Baeren Iwate Wit is a 4.5% witbier, or Belgian white ale as they call it, from Baeren, based in Iwate, Japan. It’s part of their autumn seasonal line up and can be found in both bottles and on tap across Japan. The name stems from the fact that locally sourced wheat, known as nambu komugi, is used during brewing and this wheat is only found in Iwate. Like all witbiers, Baeren Iwate Wit also contains orange peel and coriander, and as such, is labelled as a happoshu.
Locally sourced wheat went into making this beer.
Baeren Iwate Wit Aroma and Taste
First things first, Baeren Iwate Wit is a bomb of a beer – as soon as I opened it, the beer came spilling out and I managed to rescue some of it into the closest glass to hand. Unbeknownst to me, it was a weizen glass, which made things possibly worse as a one foot head suddenly developed. After managing to settle down and produce something reasonably close to a straw-like golden body of beer, and without the thought of getting frothy white head up my hose, the aroma was distinctly wheaty with some hints of orange zest to it.
Baeren Iwate Wit’s body was more wheaty than I would have like, and also had a slight bananary edge to it than I expected though what yeast was used is unknown. It also had an underlying bitterness to it as well – not as strong as a pale ale but definitely noticeable if you’re not expecting it. It finished off with a lemony edge to it before leaving a wheaty residue on the palate.
Baeren Iwate Wit The Bottom Line
Baeren Iwate Wit came across as a hybrid between a weizen and a witbier – not too sure if that was deliberate or by accident. Either way, it’s drinkable but not eye-opening.
Where to Buy Baeren Iwate Wit
Baeren Iwate Wit can be bought online at the following places:
