Foothills Brewing - Good Ship Wit

This witbier from Foothills presents a pale amber-orange color with a moderate cap of white foam and significant haze, as we expect for the style. This traditional Belgian style of wheat beer is typically spiced with coriander and orange peel, but Foothills has upped the ante by adding turmeric, lime, and ginger to the mix, as well. The result is an intriguing aroma offering a complex fruity-spicy interplay atop a lightly toasty wheaty note. On the palate, that wheaty character contributes to a smooth core malt structure which offers a mild toasty note as well as a tangy, lightly tart zing that works well with the special additions. Look for the citrus and ginger contributions to hit upfront and then merge into the spices, the bright but smooth carbonation, and a light touch of hops, which all combined provide plenty of crisp, balancing bite. For pairing options, we’d steer towards lighter fare, such as an Asian-style salad with grilled chicken, fish & chips, mussels, or grilled shrimp with a citrus glaze. Cheers!

Foothills Brewing opened for business in 2005 with a brewpub/restaurant location on Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem, NC. At first, co-owner Jamie Bartholomaus was pretty much alone in the brewhouse, crafting Foothills’ beers from homebrew recipes he had developed while attending the University of Georgia in Athens. These days he’s got a bit more help; strong growth since those early days means Foothills now has about 15 employees just on the brewing side of their business alone.

Bartholomaus got his start in the beer world as a homebrewer, which eventually led to him working for Athens, GA’s now defunct Blind Man Ales. After relocating to North Carolina, he did a stint with the respected Olde Hickory Brewery before jumping into business for himself with Foothills. Since then, business has grown steadily, although the last several years have been quite dramatic. After maxing out their brewpub system, Foothills acquired a new, larger, 48,000 sq. ft. facility a few miles to the southwest, which they put into production at the end of 2011, a year which saw a 46% increase in production compared to the year prior.

In 2011, Foothills also acquired the brewing division of Carolina Beer & Beverage, including their Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood Ales brands and all their brewing equipment. This gave Foothills a critical upgrade: the ability to bottle their beers and package them for retail sales instead of relying solely on draft accounts. It also means more people are now getting a chance to try their excellent brews!

For more info on the brewery and tasting room, their brewpub restaurant, or their myriad year-round, seasonal, and limited-release beers (including their legendary Sexual Chocolate imperial stout, released annually for Valentine’s Day in very limited amounts) visit www.foothillsbrewing.com.