German Ales: Berliner Weisse
Notes: Carbonation is high. Traditionally, some Berliners were brewed or served with fruit, spices or syrups. Some more contemporary versions have been brewed with other ingredients such as darker malts. Any such versions will take on corresponding hues, and may exhibit flavor and aroma attributes typical of such ingredients. When using these guidelines as the basis for evaluating entries at competitions, brewers may be asked to provide supplemental information about entries in this category to allow for accurate evaluation of diverse entries. Competition organizers may create subcategories which reflect groups of entries based on the addition of fruit, spice or specialty malt, or other ingredients or processes. Fruited or flavored entries would be accompanied by a very brief description of the fruit/flavor used by the brewer.
- Color: Straw to pale. These are the lightest of all the German wheat beers.
- Clarity: May appear hazy or cloudy from yeast or chill haze
- Malt Profile: Malt sweetness is absent
- Hop Profile: Not present
- Bitterness: Not present to very low
- Fermentation: Fruity esters are low to medium. Diacetyl should not be present. Brettanomyces character may be absent or present at low to medium levels, and if present may be expressed as horsey, goaty, leathery, phenolic, fruity and/or acidic aromas and flavors. The unique combination of yeast and lactic acid bacteria fermentation yields a beer that is acidic and highly attenuated.
- Body: Very low
- ABV: 2.8%-5.0%
- ABW: 2.2%-4.0%
- IBU: 3-6
- Color (SRM): 2-4
- Color (EBC): 4-8
- Original Gravity: 1.028-1.044
- Original Gravity °P: 7.1-11
- Final Gravity: 1.004-1.006
- Final Gravity °P: 1-1.5
Style info provided entirely or in part by the Brewers Association 2021 beer style guidelines.
5 Berliner Weisse Reviewed
| Beer | Brewery | Rate Avg. | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Festina Pêche | Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales | 7.35 |
|
Hopfentea | Perennial Artisan Ales | 8.07 |
|
Hottenroth Berliner Wesse | The Bruery | 7.00 |
|
Really Rosie | Right Proper Brewing Company - Shaw Brewpub | 9.24 |
|
Unplugged Berliner Weiss | New Glarus Brewing Company | 8.00 |