Hottenroth Berliner Weisse - The Bruery

bs870621345

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had one as a warm up for PtY today

Pours a clear yellow with a half inch of white head. Fades to a collar and leaves a little bit of lacing down the glass.

Smells like lemons, acid, and spice. Can't really pick out the spice, but its not over powering, yet pleasant.

Taste follows smell, lemons and acid up front, spice- seemingly black pepperish- and a little watery on the end.

Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated and light, extremely refreshing.

Drinkability is fantastic! Could have had a few of these, but wanted to save my money/alcohol intake for PtY.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2011 03:55:24 | More by bs870621345

Sideswipe

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At The Bruery.

The beer pours a clear golden yellow color with a finger of snow white foam. Smells of sweet esters and lemon rind. The taste is lemon zest, sweet esters and chardonnay. Very nice. The beer is light bodied with a high level of carbonation. I'm really enjoying this one. It's very refreshing and the white wine characteristics that I'm getting lend a complexity to the beer that is very enjoyable. This would be a great beer to have on a hot summer day. it's great on a cold, rainy winter one today! I'll be seeking this out in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 04:10:52 | More by Sideswipe

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright yellow, super hazy beer. Not much of a head on this one, but I don't think its supposed to. Carbonation was just fine despite what might not look like it at first glance to the top of your beer. Aroma was decent, lemon heavy.

Taste, very tart, even more so when you swirled the yeast into the glass. Not quite puckering, but definitely sour and lemony, a whole lot of flavor packed into a 3% beer, I like it. Definitely going to age the other bottle until summer, seems like an awesome summer beer.

Wouldn't call it overly complex, there's just lots of tart lemony sourness without hardly any sugar or sweetness to it. No hop flavor. Bitterness, but not the kind a hophead would be used to. Challenging to novice hopheads who haven't branched out yet.

Drinkability would be perfect if this stuff wasn't $8 a bottle.

EDIT: Had the new batch on tap, even more tart, jeez, I love this beer, can't wait to try it laying around the pool this summer.

EDIT2: Had a growler of it on Memorial Day while 4wheeling and cave spelunking. Just awesome. This beer keeps rising.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 05:03:55 | More by Beerandraiderfan

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Eulogy Belgian Tavern, Olde City, during their sour week.

Poured into a goblet, a cloudy,hazy, grassy yellow color, with a big foamy white head with nice lacing throughtout.

Sour, funky sour. The most sour beer I've ever tasted. Funky sour apples perhaps.

The mouthfeel was very sharp and crisp with a very tart finish.

Drinkable, but I didn't order a second...

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2010 18:32:34 | More by InspectorBob

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes. Fortunate to have had this on tap many times at Rustico when they were having a Bruery glassware event. Free tulips + filling them with Hottenroth = a large tulip collection.

Pours a very light grassy color with a bit of an orange tint to it. Small, tight white head and some visible carbonation. The nose brings slightly-tart wheat as well as some faint fruit flavors with a bit of peach and green apple.

The taste is lightly tart with a nice wheat base. Some lighter stone fruits and green apple come through with a bit of sourness. Light mouthfeel with very nice sourness levels and a good overall carbonation base. Drinks incredibly well either plain or with the woodruff.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 01:56:05 | More by Thorpe429

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On-tap at the tasting room.

Pours up much more substantial than I would expect for the ABV. Hazy straw with an inch of white head that recedes to a thin cap and leaves bits of lace.

Tart and very pleasant with light, crackery wheat, crisp dryness, mild fruit, a touch of rustic earth, and a firm line of lemony tartness running through it before the creamier-than-expected finish.

All in all, this is probably the single most refreshing beer I've ever consumed. My first of the style so I don't have much of a baseline for rating, but it's hard to imagine a Berliner Weiss that can be much better than Hottenroth.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2010 15:59:01 | More by bump8628

metter98

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy light yellow in color, almost resembling lemonade. It poured with a thin white head that quickly disappeared into a thin layer of bubbles on the surface. A very light amount of carbonation is visible.
S: There is a very light aroma with some sourness; the nose resembles the smell of a dry white wine.
T: The overall taste is rather sour and has some tart fruity flavors.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate. There is some dryness in the finish that leaves you wanting to take another sip.
D: If you like sourness, the beer is very easy to drink, although you could add some fruit syrup to make it a little more palate. The beer is very light and refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2010 01:46:44 | More by metter98

Lunch

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia, MD into a 12oz. snifter (06/07/2010).

