Bell’s Winter White Ale

Here’s the second review of the night. I got a variety case of Bell’s brews the last time I was in Pennsylvania since it’s not distributed in New Jersey. I’ve had a few Bell’s brews in the past and really enjoyed them. I’ve also never seen a winter witbier as a seasonal. Let’s crack this one open…

ABV: 5%

Style: Witbier

Trivia: According to the brewery website, “Taking its cues from Belgian-style white ales, Bell’s Winter White Ale offers a lighter yet abundantly flavorful alternative to the traditional heavy winter warmers. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley & wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Bell’s Winter White Ale is a beer for embracing winter.”

Random: I can’t believe Raul Ibanez went to the Yankees. Although, they do seem to like getting players who are at the end of their career…

This brew poured with a half a finger of white head that instantly dissipated and left no lacing on the glass. The body of the beer was a slightly cloudy, light yellow with lots of carbonation. The nose started with citrus, a little bit of banana and definite Belgian yeast. The taste started with lemon, a bit of bread and there was definite spice (clove and coriander) with some wheat to it. The spice surprised me a little bit because I really didn’t get it in the nose. The body was a little thicker than I expected for the style, but the prickly carbonation helped it out. The finish was quick with a bit of lemon. This was definitely a different