Belgian Witbier

One of the lighter examples of the Belgian approach to brewing is witbier. It is a light, tangy and sweet, citrusy and spicy top-fermenting wheat beer. Very refreshing in the summer. The largest competitor to weizenbier, i.e. German-style wheat beers. Witbier is on trend again among home and craft brewers. It is also produced by many “serious” Belgian breweries. Even though that style of beer was practically becoming extinct! It was revived by Pierre Celis, a legendary postman from Hoegaarden. We was desperate to drink the beer he remembered from his youth. According to an old saying, you don’t have to start a brewery to drink a beer. Fortunately, Pierre did not listen. He opened a brewery, recreated the recipe and relaunched the production of over 400-year-old witbier. Still today Hoegaarden Wit remains the symbol of this style, usually referred to by other Belgian breweries as blanche (white). Characteristic feature: added coriander and curacao, which give the beer its specific yet gentle orange and spice aroma hidden in a light wheat beer.