A: Pours an almost neon yellow with an orange hue. Capped with about a finger of bright white head.

S: Aroma is a little tart with some lemon and a bit of funk. There a hint of apple as well.

T: Quite refreshing and the right amount of tartness for me. Lemon and some funk dominate the flavor profile with some apple, grain, candy sugar and some pale malt.

M: A light and crisp mouthfeel and appropriate carbonation.

D: Being that it is only 3.1%, this is a beverage that one can have quite a few of.

Overall this beer was an excellent departure from what I usually drink and I found it to be a great beer. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2010 15:25:57 | More by Lunch

jgasparine

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured with a very thin white head, which quickly dissipated; no real lacing. The body was a cloudy pale yellow color; little bits of visible carbonation.

S- The aroma is citrus; a little lactic tart aromas over husky grain. A very mild nose overall.

T- On the palate it starts out quite neutral, and then some lactic sourness kicks in moderate to strong on the midpalate. As the sourness begins to fade, some nutty/husky grain emerges and linger on the palate long into the finish. Relatively close to style.

M- Thin body. Little bit of texture from perhaps the wheat in the beverage. Spritzy carbonation.

D- Super quaffable. Super refreshing. Drink it straight on a hot summer day. I would definitely covet a 750ml bottle for myself in a sitting!

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2010 23:50:30 | More by jgasparine

jdense

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Beer Mongers PDX 5/9/2010.

Straw yellow hazy body, big finger rocky white head, slow dissipation, decent lacing, a nice looking beer. Nose is dry, lemony, grapefruit, not much hops. Taste is lemony wheat with dry finish, quite tart. Medium mouthfeel with a lip smacking finish. A great summer quaffer, very sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2010 14:58:05 | More by jdense

Krevee

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Tried this on-tap at the Bruery Tasting room this afternoon.

A - This was poured for me into a Bruery tulip. It pours a very light hazy yellow, with maybe a tinge of green in it. Very interesting color. Had about a one inch head to start and went down at a fairly average pace.

S - Has a musty sour smell as you would expect from this sort of sour beer. Along with some notes of grain and citrus.

T - The taste at the beginning is mild wheat along with citrus and tangy flavors. On the back end of the beer it's more sour and the citrus flavor continues.

M - Its a very thin beer but for what this beer is doing that is a good quality. Also has a good amount of carbonation.

D - Great drinkability this a beer that is not overpowering but has great very subtle flavor. It seems like a great spring/summer beer to sip on, on a nice evening. It has a nice amount of sour but is not overwhelming. I could drink a lot of this in a night which I think it great.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2010 02:23:25 | More by Krevee

femALEist

California

3.6/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It's a Berliner Weissbier and only 3.10%. It poured a bright yellow. It smelled a bit funky, Brett, not too tart but with a bit of lemon. It tasted like sour lemons, green apples then turns to yeast. It is very light and I learned from some fabulous East Bayers that it is meant to be drunk with sweeten syrups, which I would love to try sometime.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2010 20:48:13 | More by femALEist

slaintemhor

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap in August 2009 at Bailey's Taproom in Portland, Oregon. The colour was a very light straw with thin head. The aroma was redolent of tangy citrus and yeast. On the palate...WOW! Quite sour! More so than I expected for a Berliner weisse. Tangy and citrusy with a very refreshing quick finish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2010 04:04:10 | More by slaintemhor

Schmaltzy

California

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Reserve Society Event, poured into wine tasting glass.

A- 2+ fingers of nice pillowy foam which quickly fell leaving clumps of lacing. Beer was a light yeallow color and mostly clear with a little hazy wheat to it.

S- Loads of Lemon with some green apples the only sweetness seems to come from the bready yeast and wheat.

T- Similar to the smell, sour lemon and apple with nice wheat and barnyard flavors finishes with a light pepper flavor. Very light.

M- Very light beer, at 3% alcohol, nice carbonation throughout and thin almost watery.

