Fu ManBrew by Monday Night Brewing is being evaluated as a Witbier (2015 BJCP Category 24A) with the subtle twist of the added ginger in addition to the typical citrus peel and/or coriander.
Prominent ginger alongside floral hops will greet your nose in the beginning. As the beer begins to open, a bit of wheat and a light apple ester will appear. Throughout your drinking adventure, there will be a floral orange quality that stops well short of being perfumy.
A bit dark for the style, the hazy, dark amber beer features an ivory, rocky head that’s equally prominent as it is persistent.
Supportive, moderate wheat malt flavor with hints of honey open the flavor and balance well with the low-to-medium bitterness. Taking up the slack of the hop bitterness is the medium-plus spicy, peppery phenols that merge well with a similar strength of ginger. The finish has a slight sweetness to it but after that it’s all ginger -- creating a refreshing zing.
Fu ManBrew is a solid offering. The base witbier was well executed and in conjunction with the ginger makes for quite the lovely drinking experience.