Hottenroth Berliner Weisse - The Bruery

psiweaver

Washington

4.88/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

poured out of a fresh growler into a pint glass.

pours a nice hazy light yellow color thats somewhat clear with almost no head.

amazing sharp smell with a great wheat spicyness to it.

this beer is flat out tasty it is amazing how much flavor is crammed into this beer for such a low ABV, its got a nice sharp citrus sour funk to it and yet still has some spice and smoothness from the wheat.

great mouth feel and drink ability extremely refreshing easy to drink and just a flat out tasty beer. Wish I still lived close enough for growler fills.

Serving type: growler

08-05-2010 18:55:41 | More by psiweaver

Willibomb

South Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Love this beer!!

Very unique tart and sour finish, while still maintaining the beer notes that I would expect. This beer has a hazy yellow color with a very thin white head. If you smell it, you can't tell immediately what lies ahead for it has a very grainy and refreshing hop scent.

The drinkability and taste is where this beer really shines. I could drink this beer all day and never feel heavy or due for sugar shock, it ranks right up there with the light beers in refreshingness, and back with the dark beers in satisfaction and depth.

Simply a must try!

Serving type: growler

05-03-2010 22:05:45 | More by Willibomb

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

Thanks to hopdog for supplying this...
Appears actransparent lght gold with a small white head. Lots of carbontion slowly rises.
Smell is of sweet lemon, cracked grain, with some dried maize.
Taste is of the aromas with acidic tartness of lemon juice.
Mouthfeel is stinging of tartness and carbonation with a mouth puckering bite.
Not a whole lot going on with this one. Admittedly, not my favorite style.

Serving type: growler

12-09-2009 00:33:21 | More by weeare138

taylorhamrick

South Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a pale yellow, straw yellow, couldn't be yellower, more yellow than mellow yellow. Very pale, almost colorless, a bit hazy though, but fairly clear, with a nice white head that forms on top. The head dies quickly to nothing, and leaves no lacing from the start. Not bad, but I guess that it actually looks quite average. The smell is nice, though all descriptors I could use would sound kind of disgusting. The first thing you get is burnt garbage, like stale bread, old vegetables, rotting starches (trust me on this, I have roommates that keep potatoes until they rot), with just a bit of tartness underneath it all. This is just right I would say - about the only time that hot garbage could be a good smell. The taste is right on too. Nice and tart, with a good back of pale graininess. Not much sweetness, it doesn't need much, just enough to balance the tartness a bit. So light and refreshing, but so interesting with the sour tastes. This yeast profile is actually a bit familiar to me, it reminds me of wild yeast that I caught in my own house - not overpoweringly sour and tart, no taste a vinegar, just a nice pleasant, slightly chalky tartness. A bit of the garbage comes in with the finish as you swallow the smell down. I'm a fan. The body is thin, of course, what else would you expect at this ABV, which I would say is right on for the style. The tartness fixes it back up. Pretty good, for 3.1. The drinkabiliy is just great. Perfect for a session beer. Light, refreshing, low in ABV, and the taste is just challenging and enjoyable enough that I could drink this a lot. When everyone asks "What beer would you choose if it could only be one for the rest of your life?" (assuming that it wasn't going to be your last by far, I suppose) I could probably be happy with this. So very simple and nice.

Serving type: growler

10-02-2009 00:59:40 | More by taylorhamrick

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured via growler on 8/3/09. Thanks to unclejedi for sending this during the final phase of Growling at the Moon!

A - Poured a hazy pale straw-colored body with two fingers of dense, rocky white foam that receded quickly and disappeared, leaving only traces of lacing. Surprisingly lacking in carbonation bubbles, especially for the style.

S - Mild sour apple tartness up front with some spicy notes, followed by some fruity melon notes and honey sweetness in the back. There is also a faint floral character and some perfumy attributes present.

T - Subtle sour apple notes with a hint of fruity sweetness suggesting melons and honey. Finishes with a toasted grainy character, which complements the tartness quite nicely.