D- Pretty easy to drink and at 3% alcohol it is a definate session beer and a replacement to any light beer out on the market. You can mix this with different flavored syrups and make it taste even better also, just very easy drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2010 18:01:26 | More by Schmaltzy

nickd717

California

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Tap at Toronado's 22nd Anniversary, then again at the Bruery twice.

Cloudy yellow color with a small white head.

Aroma tart, lemony and bretty. Very pleasant and good for the style, not overly tart.

Flavor is wheat, bretty yeast, lemon, and grain. Average tartness for the style. They actually added flavored syrups to this at the Bruery if you wanted it, and I tried it with rose syrup (I know, I might as well just prance around in a tutu, right?). This is the traditional way people in Berlin drank this style, and it was good that way. I could take or leave the syrup. Either way, solid beer.

Palate is fairly light, dry, and refreshing. Drinkability is exceptionally high. Awesome for the style and really good overall. Well done again, Patrick!

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2010 00:40:18 | More by nickd717

azagthoth

California

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I received this pour from the Bruery's tap line in their tasting room.

Appearance - A light hued pale straw-straw in color. The befitting level of carbonation deservedly awarded a 1 inch head to this brew. The layout of this beer hinted at a humble drinking experience which is precisely what I was in for!

Smell - Zesty indications of lemon and pale bread made way through my nose. In addition, the wheat presented itself accordingly as to leave this unadorned ale properly suited for its style.

Taste - Tart, first off! The omnipresent brettanomyces was well observed as I reminisced on some of the finer sour ales that I've consumed. The taste isn't convoluted, in the sense that the wheat and lemon bind nicely together to create outstanding freshness.

Mouthfeel - Sour initially, however the lemon and grainy components coalesce to make this one hell of a revitalizing brew! Lighter in body, but rather an irrelevant recollection as there is more than enough in the mouth for this berliner weisse to hold its own while ranking in at 3.1% ABV.

Drinkability - Commendable drinkability! This should be the archetype session beer for any occasion, although one might find it most refreshing during the warmer months. The diminutive volume of alcohol levitates the drinkability, too! I could see Hottenroth as a portal into the craft radius.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2009 00:28:48 | More by azagthoth

augustgarage

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Blue Palms in Hollywood. Served in a generic tulip glass.

Pale lemon/mustard body, rather murky overall. Very large active head at first, but as a draft-pour it was served with a finger on top that very rapidly recedes to a light dusting of ivory, then finally nothing whatsoever. Glows beautifully in natural light (i.e. not in this dimly lit bar).

Lemon is first and foremost in the aroma, though there is some suggestion of sour apple, wheat, and maybe iodine. Not really getting any Brett. notes or anything floral.

This tastes almost like a citrus-based cider: very crisp, with a sharp tart palate entry; filled out with a lactic flavor leading into a white bread finish. This reminds me very much of the edible stems of Bermuda Buttercup (aka sourgrass or more properly, Oxalis).

Very light bodied, but carbonation seems too low to me.

A refreshing sour beverage, which would serve as a nice base for a good quality flavored syrup (e.g. Monin) - a fairly successful example of a neglected style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2009 05:13:09 | More by augustgarage

bulletrain76

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught at The Bruery's anniversary. Lightly hazy pale straw with a white head. Funky, tart, wheaty aroma with some apple. The flavor is mostly crisp lemony tartness with some wheat grain, a light acetic touch and tart pear and apple. Not intensely acidic, but I do have a high threshold for sour. Light bodied with crisp, ample carbonation. Great light and refreshing beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2009 10:00:04 | More by bulletrain76

Trappissed

California

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Toronado:

Served to me in a tulip. First time having this style of beer. Smelled kind of bad actually. Like cat piss and barnyard funk. Luckily the taste was stellar. Nice lemony sourness and acidity. It could almost be lemonade. Would definitely get again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2009 20:25:56 | More by Trappissed

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On at Bailey's Taproom, served in a 10 oz. glass. With summer winding down, seemed like a good beer to enjoy on a Monday afternoon.

A: The typical pale golden pour, lightly hazy. Small carbonation rises throughout and at varying speeds; somehow I'm reminded of The Matrix. Nearly a finger of white foam, falling to a clinging ring, leaving no lace.

