Look, I’m not a beer expert, but when a bottle of Vedett Extra White beer arrived in the post it would have been churlish of me not to try it.
I like beer; but I can’t wax lyrical about why I like beer. I’ll leave it to other people to do that.
For that reason I’ll commend the Extra White to you because it has won the title of Best Wheat Beer in the inaugural The Beer Awards. As I’ve said, I like beer and I like this beer. Though I prefer another beer – and more of that in a few words’ time.
Here’s what you need to know.
Vedett Extra White:
Judges said of the Belgian beer (4.7% abv) that the “citrus zest and a touch of coriander make this beer the ultimate refreshment”. Technical notes tell me that it contains wheat, barley, hops, coriander and dried Spanish orange peel. The palate is crisp and “punctuated with an orange and lemon-like zest”.
The trophy has come at a good time for Vedett as all three beer styles have seen strong sales' increases in the past 2-3 years. Here's the other two beers which arrived in the post.
Vedett Extra Blond:
Like the other beers, the Extra Blond (5% abv) has a quirky, retro label.
People can personalise their own bottles by uploading images and messages on the back labels via Vedett’s website. The beer has a smooth malt character with notes of vanilla and fruit.
Vedett Extra Ordinary India Pale Ale:
We – as in me and the Other Half – preferred this IPA (5.5% abv) to the Extra Blond and the Extra White. It was very refreshing after a long. long day, with interesting aromas of citrus alongside a touch of bitterness; and when we tasted, those characteristics were mirrored, together with a silkiness of caramel. It’s definitely a beer I’ll look out for again.
Vedett Extra Blond (RRP £1.70) can be found at Morrisons and select Marks & Spencer and Co-op stores. Vedett Extra White (RRP £1.65) and Vedett Extra Ordinary IPA (RRP £1.99) are stocked in a few beer independent shops, including Beer Merchants (all are 330ml).
- The IWSC group organises The Beer Awards which were launched at the Craft Beer Rising event in London.
- Find out more about The Beer Awards here
- For more details on Vedett pop over to their website.
- The 2017 Craft Beer Rising event takes place in February. More details here.
- A public relations team sent me these beers as samples – I never guarantee I’ll write about drinks I receive unsolicited.