M - Light bodied with a mild syrupy texture, but pretty thin and softly carbonated overall, especially for the style. Minimal pucker on the palate with only a hint of tart sourness.

D - Good representation of the style, though it was a little undercarbonated, probably from the long journey from California. However, I found this to be a well-balanced Berliner Weiss that was refreshing and not overly tart.

Serving type: growler

08-31-2009 22:57:21 | More by ffejherb

AltBock

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is not my first experience with the Berliner Weisse style, but it is however my first one that I've ever had on draught before. This Bruery beer was on tap at Capone's during their Saison promo on 7/30/09. I had it there, but since this beer was so good, I had to take a growler home with me. This review is from the growler version. Served in a tall Spaten Pilsner glass.

When I review a beer, I like to describe the appearance and color first, but I have to mention the taste first. It's so unique that I have to do this way. This beer is tart as hell! It's tartness is stuck between Shock Tarts and one Tear Jerker. The tartness level in this beer reminded me a little bit of the tartness level in Ommegang's Rouge. If you've never had that, that's another super tart beer. It's main and only tart flavor was that of lemons. It wasn't a mix of citrus fruits, it was just tart lemons. Adding to the tartness is the beer's unique yeast strain and a tiny touch of malted wheat at the finish line. As you can tell, the taste was very unique and very tart. Now let's see if I can get back on track.

This tart beer was a cloudy pale lemon yellow color with a good 1 to 1 1/2 inch cotton white head of foam. This head of foam had good retention that left behind a tiny skim of white foam and just a few small white blots of lace. As soon as I twisted off the cap, out comes a super strong aroma of sour and tart lemons. With the strong scent of lemons is that unique farmyard scent that can only come from Brett yeast. Rounding off this potent aroma was a subtle whiff of malted wheat. Sometimes this malted wheat smelled like soggy cereal and sometimes it didn't. I wish I could explain it. Even with the strong taste of tart lemons, this was still a light bodied beer. If you couldn't tell already, this beer has a long lasting lingering aftertaste of tart lemons and that down of the farm taste that comes with the Brett yeast. This is truly a unique and tasty beer. I never thought a Berliner Weisse could be this damn sour, but Bruery did it. And what it was! If you can find this beer on tap at your local bar, consider yourself lucky. Just make sure to pucker up!

Serving type: growler

08-03-2009 04:49:14 | More by AltBock

jmalex

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Let's try a different format for this one.

I purchased this growler last night at Capone's saison event (though obviously this isn't a saison) and am drinking it tonight on a lazy Friday evening.

It pours into my Hopback Amber weizen glass a hazy, pale straw gold, though still a few shades darker than macro-lager color. The head is huge and rocky and initially forms a 2-finger high froth. Eventually it shrinks to a nearly full cap going no further.

The nose presents an acidic tartness coupled with some major citrus (lemon especially). A sweet malt base is a little tricky to pick out, but it's there. Some light floral notes lurk as well, hinting at some herbal additions perhaps.

The first thing that strikes me is the complete dryness of the beer. The body is light with a lower carbonation (surely from repeated fillings and pourings). Tartness is quite prevalent, particularly in the finish, with backup notes of lemon, flowers, and a candy sweetness. Each sip gets me coming back for another, forming an endless cycle.

What a beer for a summer day. But I think the smartest thing I did was choose a 3.1% beer to get a whole half-gallon of. This should be gone in no time.

Serving type: growler

07-31-2009 22:40:12 | More by jmalex

womencantsail

California

4.53/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Hazy pale yellow in color with about one finger of foam that dissipates quickly.

S: Tart lemon, grapes, wheat, and maybe some sour apples.

T: Very tart initially, more sour apple flavor here than I would have thought from the nose, the lemon is definitely there. Nice cereal type taste from the wheat to give it a bit more depth.

M: Very light on the tongue, both in terms of carbonation and body.

D: A solid beer, my favorite so far from The Bruery. This is pretty much my go to beer from them. Just about every time I go to the tasting room, I leave with my growler filled with this.

Serving type: growler

07-25-2009 01:27:23 | More by womencantsail

PEBKAC

New York

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Growler via Whole Foods Bowery for (I want to say) $14.99.