S: Light honey-sweetened malt, blanketed by tart funk. Musty wet hay, dirty. Yet appealing, somehow...

T: Nice! Could stop the review right there...but I won't. Yes, there's the requisite lemony tartness, but this has more lime and tangy citrus (pink grapefruit?). Beyond the doughy yeast and spiced wheat, there are deeper and more curious spice notes (nutmeg? allspice?). Packed with flavor, why anyone might choose to denigrate this by adding a traditional syrup is beyond me.

M: Vibrant and crisp, one of the most 'refreshing' feels I recall. The effervescence doesn't get overly prickly, nor does the lasting tartness become overly pucker-inducing. Just a beautifully light and clean-finishing treat.

D: Toyed with a lower score, but really wasn't sure why I'd give LESS than a 5; drinkability is just about perfect. Intensely flavorful + terrific feel + minute ABV = 'outstanding' for my tastes. Highly recommended and one I plan to have again ASAP. Like right now...Geoff, can I get another?

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2009 00:39:25 | More by msubulldog25

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Teresa's Next Door

A-Pours a clear light gold with no real head or lacing.

S-Grassy and slightly sour with a bit of funkiness as well.

T-Medium sourness dominates the front, then a bit wheaty and some light grassy hops in the finish.

M-Light bodied and crisp.

D-Perfect refresher on a day with lots of great beers to try.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2009 19:43:33 | More by sholland119

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap @ Teresa's Next Door Beer Geek Brunch. Served chilled in a goblet.

A - Pale golden w/ no head, a ring of tiny beads forms. The clarity is lightly hazed w/ visible carbonation

S - Mild lemony and lactic sour aroma w/ a white grape sweet juice note

M - Sour at first w/ mild acidity and a very fruity sour juiciness w/ lots of carbonation. A mild spiced middle and dry clean finish

T - A crisp, juicy and sour acidic flavor w/ an apple-like tartness w/ mild spiciness in the sips after the initial jolt w/ a slight white grape note mild acidity in the second tastes similar to gewurtztraminer w/ a spiced hint of wheat and mild sweet note w/ light pepper and gentle green apple which carries into the finish

D - Very good example of a Berliner IMO, I am very glad I tried it on tap after only having a sample of a bottle at EBF earlier this year. The mild abv makes for a drinkable sour, a good way to start brunch.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2009 19:32:44 | More by Slatetank

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Teresa's next door this past Sunday.

The beer pours a light gold color with minimal head retention and lacing. On the nose, this beer is quite tart, but with mouthwatering acidity. I get some lemon-lime aromas, which are replicated on the palate. The beer is just so light and easy to drink, and is just a joy to drink. It's a bit more sour and tart then I've ever come across in a berliner weisse previously, but is still very thirst quenching and delicious. Drinkability is exceptional. What a treat!

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2009 12:53:27 | More by johnmichaelsen

botham

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

on tap at the Linkery in San Diego. pours a cloudy straw color with three fingers of tight pillowy white head. great retention and no lacings.

aroma is of funk and wet hay mainly with a subtle sour/sweet note that fades behind the funk. little else.

taste is very crisp and fresh on the palate with less funk and only a touch of sweet yeast on the back end. very well put together and refreshing. the light funk gives way to a subtle sour note on the back of the palate. excellent.

mouthfeel is light bodied, lightly effervescent and so crisp it cleanses the palate. the texture is lightly tart after a bit of warming.

drinkability is excellent. perfectly proportioned with a crisp, refreshing profile. an excellent summer beer with the perfect balance of funk and sourness. cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2009 13:44:44 | More by botham

ccrida

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draught at Belmont Station's Pucker Fest. Served in a nonic pint, Hottenroth is a hazy pale yellow with a tight, white head that left no lace.

Smell is mix of sugar and wheat sourness, very nice.

Taste is great, clean wheat graininess with a light tartness, very refreshing. One of the better examples of the style I had from a US brewery.

Mouthfeel is very light but not watery.

Drinkability is very high. The menu said they sold this by the boot, which I was ready to split with my friend, but they had all broke. It would have gone down easily though! Nice lemon wheat taste, clean and light, yummy.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2009 23:49:45 | More by ccrida