[HopDen]

So last year I made a Belgian Blonde and it was, in friends and family opinions, absolutely delicious. I made it again this year using the exact ingredients, water and processes. It did not taste anywhere near what I made last year. None of that typical belgian nuance that we know from their yeasts. None!!
So, I put my drinking cap on and added a nice thick slice of Cara Cara orange to a glass and the beer is actually tasty. Not what I originally intended but a drinkable bev.

[spurviance]

I had the exact same experience with a Belgian Wit.  First one was terrific, the next two not nearly as good.  Versions 2 & 3 were tart and adding a slice of orange helped a lot. 

[BrewBama]

Do you think the citric acid of the orange is what helped the beer, the flavor of the orange, or a bit of both?


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[Village Taphouse]

I've had this happen where the beer was just lacking something.  I ended up adding hop pellets in a muslin bag and dropping it into the keg.  Clearly better for certain styles over other styles but sometimes when a beer doesn't hit the mark, you have to get resourceful.  I also had a wheat beer that was just boring.  Eventually I would tap a glass and then squeeze and drop a lemon wedge into it... instantly better. 

[Megary]

Great post.  Seems a little fruit is the great equalizer.

I needed lemon or lime wedges in the last American Wheat I made to hide the dill from the Sorachi Ace.  How is that even a hop? 

[HopDen]

You know, as in anything, its all about balance and I do think the orange helped with bringing it back into balance!

[spurviance]

Probably why Blue Moon is served with a slice of orange

[BrewBama]

Probably why Blue Moon is served with a slice of orange

I believe the coriander and citric acid from orange peel were preservation techniques the Belgian brewers used in the past.  The taste has grown into an integral part of the style.