Poured into my Carolus chalice.

The appearance of chill-hazed sparkling apple juice. A spritzy, pasty-colored head sizzles out just like a soda would.

Smell has lots of lemon zest, slight musk, an abundance of sour peaches, with the last remnants of it smelling just a touch doughy. Sour fruit is the main influence here though.

Carbonation is well intact & vibrant after some time sitting in the glass. Thin & sparkling.

For taste, lemon Sour Patch flavor, but Granny Smith tartness. Majorly acidic, making me wince a bit at first. More tart then full-on sour though. Ever so slightly metallic. Again, some peaches, ...& something resembling corn. The finish is dry with dusty bread & oats. I would welcome a touch stronger overall wheat flavor in this, but it is still very nice as is.

I couldn't find any Woodruff syrup locally in time. Having sampled this beer before with some though, I enjoyed the curious shift in taste(cotton candy), & would take it either way. :)

Serving type: growler

03-31-2009 04:20:36 | More by PEBKAC

BeachRez

California

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Picked up a Growler at brewery based only on the name...Hottenroth is my sister-in-law's name as well.
The appearance was a nice crisp golden color with a very nice white head due to the carbination.
The smell was had a hint of citris with something else that the whole night I could not pick out.
This is sour, but not so overpowering that I could not drink it. I am not a far of the sours that just make your lips pucker, but this was very balanced with a light flavoring. VERY smooth.
Not a lot of alcohol to it, so it was something that I drank almost all to myself.
If I did like more of the sour beers, this would be the one I would drink purely based on it's smoothness and balance.

Serving type: growler

03-17-2009 23:26:06 | More by BeachRez

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fancy growler acquired in trade with wetherel (thanks for sending this one my way!).

Poured a lighter and hazy yellow color with a large sized white head. Aromas of wheaties cereal, citrus, musty, yeast, and citrus (lemons). Tastes of lemons, lighter wheatines, and fruity (apples). Light to medium tart and sour finish. Refreshing and enjoyable!

Serving type: growler

02-24-2009 02:05:06 | More by hopdog

Brewsmith

California

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a growler fill from the Bruery. Aroma is yeasty, with a little lemony spicy note. Pale straw, fizzy with a small white head. Sour, tart, dry and carbonated. Light and refreshing. Who needs lemonade? This would be an awesome summer beer. Awesome beer.

Serving type: growler

02-21-2009 23:42:58 | More by Brewsmith

vacax

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Growler from the Bruery. This is the second batch of this beer. The last batch had a nice tartness develop over time, but this one is much more sour to begin. This batch is more "on the mark" for the style and I am interested to see how this one changes over time as well.

A: Very light straw and hazy, a lot of light comes through this one. Head is very lively and luscious then settles down to nothing within a couple minutes.

S: Tart with some limited sour fruitiness.

T: Tart and citric flavors cascade on the center of the tongue and intensify before dissolving. Not quite a fruity flavor, but shares some similar acidic notes. As the tart fades after I swallow, some wheat flavors come through.

M: Light body and a good carbonation goes well with tartness. I love how simple this beer is, yet how beautifully these elements come together.

D: Tart and crisp, it a perfectly sessionable sour. I have drank growlers of this beer and had on tap numerous occasions and cannot get enough of the stuff. I wish the berliner weissbier was a more popular style.

I really enjoy this beer. Fantastic to enjoy almost anytime, or try adding some fruit syrups.

Review updated 10/31/09. Drinking this again, also had some more examples of the style since originally posted. This is the best one I have tasted, bumping up the taste score to reflect this.

Serving type: growler

02-09-2009 03:42:08 | More by vacax

tdm168

North Carolina

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

Thanks to jtd1969 for sharing this bottle with me.

A - bright yellow with a thin, white head

S - tart, straw, lemon

T - same as the nose; solid but light flavor

M - light bodied, well carbonated

This was a nice, light offering from a solid brewery. This was a refreshing, light beer that was a bit tart but still highly drinkable. This would definitely be a great beer to have on hand on a very hot day.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 23:49:14 | More by tdm168

rangerred

Tennessee

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Had on tap.

