1809 Berliner Style Weisse

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

1 Pint 0.9 oz. Bottle, pours clear pale gold and/or yellow gold with a white head that leaves some lacing, aroma of pilsner malt, pear and apple fruitiness, faint banana wheat aroma, fragrance of old flowers and an aged scent (maybe woody?), yes, this has a sharp sour tartness of grapefruit upon first sip, malt flavor with pears and apples, hints of berry, I noticed a faint strawberry flavor, I did not detect any hops in this drink, bubbly and very dry on the palate, reminded me of how a Belgian Wit feels on the tongue only with more tart and dryness, has a Champagne liveliness in the mouth, I see why this is refered to as a refreshing drink, clean and tart on the palate, could almost pass as a dry white wine, gave me hints of the same, this is a dry wisp of a drink, not as heavy as a white wine, as this beer warms the strength of the tartness tapers off some but is always there.

Bottle: Yellow tinted straw, very cloudy, sediment settling to the bottom, moderate fizzy white head, dies quickly, sparce lacing.   Bright/tart wheat malt aroma.   Minor sourness.   Tart on the tongue, wheaty but also quite fizzy, with a clean crisp finish.   Fairly dry as well.   Moderate body, bubbley mouthfeel.   This one doesn’t need any syrup.   Somewhat reminds me of a lighter Gueuze with more of a wheat malt body.   Enjoyable.

16.9 oz bottle. Clear golden yellow with active carb and a puffy white head. Nose is lemon, mild sour milk and wheat. Tangy with muted carb and a clean wheaty body. Taste is lemon-lime and green banana. Refreshing with restrained tartness.

My Bottom Line:
This complex Berliner Weisse quenches with its osmosis of citrusy tartness, milky bananas and wheaty haystacks. This is a smashing example of a too obscure style.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A ring of foam surrounds the cloudy whitish blond.
-The body is quite nourishing for such a drinkable product.
-Effervescence is lively but comfortable.
-Citrusy tartness is not that of a mouthpuckering lambic, but is present enough to make this even more drinkable.
-Spicy phenols are found in the nose.

Bottle; no date.

500 ml. euro bottle, no freshness date, at least not one I could find, sampled in the widest tumbler glass I own. Sediment is visible in the bottom of the bottle. After looking at the bottle closely, I decided to give it a swirl before I poured. I have no idea if this will make a difference or is a mistake on my part. Unfiltered cloudy appearance, bright golden yellow color with a fast rising white head that settled just as quickly into a thin white sudsy lacing. Quite active carbonation, you can hear it snap and pop when you put your ear to the top of the glass. Tart aromas of a lemon and tangerine blend along with a good deal of malted wheat. I like the wheat malt and sour citric smells this emits, I find it appealing. Refreshingly crisp and dry, the moderate body has an airy lightness due to the carbonation. The first tastes I noticed are bread grains and wheat malts, followed by mildly tart and sour squeezed lemons and orange juiciness. This has a mellow acidity, just enough acidity to wake up the palate. Towards the end a subtle, hidden banana yeast flavor emerges, adding to the sour fruity and white flour wheat bread finish. This would make a great hot weather/lawnmower beer, but even on a cold December night, delightfully refreshing and tasty.

Bottle courtesy of jjpm74: Poured a cloudy and hazy deep yellow color ale with some white hue also noticeable and a huge pure white bubbly head with some good retention and minimal lacing. Aroma consists of wheat malt with some sour notes. Taste consisted of wheat malt with some medium sour notes without much acidity. Full body with some good carbonation. Very well done, easily drinkable and I am just glad somebody tries to brew this though to get style.

Pours a very faint and faded yellow, crystal clear, with a white foamy head that dissipates within a few seconds. Effervescent. Aromas of white wine sour grapes, lemons, wheat, yeast, and lactic notes. Taste is lactic acid, and tart lemon upfront (perfect acidity), followed by some yogurt and wheat, finishing with some under-ripe apples and just the right amount of carbonation. Light bodied and clean in flavor. Slightly drying finish combined with a left over sourness that only lasts for a few seconds. Lovely table beer.

From a 500mL Bottle. Pours a somewhat hazy, pale straw color with a thick finger of fizzy white head that quickly dissipates to a thin, filmy layer. Toasted wheat and baked cornmeal aroma with a tinge of lemon freshness. Yogurty. Some light pinot grigio grape acidity adds some fruity complexities. Light bodied, effervescent carbonation. Sparkling mouthfeel, expceptionally dry. Lots of refreshing wheat flavors, clean and married beautifully with hints of lime and unflavored yogurt. Not too sour, but wonderfully lactic and refreshing. Mild granny smith apples and under-ripe pears create some restrained fruity impressions. Incredibly clean and refreshing; what more can one possibly expect from a Berliner Weisse?