When I want a refreshing American-made witbier, I instinctively head for Allagash White or Ommegang Witte. What I’ve never understood is why people insist on having an orange slice on the glass. A witbier’s appeal lies in the refreshing balance between coriander, peppery notes and a dry malt. Squeeze an orange wheel in there, and the blunt force of the citrus overwhelms everything else.
(Yes, I know Blue Moon is to blame for the orange-garnish fad, but it’s gotten to the point where some bartenders garnish any Belgian white with fruit, which is an insult to the beer.)
That said, I do like orange flavor in my witbier — especially if the beer is Clown Shoes’ Clementine.
Brewed with clementine essence and sweet orange peel, instead of the bitter orange peel more often found in Belgian witbiers, Clementine has a juicy body that doesn’t get too syrupy, thanks to a malty spice and what tastes like a generous amount of hops. The finish is crisp and dry, which only makes me want another.
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Clown Shoes, which launched in 2010, is based in Massachusetts, where it’s contract-brewed by Mercury Brewing. Its beers have been available in Virginia since 2011 but officially arrived in Maryland and Washington only in mid-June. (There have been sightings over the years, including releases for Total Wines and bottles that made it to bars through the District’s infamous gray market.)
Share this articleShareMost of the beers arriving in the area now are Clown Shoes’ standard-bearers, including Hoppy Feet, a black IPA, and Tramp Stamp, a Belgian IPA. Brand Manager Sean Geary says Washingtonians and Marylanders will see Mangö, a summer kolsch, and Rexx, a bourbon-barrel-aged imperial red ale, this month. In an e-mail, he also promises “ultra-rare, state-specific beer that will only be available in the MD/DC distro area sometime in 2016.” Stay tuned.
— Fritz Hahn
Clown Shoes Beer: www.clownshoesbeer.com. Distributed locally by Kysela Pere et Fils. Suggested retail price $10.99 for a four-pack of 12-ounce bottles.
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