Witbier
A cloudy Belgian wheat beer spiced with coriander and orange peel, light and refreshing.
About the Witbier style
The Belgian witbier, or white beer, is an old style from the Flemish town of Hoegaarden. It nearly died out in the mid-20th century before Pierre Celis revived it, and it is now brewed worldwide.
It is brewed with a large proportion of unmalted wheat and seasoned with coriander and dried orange peel, which give it a light, spicy, citrusy character. Served cloudy and cold, it is one of the most refreshing summer beers.
Grain, hops and yeast
Malt and grain: Unmalted wheat with pale barley malt and often oats, for a hazy, soft, refreshing body.
Hop character: Low noble hopping; the seasoning comes from spices, not hops.
Yeast and fermentation: A Belgian wit yeast giving a light spicy, tart character, working with the added coriander and orange peel.
A typical Witbier runs 4.5 to 5.5% alcohol by volume, with a bitterness of about 8 to 20 IBU and a colour of 2 to 4 SRM. It is traditionally served in a tumbler. These figures describe the usual range for the style; a given example may sit a little outside them.
Serving and carbonation
Serve a witbier cold, around 4 to 6 degrees Celsius, cloudy, often with a slice of orange or lemon in the tradition of the style. It takes a lively carbonation, so set a higher serving pressure on a keg than for a still ale.
Fermentation in brief
A Belgian wit yeast fermented in the high teens to low twenties Celsius gives a light spicy tartness that works with the coriander and orange peel you add. Keep the ferment clean and not too warm so the spice stays refreshing rather than harsh.
Classic examples
Well-known commercial examples of the style include Hoegaarden, Allagash White and St. Bernardus Wit. Tasting a benchmark example is the best way to understand what a style should be before brewing your own.
| Vital statistic | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Origin | Belgium |
| Strength (ABV) | 4.5 to 5.5% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 8 to 20 |
| Colour (SRM) | 2 to 4 |
| Traditional glass | Tumbler |
Typical published ranges. Individual examples vary.
Set up your Witbier on tap
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Sources: BJCP Beer Style Guidelines ยท Wikidata (Q15079724)