Help me find a similar beer in Sydney

March 25, 2013 6:46 PM

I visited New Zealand recently (thanks AskMe for all the help with the itinerary), and happened to try a beer there - Mac's Great White Cloudy Wheat Beer. It seems that it is only available in New Zealand. Is there anything else that might replicate the taste?

I am not a beer person, so I am not sure exactly what to look for or even how to describe what exactly I liked. Most beers do not agree with me but this one did, so I am keen on finding something similar.

Here is the link to the beer company's webpage (can't link directly to the beer because it hits an age verification) with a better description. The text says:

Great White is the Mac's version of a classic Belgian Witbier, with a smorgasbord of flavours too well-stocked to enumerate here. Like the great Belgian Witbiers on which it's based, Mac's Great White is a cloudy cornucopia of flavour. Indeed, it's amazing what the addition of a few wheat malts can do. What do you fancy? Bubblegum, banana and Turkish delight? Check. Rhubarb and custard to follow? Certainly. Raspberry, aniseed, citrus and coriander on the way down? Enjoy.

posted by vidur to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

Of things that might fit the bill genre-wise, I like Avery's White Rascal, and I think Hoegaarden sort of defines the category as far as the mass market is concerned.
posted by brennen at 9:48 PM on March 25, 2013

You might find the local 4 Pines Hefeweizen to your taste.
posted by nomis at 10:02 PM on March 25, 2013

White Rabbit White Ale would be one to take a look at that would be widely available in Sydney.
posted by markr at 10:29 PM on March 25, 2013

Sorry, somehow missed the Sydney bit.
posted by brennen at 12:18 AM on March 26, 2013

Schoefferhofer comes in orange labelled bottles and is delicious.

But Hoegaarden is the OG here.
posted by Sebmojo at 2:55 AM on March 26, 2013

Bavarian hefe Weissbier will also likely suit your interest. Weihenstefen and Paulaner are a few excellent export breweries to look out for, among many others.
you need a big enough glass to pour the entire contents of the pint , and swirl the last half inch in the bottle before empty to get up all the yeasty goodness that has settled out. thats the cloudy bit and a good deal of the fruity complexity.
posted by Abinadab at 2:58 AM on March 26, 2013

I also thought of White Rabbit White Ale.
posted by snorkmaiden at 7:18 AM on March 26, 2013

Response by poster: I went to a Dan Murphy's yesterday and picked up Hoegaarden White Beer. The store guys recommended these two as well:

- Matilda Bay Beez Neez Honey Wheat Beer
- Matilda Bay Redback Wheat Beer

Have only tried the Readback so far, and that's not it. Will try the other two in the coming days. The store guys couldn't help me find the White Rabbit, but they do seem to have it (as per the website, so I am sure I'll find it).

4 Pines Hefeweizen, Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen, Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier and Paulaner Hefe-Weizen are also available and on my list to try.

Thanks, folks.
posted by vidur at 3:46 PM on March 26, 2013