1809 Berliner Style Weisse

Brewed by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Style: Berliner Weisse
Freising, Oberbayern, Germany

Bottle: Poured at J.K. O’Donnell’s...very pleasant surprise seeing this on the menu. Cloudy yellow pour with a fluffy white head. Light malted wheat, subtle candy sugar, biscuit and spice in the nose with the lactic notes rounding it out. Wow...first taste on this was incredible, very crisp and champagne-like with huge amounts of sour-y goodness. Wheat and lemongrass flavors also noted.

Finally! A chance to try this ultra-rare beer style without catching a plane to Berlin (although I desperately want to do that too.) From what I have read, this is an excellent example of the style, which I definitely drank without any artificial syrup. Poured into a short, stemless, rocks-style glass, there is little head, and a very pale yet hazy gold and distinctive blonde, pineapple juice-like color. The aroma is very cedary, slightly oaky, and full of lactic acid and a vinous sour apricot tinge that stings the nostrils with a very yeasty and complex odor of pineapple and earthy, bacterial farmhouse funk that is remniscent of unblended lambic. The first sip produces a mouthfeel that is very light, delicate, and estery. The taste is very crisp and carbonated with apricot, grapefruit, and a bit of sour apple. Ultra soft, lively, and refreshing beyond words. This is THE ULTIMATE summer refresher. Further sips bring cider apples, yogurt, and a pleasant sourness, that is by no means overwhelming. (I simply couldn’t bring myself to ruin this beer mit schuss-(with syrup.) There is a very short, quick, cidery finish, leaving the mouth refreshed and rejuvenated long after the beer is finished. Amazing stuff!

Pours cloudy dirty yellow with a one inch effervescent white head. Aroma is tangy sour notes of grape skins and apple with bit of citrusy lemon zest. Flavor is initially sharply bitter/sour/citrusy and then mellows to the lightly sour wheat flavor with a nice tangy dry finish. Ample carbonation and lively body. Exceedingly drinkable though a tad stronger w/ more body than some other examples.

Bottled. Poured cloudy pale yellow, with a foamy white head. Armoa was yeasty, sour, wet blanket. Flavor was crisp, clean, citrusy. A tart, lemon cookie kind of taste. Dry, almost astringent finish.

Poured into a pint glass. Hazy gold with a large white head. Expectedly fizzy due to the sourness. Aroma is wheaty banana with a meringue note. Flavor is raw tart lemonade with wheaty maltiness and banana esters, some apple, a touch of clove. Very drinkable and crisp.

While pushing the ABV for a Berliner Weisse, this is still one of my favorites for the style. Beautiful fruity sour character on the nose that carries through to the taste. Gentle sour character in the taste that is perfectly balanced by tropical fruits from the yeast. Very light tartness. Exceedingly drinkable. Nice carbonation level. One of the most complex in the style that I have had and just a beautiful beer.

50 cl bottle. Poured a hazy golden yellow in color with a medium sized white head. Aroma of wheat, funky yeast, and light citrus. Fizzy carbonated body with flavors of yeast, mild citrus, wheat, and little tart funkiness. Very nice Berliner Weisse.

Not much aroma. A little yeasty. Looks like a hefeweizen. A huge initial head that disappears quickly. A sourness, but nowhere near the Berliner KindlWeisse. I kind of like it though - the sourness is stronger up front.