Okay, we all know I’ve got a huge crush on Amsterdam. Disclaimer stated. That being said, I’ve got a bit of a “thing” about this beer. Ummmm, it’s not a weisse. That’s a German style of beer, and the sausage-munchers are a tad bit obsessed about the ingredients, and specifically what is *not* in there. Namely, anything other than water, malted barley/wheat, hops and yeast. Therefore, orange peel, dry spices, whatever, have no place in weisse beers. Amsterdam calls this Oranje Weisse, as a nod to the Dutch part of their history (Oranje being a nickname for the Netherlands National Football Team). But even on the label, it’s referred to as an unfiltered Flemish-style wheat beer, which is better known as a witbeir in Dutch. Not a weisse. But I have a theory: Wits, whites, blanches, etc, are sort of three years ago. Everybody was crazy about them 3-5 years ago. So much so, that we saw Labbatt introduce the mediocre (at best) Keith’s White. So I can understand their hesitancy to hitch their wagon to that train. And to take it a step further, weisse beers are sexy. Denison’s, made right here in Toronto, is widely considered one of the best in the world. When you order a weisse at a bar you get it in big curvy sexy flamboyant glassware. Who wouldn’t want to make a weisse? Even if your recipe is actually a wit…. Let’s see how things go.
Oranje Weisse - Amsterdam Brewery
From a lovely 500ml silk-screened bottle with no freshness date, the beer pours a cloudy honey-gold with a light 1″ head. Aroma is immediately oranges with a nice spicy note, cloves and maybe some fennel? For a wheat beer, there’s a noticeable malted barley nose, which adds a nice sweet depth. Taste is quite a bit more spicy; definitely cloves, and I’m thinking more and more, fennel. Hey yo! They actually list the ingredients! Not fennel, but anise. Still a good dose of orange, and a hint of banana. Also some more of that malty sweetness. I have to keep reminding myself that this isn’t a weisse, it’s a wit. As a German style weisse, I would like it to be a little more juicy and citrusy; as a wit, a more balanced beer, between flavourings, yeast and grains is expected. With a light body and a nice carbonation, this is a hugely drinkable beer; awesome on a patio this summer, or on a dock. Quite a nice beer to add to the summer-beer portfolio in Toronto. The only real downside, is that as labelled, this beer is a bit confusing. It’s not a great German-style weisse. It is a very nice wit, though. I realize it really is only the geeks who might get hung up on this, but there you go; I’m hung up.
Nice one Amsterdam, I’ll be having a lot more of this in the weeks and months to come.
