Lightpoint by New Holland Brewing Co. is billed as a "Functional White Ale" and was judged against BJCP category 24A, Witbier, a fantastic style of Belgian wheat beer typically exhibiting wheat character, aromatic perfuminess and spicing from coriander and dried orange peel -- often both bitter and sweet variants -- and a complex but light ferment character of modest peppery-phenol and a lilting tartness. At least this was the profile after its reemergence from the grave as envisioned by Pierre Celis, former brewer at Hoegaarden. Over the years the style has come to take on more diverse and pedestrian variants, including relatively sweet, low bitter orange-flavored ale.

I am presented with the beer served in a witbier glass at 43^o F. The beer's color is a light gold bordering on deep straw, with a faint haze capped off by a thick and creamy off-white head that exhibits moderate foam stand. Gas level appears high. 

The aroma is light and dominated by a sweet orange (navel?) and faint orange peel character above a soft white-bread note. An additional aromatic angle is noted -- almost woody, but clean and dry, and definitely not like coriander. A very faint malt sweetness emerges as the beer warms slightly. No hops and decidedly dry in character.

The flavor profile has a light bready malt front with a surge of orange and orange peel flavor dominating the middle, again juxtaposed with an elusive dry-woody note that is quite pleasant, and what does seem to be a bright citrus-spice angle from coriander. Bitterness is low vice apparent perceived bitterness from citrus zest/oil.The late palate has a long and lingering orange peel note and provides a nice flavor and lasting bitterness unlike that derived from hop resins. The finish is a hair short of bone-dry and very light and thin. Speaking of mouthfeel, it is an interesting contrast in that the beer has some viscous texture but still comes off as watery and thin in body. Intrigued by the beer's modest but still very interesting finish, I tested the final gravity with a precision finishing hydrometer and discovered at least some of the puzzle: 0.2^oP (~1.001). While the hyperattenuation does match the dryness, the beer retains a light wheat malt structure that balances against the relatively assertive orange-bitter notes. 

Overall, while somewhat of a far cry from ur-type renditions of the style, this beer is very flavorful while being light bodied, somewhat crisp and quite refreshing. Call it something like a brut wit and you wouldn't be far off. I really like it for what it is. The last couple days here have been harbingers of the Central Valley Summer that is looming on the horizon, with highs in the 90^o F range. I also actually have some lawn to mow and three more cans at my disposal. I think you get the picture.