Pours a nearly clear straw yellow with not much of a head or lacing for that matter.

Aroma of pineapple along with some bread and a little bit of corn.

There is a huge rush of tartness upon the first sip followed by a big rush of corn and cooked beans. It almost reminded me of a baked bean like flavor but it strangely works quite well here. Mouthfeel is nice and light with an extremely dry finish that is appropriate for the style.

Overall, a very impressive Berliner Weiss and one of the better ones I have had. I enjoy it without any syrup as the flavor of the beer alone is wonderful.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2013 01:57:54 | More by rangerred

Heavenisbeer

Georgia

4.14/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy, dirty yellow with floaters--resembles fresh squeezed lemonade. A bleach-white one finger head dies quickly into a thin halo. Great lookin' berliner weisse.

S: Tart lemon seltzer water, with some light funk, and grassy hay notes.

T: Tart alka-seltzer bitterness, with lemon zest, sour hay, and low level barnyard funk. I was hoping for more funk.

M: Light carbonation, tart dryness.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 00:27:01 | More by Heavenisbeer

BrotherDylan

California

4.56/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Fantastically dry and painfully delicious. It invites sip after sip with a mouth stripping sour dryness. So tart, so delicious. Its better than candy ever could be. Its a sadomasochistic dream of a beer. Drink the 750ml to yourself but its better shared with friends. After all, how much fun is sadomasochism by yourself?

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 05:20:41 | More by BrotherDylan

Sterby

Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On-tap at Hempen Hill in Hagerstown, MD. Poured into a 10 ounce chalice.

A - Pours a translucent yellow straw with a white foam that dissipates quickly.
S- Lemon Citrus.
T-Multi-layered flavors including lemon, granny apple, and wheat. The wild yeasts are really doing their thing.
M-A pleasing effervescence that zings the tast buds in the back corners of the mouth.
O- Overall, an incredibly refreshing beer that is easy to drink and allows you to maintain your sobriety.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2013 20:23:04 | More by Sterby

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Served from a 750ml bottle into an Allagash chalice. Served at fridge temps.

Appearance- Cloudy yellow/orange with one finger of thick white head that lasted about a minute. Very nice lacing.

Smell- Lemony/wheaty aromas, white grapes, soft green apple, chardoney-esque, and some light malts.

Taste- Apples and grapes up front mixed with mild cider vinegar and lemon. Wheaty malty sweetness comes through nicely. Very clean tartness. Not very funky at all.

Mouthfeel- Super light and refreshing. High carbonation with mild apple tartness. Extremely drinkable.

Overall- This is my second or third Berliner Weiss and it's the best I've had yet. Super drinkable on a warm day like today. If I could get this regularly in the summer, I'd drink it all day especially at 3.1%.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 16:32:15 | More by Seanniek91

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From: Binny's, IL
Date: 2012 summer
Glass: Tulip

This is a very pleasant beer, fairly pale in color, aroma, and flavor, and could be seen as a good, refreshing, summertime beverage. By pleasant, I mean mostly non-offensive, complicated, or expressively bold: if you were seeking out a malt beverage that was vaguely sour and soda-like, then the Bruery's Hottenroth Berlinerweisse would be your target. Slightly disappointing, given the brewery's reputation for sour styles, this is an easy-drinking Berlinerweisse that could be a gateway sour. Otherwise of interest for aficionados of the style, and then probably only once.

Pours a 4cm tall head of clean, white bubbles that are small in size. Retention is less than a minute, the head fizzing away fairly rapidly, leaving a total absence of foam upon the body of the beer or the sides of the glass. As such, lacing is nonexistent and one is left looking solely at the beer's body once the head has burned through itself. The body is a transparent, pale yellow color, with light making the beer almost appear as clear as water. Carbonation is visible, the streams sparse, but somewhat vigorous in floating to the surface.

