Since the rise of craft beer, there has been a wide array of beverages available to drinkers around the country. If you're new to the beer scene, you might not know how to choose between the different options, which can seem confusing and overwhelming at first. For example, what's the difference between a Mexican Lager and a Belgian Witbier, and when should you drink which one?
While you can always ask your bartender about their favorite beverage, it's good to have some background knowledge. Today, we will have a closer look at the Belgian-style Witbier. If you're not sure what to select, this light and sweet drink is a great option because it has a moderate alcohol content and it goes well with a wide variety of foods. Read on to find out more about this unique drink's taste, alcohol content, bitterness level, and serving suggestions.
What Can You Expect from a Belgian Witbier?
The Belgian-style Witbier is currently enjoying great popularity in America, and many brewers around the country are producing their own version. It is a great beer for people who don't enjoy a very bitter or alcohol-heavy drink. In Dutch, "wit" means white, which alludes to the very light color of the drink. Traditionally, it is produced with unmalted wheat. However, some brewers prefer oats and malted barley, which add a more velvety taste to the beverage.
When you first try Witbier, you might be surprised by its sweet maltiness and the faint notes of orange zest, honey, or vanilla. Most Witbiers contain a noticeably herbal taste, and the mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. Witbier is heavily carbonated, and it is characterized by bubbles that rise fast. Generally, a bitter or excessively hoppy taste is not considered acceptable.
SRM
The Standard Reference Method is a way of identifying beer color that was developed by scientists in the 1950s. The scale goes from 1 to 40, with 40 being the darkest beer possible and 1 being the lightest. Generally, darker varieties are malt-driven, and they may taste nutty or fruity. Medium-gold beer is usually made of wheat or barley, and it often tastes bread-like.
On the other hand, the lighter varieties are frequently brighter and include notes of citrus, tropical fruit, or even pepper. As the name suggests, the Witbier has an SRM of 2-3, so it is one of the palest beers you can buy.
IBU
IBU stands for International Bitterness Units, and it is a way of measuring a beer's bitterness. The scale ranges from zero to over 100, but it's important to remember that, just like many other characteristics, bitterness is an individual experience. While some might perceive a certain beer as very bitter, others might experience it as mild.
What's more, the amount of carbonation or residual sugar and the temperature can all affect the perceived bitterness of a drink. At an IBU of 10-17, most people would not consider the Witbier very bitter.
ABV
Alcohol by volume is the amount of alcohol present in a given drink. This determines the extent to which the alcohol can be tasted in the beverage. Beers generally range from 3% to over 20%, but the lower percentages are more common. Witbier has an ABV of 4.8-5.6%, so it is considered a light to medium-strength beer.
The History of the Witbier
It is likely that Belgian Witbier originated in an area called Leuven, which is located east of the Belgian capital city Brussels. Some experts believe that it was first brewed in a monastery in the 14th century, but there is no clear record of this. For several centuries, the beverage was popular in the area because most of the ingredients, which include high-quality water, barley, wheat, and coriander, were available locally.
Due to increasing trade, orange peel was also present in the region. It is likely that brewers experimented with different spices and flavors such as ginger, elderflower, and cumin. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Leuven area flourished, and its population increased significantly. As a result, Witbier became incredibly popular. By 1850, the beverage had spread to the Hoegaarden area, where there were 38 breweries.
Fall and Rise in Popularity
Unfortunately, most of these breweries didn't last for very long, and by 1930, only four of them were left. At the time of World War I, lager became the dominant beer in Europe, and smaller establishments offering different varieties simply could not compete. Witbier wasn't sold for many years, but in the 1960s, a man named Pierre Celis began brewing it again. While it wasn't an immediate success, it slowly but surely won over beer drinkers in the area.
Soon, other breweries around Belgium created their own versions, and Witbier was exported to the US. Celis opened a brewery in Austin, Texas and launched the Witbier Celis White. Nowadays, breweries around the country are producing Belgian-style Witbiers that are based on Celis's 1966 creation.
How to Serve It
Witbier can either be consumed directly at the taproom, or you can take it home and share it with your friends. After you purchase your beer, you should store it in a cool and dark environment and consume it within three to six months. To get the most out of your drink, it is suggested that you serve the Witbier in a tulip glass and at a temperature of approximately 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Food Goes Well with a Witbier?
You can pair a wide variety of foods with your Witbier. In fact, it is an ideal beverage for lunch because it is light enough that you won't feel too full, and the ABV is not so high. Almost everyone enjoys the combination of a Belgian-style Witbier and a salad, but this isn't the only option. A light fish or lobster, bacon, cheese, or citrus desserts all work well with this beer.
Here at the taproom, we offer several snacks, and our bartender will be happy to suggest the best combination. For example, you might want to pair your beverage with Two Chicks Jerky, which comes in either regular or spicy flavors. Alternatively, you could opt for the Pretzel Board, which includes homemade beer cheese and can be served with Düsseldorf-style mustard.
If you're looking forward to a night out at the taproom but not sure which beverage to choose, you should consider a Belgian Witbier. This beer is a fan favorite because it has a light and sweet taste and contains moderate amounts of alcohol. It was created in Belgium in the 14th century and enjoyed great popularity until the first World War. Since its renewed rise to fame in the 1960s, brewers around the country and the world have put their own spin on it.
Witbier is a particularly good choice at lunchtime because it isn't too heavy and can easily be combined with a variety of foods such as salads, fish dishes, and cheese. Call or message us now at Lowercase Brewing in Seattle, WA to find out more about the unique range of craft beers we offer or to book a table in our taproom. We are open from Tuesday to Sunday, so you are sure to find a time that suits you and your friends or family.
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