Ginger Witbiers

[mintjellie]

Coney Island Albino Python

A- / 4.05
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | drink: 4.5
rDev: +11.9%

Yellow-orange in colour and hazy with suspended yeast, this lager really does look like a witbier. A somewhat poorly retained head leaves no lacing behind as it recedes. The aroma is pungent with freshly grated ginger, also providing notes of lemon and orange. Spicy ginger goes really well with the citrus and spice flavours one normally expects in a traditional witbier. Flavours of orange, coriander, and lemon are all noticeable alongside the more prominent ginger. Wheat provides a little bit of tang. Mild yet assertive bitterness in the finish. Pretty full bodied for a witbier; moderate carbonation helps it feel a bit lighter. I can understand why the ginger aroma and flavour might put some people off, but I happen to like this a lot. It's quite refreshing. Definately happy to have given this one a try.

This is the second beer I've had brewed with ginger - my first was the Hitachino Nest long before I started reviewing, which I found unpalatably sour. Remembering that past experience with ginger beer, I was a little hesitant coming into this one. I was really surprised though - this one won me over.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 02-03-2010 21:39:46

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Rogue Mom Hefeweizen (AKA Half-E-Weizen)

B / 3.6
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | drink: 4
rDev: -1.7%

Opaque yellow-orange in colour with a thick, foamy, white head. The head is pretty retentive and leaves a fine lace on the walls of my glass. Mild aroma of ginger, fruit, and baking bread. It smells very tame compared to the in your face ginger aroma of the Albino Python I had yesterday. I'm not surprised that the ginger flavour in this is more Canada Dry compared to Albino Pythons Jamaican ginger beer. The Rogue is much more subtle, with coriander and doughy malt holding the ginger to supporting role. Mild lemony tang. Very mild hop bitterness in the finish; spicy and grassy hop flavour. I wouldn't call it bland, but I would like it a little bit bolder. Almost medium bodied with fine, spritzy carbonation. Feels crisp and refreshing. This is a pretty good beer, but I wish they had gone a bit more Rogue with the use of ginger.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 02-04-2010 21:23:09

[icemachine]

Sounds like the Albino would pair great with sushi

[SteelbackGuy]

Sounds like the Albino would pair great with sushi

Agreed. A tasty combo for sure.

[seanm]

Mintjellie, where did you get the Coney Island Albino Python? My wife loves ginger and I would like to get a bottle or two.

[pootz]

Thanks for the great idea...I was looking for something to spice up the weissbier I'll be putting in the fermenters shortly, ginger fills the bill with a light dry weissen.

[mintjellie]

Mintjellie, where did you get the Coney Island Albino Python? My wife loves ginger and I would like to get a bottle or two.

A friend of mine from the US brought these beers to me on a recent visit. She picked up both of them at a Wegmans in Syracuse, NY.