Hoegaarden
$9.98 a six-pack
Colorado’s sudden summer is upon us, which for beer drinkers means it’s the season for wheat beer, or witbier. Hoegaarden (pronounced “hu-garden”) is named for the Belgian village where it’s been brewed since the mid-1960s. An unfiltered “white” beer, it pours a cloudy, pale straw color, reminiscent of grapefruit juice. A tremendous amount of carbonation, likely owing to the lack of filtration, caused my bottle cap to pop off, champagnelike, once it was loosened, and produced a head so deep that the glass had to rest awhile just to complete the pour. The scent presents the orange peel and coriander that dominate the flavor; taste is somewhat bitter citrus, powerfully spiced with coriander, ending with a soft sourness. No hops are evident. Once the beer calms down, drinkability and mouthfeel are excellent—refreshing, with a dry finish. A perfect companion for the hot days ahead. Alcohol by volume of 4.9 percent. Hoegaarden SA, Hoegaarden, Belgium
Marcus Chamberland;
