New Belgium Brewing Sunshine Wheat
What the brewers say
“This sun-hued ale blends soft bready malts with a burst of citrus courtesy of orange peel and coriander; a light dose of bittering hops wraps up each sip with a clean finish.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Fresh and intense coriander is at the forefront. Lots of floral notes, with some citrus notes—it’s a lot like Froot Loops. Some nice esters of flowers and honey as well as some peppery phenols and bready wheat. Herbal hops and bready malt underneath.”
Flavor: “The coriander is a touch overpowering, but it’s a great witbier that’s fresh, with a crisp, light body, and quite clear. Orange citrus, herbal hops, and some delicate peppery and spicy phenols are nicely balanced by the floral honey notes. A very clean, dry finish, with a low yeast character.”
Overall: “While the coriander is pretty intense, especially as the beer warms, the base beer is really good. The floral notes are subtle and fresh, and the orange flavor is expressed well. The base beer is crisp and light, very dry and refreshing, clean, but perhaps a bit too clear for a wheat beer.”