Aroma is dry, slightly sweet, a touch grainy, and with a modest hint of underlying soured mash tartness and Lactobacillus presence, like a lightly grainy Champagne with a touch of tart yogurt. Not bad, just a bit underwhelming.

Taste is not particularly sour, more of just a light tartness with additional flavors of unripe apple and wheat malt. Front of palate is primarily sweet, slightly grainy, with very light lemon flavor, but almost no tartness. Mid-palate is lightly sweet with the slightly bready wheat base malt being noticeable, also a touch sour, with faint lemon and yogurt-like flavors. Back of palate is slightly more tart, with light lemon and diluted plain yogurt being the most common associations, along with a light sweetness from the wheat malt and some brighter, sour apple-like esters. Aftertaste is of light yogurt-like tartness, sour apple-like esters, and some slightly bready wheat malt.

Beer is light in body, with carbonation levels of high intensity, resulting in a beer that's fizzy at first, then gradually becoming foamy and smooth on the palate; rather soda or Champagne-like. Closes quite dry, with little residual stickiness on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 23:36:37 | More by falloutsnow

SHODriver

California

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: poured into a chalice to a pale and slightly hazy yellow with a small white head that is quick to fade
S: smells of pale wheat malt, and a bit of lemony tartness
T: tart lemony flavor up front with some slight pale maltyness and a bit of wheat. swallow brings some creamy wheat flavor and a slight cracker like malt flavor
M: light with soft and slightly prickly carbonation and a refreshing finish
O: a great beer for a warm day. the tartness is nice and the flavors are light yet still apparent. very drinkable and very enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 01:40:35 | More by SHODriver

wedge

North Carolina

4.24/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

@ Thirsty Monk

Hazy straw color with an airy, frothy, pure-white head. Sour, lemony funk aroma met with grainy wheat. Tart lemon and light lactic sourness over fresh cereal grain continue into the flavor. Light, dry, and puckering mouthfeel. Just a very refreshing, easy to consume, true-to-style Berliner. Quite enjoyable...

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2013 23:29:00 | More by wedge

RaulMondesi

California

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

Four score and seven years ago... Nope. Today, actually. And Raul gives this sexy little number fours across the board. Straight from the source and into his blood - Raul is feelin' it. Clocking in at 3.1%, it's like driving 120mph and knowing that you can't get caught for speeding. Sleek, sexi, and beautiful. Yep!

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 22:12:37 | More by RaulMondesi

Immortale25

Florida

3.64/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter. No freshness date.

A- Pours a hazy light straw color with a 1/2 inch head that doesn't retain long before disintegrating to a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small thin patch of surface foam. Slippery non-resilient lacing.

S- Pleasant aroma of lemon, peach and a hint of vinegar.

T- Light, unobtrusive citrus flavor that has a nice amount of tartness. Extremely easy to drink as it should be for a beer with this low of an ABV. Notes of lemon, grapefruit and granny smith apple.

M- Dry almost to the point of chalky with a moderate pucker. Low carbonation is unexpected and disappointing. The lightest of bodies.

O- Though I wasn't expecting much from a 3.1% Berliner Weisse, I was at least looking forward to a more lively drink. This is just a limp version of the style. Only the second beer from The Bruery that I found to be less than great. The other was White Oak which was on the other end of the spectrum in terms of alcohol and flavor where there was too much of both.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 02:51:24 | More by Immortale25

kevanb

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a stemless wine glass.

The beer pours a hazy lemon color, very soft yellow, cloudy in texture with a 2 finger high, white head, very fizzy that dissipates immediately and leaves no film or lace. The aroma is of tart, lightly acidic citrus and soft floral tones with a nice punch of wheat and light funk. Similar on the tongue, bright, light citrus with subtle wildflower, tart, funk berry fruit, lots of wheaty grain and light barnyard. The body is light, fizzy yet almost juicy, smooth with a very light and easy finish.

Verdict: A quintessential Berliner Weissbier, the flavors are light, yet impactful and it has a great refreshing finish. The simplicity of this style is executed wonderfully, a really nice beer to share with friends.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 02:34:02 | More by kevanb