1. Hoegaarden Apple Beer
This article explores Hoegaarden Apple beer. Firstly, Hoegaarden is a Belgian-style wheat beer known for its diverse ingredients added during the brewing process, following a non-pure brewing style unlike the German Reinheitsgebot.
Recently, Hoegaarden has introduced a range of flavors, including Original, Botanical, and Rosé. Hoegaarden Apple represents the fourth flavor reviewed. Initially, I thought it might be a type of Radler, but Radler blends lager with other beers, unlike Hoegaarden, which is an ale-style beer from Belgium with apple added as an ingredient.
The can of Hoegaarden Apple features a color scheme reminiscent of green apples with a blue and white background, and “Hoegaarden Apple” is prominently displayed. It has an alcohol content of 4.5% and comes in a 500ml can.
2. Hoegaarden Story
Hoegaarden has its roots in European beer history, originating from monasteries where monks, while praying, believed beer was a divine blessing. The monks endeavored to brew delicious beer for themselves.
Hoegaarden, brewed by monks in Hoegaarden, Belgium, incorporated new brewing methods, including orange peel and coriander seeds. This beer gained fame for its excellent taste and became immensely popular.
Over time, many breweries in the Hoegaarden region closed, but in 1965, Pierre Celis revived the Hoegaarden brewery. In 1985, it was acquired by Interbrew (now ABinbev).
3. Tasting Notes
Hoegaarden Apple has a noticeable carbonation, with foam typical of wheat beers. The aroma combines mild green apple freshness with the familiar scent of Hoegaarden Original, subtly hinting at coriander.
In terms of taste, the sweetness of apple and carbonation dominate. However, there’s a slightly overwhelming coriander note towards the end, which might be off-putting to some. Nevertheless, it’s enjoyable overall.
The flavor leans more towards sweetness than freshness. The inclusion of sugar syrup leaves a syrupy taste in the mouth. A bit more freshness would have been preferable.
4. Product Information
Product Name: Hoegaarden Apple Beer
Food Type: Other alcoholic beverages
Alcohol: 4.5%
Volume: 500ml
Ingredients: Purified water, sweeteners (sugar syrup), malt (imported from Finland, Lithuania, Belgium, etc.), wheat (German), processed fruits and vegetables (concentrated apple juice from Chile), hop pellets, carbon dioxide, flavorings, coriander seeds, orange peel, pectin, enzyme, acidity regulators (3 types), 2 types of nutrients, yeast.
5. Overall Review
In summary, Hoegaarden Apple is a fruit beer showcasing apple and coriander flavors. It’s a drinkable beer if coriander isn’t a concern (personally, I prefer it without coriander).
In my experience with Hoegaarden, flavors other than the original tend to be sweeter. The sweetness doesn’t align with my preference, so I might not repurchase. However, if you enjoy sweet beers and don’t mind coriander, it’s worth trying.
6. Link
The German Beer Purity Law(Reinheitsgebot)