded into the beer so when you are imbibing, you shouldn’t be able to know what spices are actually in those beers. In a witbier, you should definitely taste the spices! Witbiers also are brewed with raw wheat and pilsner malt, giving the beers a cloudy/hazy look as well as use a special witbier yeast strain that creates a lot of organic byproducts like phenols, which taste like clove/white pepper.

Tasting Notes

With witbiers, you should taste the coriander seed, orange peel and clove/pepper as well as a rich flavor of white bread and honey. It’s a lower ABV beer, usually around 4.5-5.5% ABV, its carbonation is on the high side and it’s a dry beer so it’s probably one of the most refreshing beers on the planet.

Witbier Pairing

Salmon with asparagus dish — Salmon by Travis Yewell

Witbiers (and Belgian beers in general) are great food beers and the fruity/spicy quality of the beer works well with lighter dishes. Witbiers are probably the best beer styles for a myriad of green salads and my go-to when I’m looking to pair healthy options with a beer. Witbiers also work well with salmon and oilier fish. Hoppiness can clash with fishy flavors and since witbiers are hopped very low, witbier and salmon are a great match.

Beers to Try

Beer Style Guide: Get to Know Witbier with Em Sauter

History of Witbier

Tasting Notes

Witbier Pairing

Beers to Try

Allagash White

Hoegaarden

Avery White Rascal