Beer Name : Hoegaarden Witbier
Manufacturer : Hoegaarden Brewery
Origin : Hoegaarden, Belgium
Company founded in : 1445
Beer Type : Belgian White Ale
Abv% :4.9%
SRM : 4
IBU : 15
Ingredients: Mineral springwater, unmalted wheat, barley malt, hops, yeast, coriander and orange peel.
History:
Brewing has been an integral part of life in the village of Hoegaarden,Belgium, since 1318. By the 15th century, Begarden monks settled inthe area and began brewing Belgian white (or wit) ales. By the end of the 19th Century, the village boasted more than 35 breweries, although it was inhabited by only 2,000 people. The last brewery in Hoegaarden closed shop in 1957. Soon after, in 1965, the villagers decided to take action to preserve the original recipe. Milkman Pierre Celis took the bull by the horns and started brewing up a batch in his milk shed, using only a copper boiler.
He quickly expanded his operation and moved into a bigger building – ‘De Kluis’ (The Vault) – a subtle nod to the monks. By 1985 the nod was no longer subtle as he was making more than 75.000 hectolitres per year. Just as he was about to start exporting to the United States, a rather large fire flattened his dreams (and the beer). The brewery was destroyed.
The original Belgian wheat beer could and would not be lost. Today, 9 out of 10 wheat beers sold in Belgium are from Hoegaarden.
About the Beer:
One of my favorite Unfiltered White Ale’s. Pouring Hoegaarden is just like letting the sun fall into your glass: light yellow and naturally fuzzy. And the soft foam adds a cloudy finish. And then there’s the soft taste, light and slightly sweet and sour and with subtle citrus notes. Ah, Just have the first sip and this beer blends itself to a quick flash of flavor across the palate, and then a lingering watery aftertime. I like the use of coriander and orange peel, which is perfectly blended into the rest of the beer. I could sit and drink this one after another until I roll over and dream every minute of it. It’s a really delicious and enjoyable beer. There are other Belgian wheat beers on the market, but with over 500 years of brewing experience, Hoegaarden is the best.
My Own Rating
Aroma : 9/10
Appearance : 8/10
Taste : 9/10
Palate : 8/10
Overall : 8.5/10
Special thanks to Mr. Prakash, Owner of the SLNS Wines store in Banashankri BDA Complex for helping me to get this beer.
