Wittekerke

Tasting Notes

The aroma opens with wheat, coriander, and a soft citrus note — orange peel is the most recognizable thread. On the palate it's light-bodied with a gentle tartness from the unmalted wheat, mild spice, and a faint yeasty haze that keeps things rounded. Bitterness is low; the finish is short and slightly dry with lingering citrus. It drinks close to the classic Belgian witbier template without much deviation.

About the Brewery

Bavik is a family-run Belgian brewery based in Bavikhove, in the West Flanders region. Founded in 1894, the brewery has stayed independent through multiple generations and is best known domestically for its lager-style Bavik Pils alongside this witbier. It occupies a mid-tier position in the Belgian market — not as internationally prominent as Duvel or AB InBev's stable, but well-regarded for consistent, approachable beers across a range of styles.

Food Pairings

Mussels steamed with white wine and herbs are a natural match because the beer's wheat body and citrus character mirror the briny, herbaceous cooking liquid. Lemon-dressed grilled chicken works well since the coriander spice in the beer picks up the citrus in the marinade. A light goat cheese salad with vinaigrette finds a complementary tang in the wheat tartness. Shrimp tacos with fresh slaw also pair cleanly, as the low bitterness and soft spice don't compete with delicate seafood.

Style Guide

Witbier is a Belgian wheat beer brewed with a significant proportion of unmalted wheat alongside barley malt, then spiced — traditionally with coriander and dried orange peel, a recipe codified by Pierre Celis when he revived the style in Hoegaarden in the 1960s. It typically falls between 4.5% and 5.5% ABV and pours hazy from residual yeast. Compared to German hefeweizen, witbier is spiced rather than relying on yeast-derived banana and clove phenolics, giving it a drier, more citrus-forward character with a lighter body.