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Hoegaarden Beer (Belgian Witbier)

Hoegaarden is a cloudy Belgian wheat beer with coriander and orange peel. It sells wherever imported beer is sold.

Updated . Edited by: Ilyass Ben Hakim.

Where to buy

Liquor stores, licensed supermarkets and delivery apps often carry it. Online alcohol sales depend on local law. Some areas allow pickup only.

Professional insight

Beer buyers treat witbier as a fresh style. They want recent dates and cold, dark storage.

  • Spice and citrus aromas fade first in old stock.
  • Haze is normal; it is unfiltered by design.
  • Bottles on sunny shelves can pick up skunky flavors.
  • Strong variants like Grand Cru age differently.

Check the label

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Hoegaarden witbier facts

Style
Belgian witbier
Unfiltered wheat ale.
Spices
Coriander, Curacao orange peel
Plus wheat, hops, yeast and water.
Revived
1966
Pierre Celis restarted the style in Hoegaarden.

The last local white beer brewery closed in 1957. Celis brought the style back a decade later. The brand is now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Types

Hoegaarden variants and listed strength
VariantABVNote
White (Wit Blanche)4.9%The classic
Rosee3%Fruit flavored, sold mainly in Benelux
Grand Cru8.5%Stronger, richer
Forbidden Fruit8.5%Dark and strong

How to use it

  1. 1Chill to fridge temperature.
  2. 2Pour two thirds into a tall glass.
  3. 3Swirl the rest to lift the yeast, then pour it in.
  4. 4Add a lemon or orange slice only if you like.

Storage

  • Store upright in a cool, dark place.
  • Keep bottles out of sunlight and bright shop lights.
  • Drink the classic white well before its best-before date.
  • Do not refreeze or let cans freeze.

Common questions

Why is Hoegaarden cloudy?
It is unfiltered. Wheat proteins and yeast give the haze.
Is Hoegaarden gluten free?
No. It is brewed with wheat and barley malt.
Who owns Hoegaarden now?
Anheuser-Busch InBev. Interbrew, its predecessor, bought the brewery in 1990.