OK, so you know how it is in those old western movies, right? The good guys always wear white hats and the bad guys have the black ones. In real life, things are seldom so black and white (you’ll forgive the pun), and that’s the case to a great degree with White IPAs in general, and to New Holland White Hatter to a lesser degree.
White IPAs as a style are relatively new, and a reaction to Black IPAs (which are properly named India Dark Ale-you can’t be black and pale at the same time). Anyway, some brewer along the line got the bright idea to marry the attributes of a Belgian witbier with the hoppiness of an IPA. The wise and sage Red Rooster opined that what you often get is really just a witbier with a little hoppiness, and I’ve found that to be true as well with some exceptions.
Let’s let New Holland plead their case for White Hatter, shall we? From their website:
White Hatter White Pale Ale
Flavorfully blends the soft malt, fruity esters and delicate spicing of a Belgian White with hoppy citrus notes of an IPA. Pleasant hints of orange are framed with chamomile, coriander and grains of paradise.
Grains: 2 Row, White Wheat, Dark Munich, Unmalted Wheat, Acidulated
Hops: Brewer’s Gold, Crystal, Motueka, Glacier
Yeast: Wit yeast
Whoa there New Holland! What’s that you say, this is a Belgian White Pale Ale? It does say that on the bottle label to be fair, but I was drinking this on tap at Taco mac, so there was no label to be seen. Still and all, in the description above they compare it to an IPA.
However you slice it (or pour it in this case), New Holland White Hatter has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume and 52 IBUs. I paid $6.25 for a mug at Taco Mac.
That mug of New Holland White Hatter arrived a hazy orange color with a fluffy white head and the very faintest hint of coriander in the nose. I get more of it in the palate though, much more, along with black pepper, bitter orange rind, tart wheat in the body, and grassy herbal hops and gentle bitterness in the finish. I like this, though it seems more like a hoppy wit than a white ipa if that makes sense to you. Maybe it does now that I see New Holland calls it a white pale ale.
I must say that White Hatter had enough bitterness to stand up to the saucy, spicy goodness of an order of Taco Mac’s famous wings, but the beer certainly has style confusion and I’m going to call it a witbier as its closer to that than anything else. Whatever you call it, I enjoyed it, and I would definitely buy it again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft