De Kluis Brewery, Belgium - Hoegaarden

Although it is not the first time this beer has been posted on this blog I had to mark my own experience with this beer - in preparation for a visit to Grand Ivey Brewing Co. in Dacula Georgia where I had been invited to work along side their brew-master on a Wit Beer I had to do some research in the field - I started with one of my favorites, Hoegaarden. 

The brilliant white beer is brewed to a traditional recipe which dates as far back as 1445, although the beer Hoegaarden has only existed since 1966. Hoegaarden gets its great taste partly due to there being special ingredients added during the brewing process, such as - wheat, coriander and curacao orange peels. Also the pale, cloudy appearance of this mysterious looking drink is all thanks to an additional second fermentation in the bottle.  Hoegaarden is quite strong for a beer, standing at 5% vol.

We set our sites on brewing a beer similar in color and taste as Hoegaarden.  With its light body and citrus aroma, this beer is just perfect for a hot summer afternoon, but what really makes it work for this beer lover is the spicy quality of the coriander which becomes reminiscent of warm spice drinks served around winter season holidays thus making this beer a year around favorite.  

Judging by the fine quality of ingredients selected by Grand Ivey Brewing and the initial color and gravities of the wort, I trust that the batch we brewed in homage to the great tradition of Belgian Style Wit Beers will be exceptional and I look forward to sampling a glass or two.