Should we turn to Florida for a Belgian style ale? Shouldn't we be looking to Belgium for that kind of thing? Well, we're Americans. As such, we can do things better than anyone else, even if it's actually their thing that they do really well. In this instance, we've gotten Cigar City to try this out. Given, they are a mid-tier brewery so far, but the Space Pope IPA was fantastic, and I assume this means that they are just starting to hit their stride. I want to be here to watch them win the gold.
The dishwater brown beer does not immediately make me think of something that would be referred to as a white. I know, the color in the style of beer doesn't necessarily dictate the actual color of the beer, but this color is less appetizing than you might hope. The head that bubbles up fizzles out fairly quickly, and it leaves nothing across the top of the beer but a view of bubbles coming up from the depths and a weak ring around the sides of the glass. The aroma is brimming with coriander and orange with a mild wheat backing.First sip is more of a hit of carbonation than I expected with just as much coriander as I expected. The orange and coriander are absolutely running the show with a sweet wheat malt in the background and a light and unpretentious yeast adding a little flavor to the mix. When I first had the sip, I was taken aback and not particularly impressed, but now that everything has settled, I think it was actually not bad at all. It's clear and crisp in its flavors, and it knows what it's about.
Tip-in is carbonation sizzle up front with coriander right on its heels while a strange honey syrupiness is floating with the grains. The middle shoves the carbonation to the top of the mouth where it continues the sizzle and starts to increase in intensity while the coriander and orange peel linger around the bottom and that strange honey syrup disappears entirely. The finish is a quick cessation of carbonation as coriander once again asserts itself before yeast comes out for the trail off.
Bottom Line: It has its own style, and I am definitely going to give it points for that.
3.5/5