Well now, isn’t this interesting. Every once in a while I will find an old review I posted on usenet (or one that I had up on my old “Cybeerspace” page on AOL) and create a new listing for it here on good old bruguru.com. I like to call these entries “The Lost Beer Reviews” when I work them into the fold here. That said, the beer I’m about to talk about shortly, Westbrook White Thai, really and truly is a “Lost Beer Review”, but happily it’s one that I was able to find again.

Recently, though, my old pal Tom “The Beer Whisperer” Mulvihill was talking about this beer, and that got me thinking-hadn’t I already tried it? Yes, I had. No review was posted to bruguru.com, though. I did a search of my Facebook postings in Honest Craft Beer Reviews, and there I found that I had indeed had the beer in December of 2013. I found my tasting notes, too.

Here’s what Westbrook says about this beer on their website:

This beer, inspired by the flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine, is a twist on the classic Belgian witbier style. Instead of the traditional coriander and orange peel spicing regimen, we add fresh lemongrass, ginger root, and a dash of Sorachi Ace hops. The result is a wonderfully refreshing ale with notes of lemon candy, citrus fruit, and a slight spiciness from the ginger. Best served at 45˚F in a tulip or wine glass.

Westbrook White Thai has an alcohol content of 5% by volume and 16 IBUs. It runs $10.99 for a six-pack of cans here in the Atlanta area, and I got a full mug pour at Taco Mac for $6. The moderate alcohol content means you can enjoy a few without, um, Thaiing one on.

My mug of Westbrook White Thai arrived a cloudy yellow white color with a solid medium head formation of rocky foam and a spicy nose of pungent ginger and lemons. Taking a sip, the beer is tart with crackery wheat up front and then very bright and spicy with zesty lemon from both the lemongrass and the Sorachi Ace hops. The ginger and an herbal grassy spiciness really come through and dry the beer in the finish.

This was a delicious, quaffable beer and it went perfectly with my hot Buffalo Wings.  You really do get the lemongrass flavors here, and if you’ve never sampled this delightful plant to see how citric and vegetal it is, I encourage you to do so. I did just that while preparing a Thai dish one night long ago and it was an eye opener.

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

 

 



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