Sly Fox Berliner Weisse

Brewed by Sly Fox Brewhouse
Style: Berliner Weisse
Royersford and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania USA

Draft at Sly Fox Phoenixville on 7/11/09, Pours a hazy straw color with a small white head. Pleasant, though mild, lactic aroma, with some grain and grass in the background. Flavor of grass, grain, mild lemon and very mild tartness. There’s a slight hint of vegetal character as well. Finish is dry, with citrus and very little lactic acid. Although it was very drinkable and refreshing, it was less tart than most berliners I’ve sampled, and the tartness is what draws me to the style.

Brewed in the USA...... On tap at the brewhouse !! Pours a hazy yellow color with a thin white head and some mild carbonation. Aroma of lemons, malts, grass and some bread dough. Taste of citrus notes, lemons and yeast. Mouthfeel was very enjoyable, but i felt there was virtually no sourness on the palate.

On tap at the Phoenixville location. Tapped a light yellow with a slight haze, very little head. The smell was tart, dough, and lactic funk. The flavor was mostly wheat and dough with a slight tartness and a hint of funk. Carbonation was slightly on the low side for the style. Very refreshing. I was thrilled to see another brewery doing this underutilized style and they did a decent job of it too.

This offering is by far the best Berliner I’ve sampled thus far. I am not a huge fan of this style, but thought I’d give it a try anyway. The beer poured a cloudy, light golden color with a thin but bright white head. There was a generous amount of lacing around the glass, as well. The nose was full of natural tones, like grass, earth, hay, hops and flowers. What set this Berliner apart from others I’ve tasted was the body and the lack of overly-tartness. The body was smooth, enjoyable and drinkable. The sour and tart flavors weren’t as present as some others of this style. Maybe it’s not tart or sour enough, according to the definition of what it should be. But that’s why this offering scores so much higher than the others. This beer is rather light in character, but refreshing and crisp.

Draft at P-ville. Pours semi-turbid medium goldish with clingy white head. Nose is lemongrassy hops, pale malt, mild citrus. tastes crisp, with a pale malt and tart flavor and a late hop and citrus burst. Not the tartest Berliner I’ve had, but not bad as far as balance and smoothness.

Poured a hazy golden color with a small, white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of hay, lemon, lacto funk, wheat and toast. Taste of toast, light toffee, lemon, and tart wheat. Not enough tartness for a nice Berliner.

On tap at Pville. Pours a cloudy yellow with smaller bubbly white head that left spotty lacing. Aroma was floral, orange, light sour notes, wheat, bready and candy notes. Flavor of lemon, wheat, sweet tarts, cereal and a little watery.

Draught at Phoenixville: Aroma of lemon, citrus, light fruit, yeast, wheat, and vegetables. Poured pale yellow/straw/corn in color with a small, rocky, white head that slowly disappeared. Very hazy. Opaque. Small white lacing. Flavor is lightly sour. Tastes of herbs, vegetables, lemon, wheat, lactic acid, and yeast. Medium body. Thin, then chalky texture. Average carbonation. Dry, citrus and slight sour finish.