Where's Bonnie? Belgian Witbier
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Tasting Notes
This witbier delivers the classic hazy, pale pour with a nose built around fresh orange peel, coriander, and a light wheaty breadiness. On the palate expect a gentle tartness from the unmalted wheat alongside soft spice and citrus zest, with any bitterness staying firmly in the background. The body is light to medium with a creamy, almost pillowy texture from the wheat content. The finish is dry and clean, leaving a faint herbal note that lingers without overstaying its welcome.
About the Brewery
Flying Lion Brewing is based in Seattle, Washington, operating out of the Columbia City neighborhood. They are a neighborhood-focused craft brewery with a range that spans approachable lagers and wheat beers alongside more adventurous hop-forward and seasonal offerings. I don't have highly specific details on their founding year or full history, but they have built a steady local following in Seattle's active craft beer scene.
Food Pairings
The citrus and coriander character here works naturally with steamed mussels in a white wine broth, where the spice mirrors the herbs in the pot. A light lemon-dressed arugula and goat cheese salad finds contrast in the beer's gentle tartness without either overpowering the other. Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa are a strong match because the fruit-forward heat bounces off the orange peel notes in the beer. Soft cheeses like brie or a mild chèvre are well-suited here, as the creamy texture in both the cheese and the beer echo each other. Thai dishes with lemongrass and coconut also pair well, since the beer's subtle spice bridges the gap without competing.
Style Guide
Witbier is a Belgian-origin wheat beer style brewed with a significant proportion of unmalted wheat alongside barley malt, then spiced with orange peel and coriander — though individual brewers may vary the spice bill. The style fell largely out of production in Belgium and was revived almost single-handedly by Pierre Celis in the 1960s, eventually reaching mainstream recognition through brands like Hoegaarden. It sits apart from German Weizens by virtue of those added spices and a slightly sharper, more citrus-forward character, while remaining lighter in body and lower in bitterness than most ales. ABV typically runs between 4.5% and 5.5%.