Lost Coast Great White

Tasting Notes

The aroma leads with coriander and a faint citrus peel character, backed by a soft, bready wheat base. On the palate, there's a gentle spice note alongside mild tartness and a hint of orange zest, typical of the style's Belgian yeast influence. The body is light to medium, with a hazy, somewhat cloudy texture from unfiltered wheat. The finish is short and dry, leaving a clean, slightly spiced impression.

About the Brewery

Lost Coast Brewery is based in Eureka, California, on the North Coast, and has been operating since 1990. Founded by Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound, it was one of the early craft breweries in the region and remains independently owned. The brewery is best known for accessible, approachable beers distributed widely across the western United States, with Great White being one of their flagship year-round offerings alongside Downtown Brown.

Food Pairings

A bowl of steamed mussels works naturally here because the spice and citrus notes in the beer echo the white wine and herb broth typically used in the dish. A simple chicken salad with citrus vinaigrette mirrors the beer's light acidity without overpowering it. Fresh ceviche pairs well because the mild tartness cuts through the richness of the marinated fish. Soft cheeses like brie or fresh chèvre complement the bready wheat character without competing with the subtle spice.

Style Guide

Witbier is a Belgian-style wheat beer brewed with a significant proportion of unmalted wheat alongside barley malt, and typically spiced with coriander and dried orange peel. It originated in Belgium, most famously associated with the town of Hoegaarden and Pierre Celis's revival of the style in the 1960s after it had nearly disappeared. The result is a hazy, pale, lightly spiced beer with a soft tartness from the wheat and a gentle herbal character that distinguishes it from German hefeweizens, which rely on yeast character alone for their banana and clove notes rather than added spices.