Berliner Weisse
Berliner Weisse is a pale, very light, tart wheat beer from Berlin. It is low in alcohol, highly carbonated and sharply refreshing, and in Berlin it is traditionally served with a dash of raspberry or woodruff syrup to soften the sourness.
Food pairings
- Oysters
- Goat's cheese
- Fruit salad
Glassware and serving temperature
Wide goblet or bowl glass41 to 46°F (5–8°C)
What it tastes like
Lemon, green apple and a clean lactic tartness, with a light bready wheat flavor and almost no hops or bitterness. It is thin and spritzy. With syrup it becomes sweet-sour and bright red or green.
Where it comes from
Berliner Weisse was the everyday beer of Berlin in the 1800s, when the city had hundreds of breweries making it. Napoleon's troops reportedly called it the champagne of the north. It almost died out in the twentieth century and was revived by craft brewers in Germany and the United States, who often add fruit.
How to serve it
5–8°C in a wide goblet or bowl glass. Syrup is optional and traditional; fruit versions need nothing added.
What to eat with it
Salads, oysters, goat's cheese, fruit and light summer food. It is a beer for a hot afternoon.
