Beer of the Weekend #129: Great White
Tonight I saw a commercial for the new Coors Light “case window,” which provides a perfect view of the cold activated bottles inside. Too lazy to take the bottles out of the case when you put them in the fridge, and want to know when your beers are cold enough? Take a peek through the window.
Pathetic. Even worse is the fact that the Coors Light website has a special page dedicated to “Innovations.” Though all these “innovations” may appeal to others, it says one thing to me: Coors cares more about its packaging and marketing than its beer.
Obviously, I’m not a fan of light (or lite) beer — a.k.a., beer enriched water — but I will say Coors Light is drinkable. Along with PBR Light, Coors Light is the best pussy beer.
Speaking of PBR, I think I heard PBR plugged as a sponsor on NPR this morning.
The beer this weekend is Great White, brewed by the Lost Coast Brewery of Eureka, California.
The carrier had no window.
My time in California is quickly coming to an end, so I decided to dedicate my remaining BotW’s on the west coast to the Golden State’s indigenous beers. Though some Cali beers are available nationwide, many are only distributed regionally or within the state. As a beer nut I need to take advantage of my brewing locale while I still can.
Frankly, I think I waited too long to do this. After I return from a 10-day visit to IC, I’ll only have four more proper Friday editions of BotW in Cali. I may have to drink overtime.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles. No born-on or freshness date.
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. Cloudy, lemonade-like citrus yellow. Two fingers of white head developed and dissipated quickly to leave a trace of lacing and ring around the edge.
Smell: Of the style, but a little more like mass-produced lemonade. Invigorating lemon and orange citrus. There are some minor spices, and some corn adjunct toward the end.
Taste: Lemon and orange citrus as well as yeast and wheat qualities, but it is all very subdued. There’s also a slight hop nip at the end.
Drinkability: Witbier Light. Totally unimpressive. It’s not bad, and a little fun, but not high quality or very complex.
Fun facts about Great White:
-Style: Witbier. BA has this to say:
-Price: $7.99/sixer at the Beach BevMo!.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: Lost Coast lists the ABV at 5 percent, but BA lists it at 4.8.
-Food pairings: BA suggests peppery cheeses (Monterey/Pepper Jack), tangy cheeses (Brick, Edam, Feta), salad, and meat (poultry, fish, shellfish). On the carrier is this recommendation: “It goes well with spicy food.”
-The bottom of the carrier features this flowerly microbrew description:
Just like I said.
-I’ve drunk a number of Lost Coast brews, but I didn’t know this: Lost Coast is female-owned. Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound began the brewery after years of home brewing and visiting pubs in the UK. You go, girls.
-The only Lost Coast label design worth a damn is, in my opinion, Eight-Ball Stout’s. The pseudo-Impressionist styles of Downtown Brown, Alleycat Amber, and Great White (though Great White’s design is not as bad) just don’t do it for me.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C+.
Pathetic. Even worse is the fact that the Coors Light website has a special page dedicated to “Innovations.” Though all these “innovations” may appeal to others, it says one thing to me: Coors cares more about its packaging and marketing than its beer.
Obviously, I’m not a fan of light (or lite) beer — a.k.a., beer enriched water — but I will say Coors Light is drinkable. Along with PBR Light, Coors Light is the best pussy beer.
Speaking of PBR, I think I heard PBR plugged as a sponsor on NPR this morning.
The beer this weekend is Great White, brewed by the Lost Coast Brewery of Eureka, California.
The carrier had no window.
My time in California is quickly coming to an end, so I decided to dedicate my remaining BotW’s on the west coast to the Golden State’s indigenous beers. Though some Cali beers are available nationwide, many are only distributed regionally or within the state. As a beer nut I need to take advantage of my brewing locale while I still can.
Frankly, I think I waited too long to do this. After I return from a 10-day visit to IC, I’ll only have four more proper Friday editions of BotW in Cali. I may have to drink overtime.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles. No born-on or freshness date.
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. Cloudy, lemonade-like citrus yellow. Two fingers of white head developed and dissipated quickly to leave a trace of lacing and ring around the edge.
Smell: Of the style, but a little more like mass-produced lemonade. Invigorating lemon and orange citrus. There are some minor spices, and some corn adjunct toward the end.
Taste: Lemon and orange citrus as well as yeast and wheat qualities, but it is all very subdued. There’s also a slight hop nip at the end.
Drinkability: Witbier Light. Totally unimpressive. It’s not bad, and a little fun, but not high quality or very complex.
Fun facts about Great White:
-Style: Witbier. BA has this to say:
A Belgian Style ale that's very pale and cloudy in appearance due to it being unfiltered and the high level of wheat, and sometimes oats, that's used in the mash. Always spiced, generally with coriander, orange peel and other oddball spices or herbs in the back ground. The crispness and slight twang comes from the wheat and the lively level of carbonation. This is one style that many brewers in the US have taken a liking to and have done a very good job of staying to style. Sometimes served with a lemon, but if you truly want to enjoy the untainted subtleties of this style you'll ask for yours without one. Often referred to as "white beers" (witbieren) due to the cloudiness / yeast in suspension.
-Price: $7.99/sixer at the Beach BevMo!.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: Lost Coast lists the ABV at 5 percent, but BA lists it at 4.8.
-Food pairings: BA suggests peppery cheeses (Monterey/Pepper Jack), tangy cheeses (Brick, Edam, Feta), salad, and meat (poultry, fish, shellfish). On the carrier is this recommendation: “It goes well with spicy food.”
-The bottom of the carrier features this flowerly microbrew description:
Master Brewer Barbara Groom created this distinctly American version of the Belgian-style white beer. This unfiltered beer has a striking translucent, golden color with white clouds. Seemingly a contradiction in terms, the Great White Beer has a full-bodied mouth feel, yet is surprisingly light to dink. Topped with a hint of citrus, provided by coriander and Barbara’s secret blend of herbs, this is a delightful beer in any season. Great White is brewed with unmalted wheat, malted barley, and finished with Liberty hops.
Just like I said.
-I’ve drunk a number of Lost Coast brews, but I didn’t know this: Lost Coast is female-owned. Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound began the brewery after years of home brewing and visiting pubs in the UK. You go, girls.
-The only Lost Coast label design worth a damn is, in my opinion, Eight-Ball Stout’s. The pseudo-Impressionist styles of Downtown Brown, Alleycat Amber, and Great White (though Great White’s design is not as bad) just don’t do it for me.
The Quiet Man’s grade: C+.
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