Weihenstephan and Doemens Institute
Weihenstephan, Germany
Style: Berliner Weisse
Serving Style: 16 oz. Bottle

This beer is one of two beers brewed from historic recipes by Dr. Fritz Briem of the Doemens Institute. It is a very traditional Berliner Weisse, a sour Northern German wheat beer style that is slowly going extinct. Aside from this example, only one of the old Berliner Weisse breweries is still operating in Germany.

Aroma: Lactic sourness dominates with an underlying bready malt.
Appearance: Light golden in color with only the slightest haze. Ample and persistent fluffy white head.
Flavor: Saltine cracker wheat malt flavors blend with white wine and pear fruitiness. Bright lactic acid tartness. As the beer warms the sourness subsides and the wheat comes forward. Pleasant and refreshing all the way through.
Mouthfeel: Effervescent carbonation. Light body, but there is a richness that comes from the wheat.
Overall Impression: Sour, but not excessive. Bright, spritzy, and refreshing. Good balance of wheaty flavors and body with the lactic tartness. I have paired this style with baby field greens salad in a champagne vinaigrette and it is magic.

The other beer from this series is a 13th Century Guit Beer. I highly recommend it.