South London brewery Orbit Beers is introducing a Belgian Wit beer (4.9%) into its award-winning core range from 1st February 2024. This will further diversify the current offering that focuses on classic European-style beers with a modern approach: Nico Koln Lager, Ivo Pale Ale, Dead Wax London Porter and what was originally ‘Peel’ Belgian Pale Ale.
The launch of the Belgian Wit follows a year of research and recipe development, and as with all of Orbit Beers’ products, the Wit is unfiltered and uses all-natural ingredients. The result is a soft, hazy wheat beer with a billowing, fluffy white head. Subtle citrus flavours from the dried orange peel and Motueka hops, and a moreish malt sweetness alongside captivating aromas of clove and banana from the Belgian yeast and coriander seeds. A soft mouthfeel and light body make this beer perfect to pair with spicy foods, creamy cheese, fried fish, and specifically Thai and Vietnamese cuisine.
With the brand’s links to independent record labels and vinyl, the new beer will keep the name Peel, named after the famous live studio recordings ‘The Peel Sessions’ that gave hundreds of up-andcoming musicians valuable airtime on the radio. The addition of orange peel in the new recipe and the colour of the bottle label and tap badge is a happy coincidence.
Orbit Beers General Manager Robbie Sykes commented: “At Orbit Beers, we’re committed to quality and always aim to champion the unsung heroes of European brewing culture here in the UK, and the Belgian-style wit is certainly one of them!
We’ve seen some cracking wheat beers come and go over the past few years, and have released a few one-off specials ourselves, such as the 2022 Hefeweizen and our 2023 collaboration with Tap Social ‘All Hands On Zest’. So we’ve seen that there is a demand for them, not only as something a little bit different to now ubiquitous hazy pale ales, but something that is also designed to pair so well with food.
“I’m proud of our team’s ability to balance flavours and ingredients to design beers that go so well with different cuisines. Collaborating with restaurants such as Honest Burgers, Hakata Ramen, and Cue Point LDN over the past year has naturally steered us in the direction of food and beer pairings with restaurants in mind, and I think the Wit will be a great addition to our portfolio that is available all year round.”
As the brand prepares to celebrate its 10th birthday in July 2024, the focus for the team is on what they do best; showcasing European-style beers and their ability to stand the test of time, much like the brewery itself which is still situated on the same site in Walworth, South London where it all began 10 years ago.
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