134. Bell’s Winter White Ale

Another beer from Bell’s—liquid gold in a bottle. Or in the case of this beer, hazy, cloudy gold. During the winter months, this beer gets regular usage—it is good holiday drinking, light and refreshing.

Winter White has a musty and lightly grainy nose with low levels of fruit esters—slight banana—and some clove spiciness along with citrus aromas. It pours a hazy straw color with a tight white head. The front is grainy and bready with some wheat in the background, and moves into some citrus fruit and slight banana flavors in the middle before ending spicy. The light the medium body is fresh and bright on the palate although there is some creaminess as well; the carbonation bite lightens the beer, contributing to its crisp character. Easy drinking and well balanced, with plenty of hefeweizen characteristics to carry the beer along.

From the Bell’s website: “A Wheat Ale brewed with American Wheat and a proprietary blend of Hefe and classic Belgian-style yeasts. A refreshing winter alternative created from the subtle fusion of two classic flavors.”

ABV: 5.0%

OG: 1.052

(11/11/2009)