With a coriander kick, Hoegaarden was a witbeir that surprised me a bit. I enjoyed this wheat brew on an evening with friends. At the recommendation of one of those friends, I decided to give Hoegaarden a try.
Initially I found the brew to be a bit too tart for my liking. Unlike Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat, it tasted more like alcohol and less like a fruity beer. The coriander stood out more than anything else, but there was also a hint of orange.
It did compliment my meal that night (which was fried cod), but so did the Leinenkugel. The primary difference between these two brews is the way they were served to me (which does make a difference). The Hoegaarden came in a bottle. The Leinenkugel was served on tap in a pilsner topped with an orange peel.
As the evening wore on, the Hoegaarden held its flavor which, in my opinion, is a good thing. As the beer warmed, the flavor stayed consistent.
I really would like to try Hoegaarden on tap. Something tells me that this would taste much better had it been served to me that way. It isn't a bad brew, but it does take a bit of getting used to.