Hottenroth Berliner Weisse - The Bruery

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

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

weatherdog

Illinois

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

This beer was split 3 ways from 75cl bottle

It pours a very cloudy very pale straw, one of the lightest colored beers I've seen. A brilliant white head sits above it.

The smell has a ton of lactic sourness. Tart fruit notes like peaches and white grapes are the other dominating aromas. It is really pleasant and so refreshing and tart.

The taste is much like the smell. A huge wave of mouth puckering tart and sourness is the first thing that hit me. Then a ton of white grape and green apple hits me, reminiscent of a Riesling wine that has gone sour.

The body is very light with such a high carbonation which makes this the ultimate summer refreshment. I don't have a huge familiarity with this style but this one hits all the notes for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 05:20:23 | More by weatherdog

waltersrj

Washington

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

2011 vintage from The Bruery.

Pour: Golden, straw colored body with a prickly white carbonation much like a white wine. The bubbles quickly recede and leave themselves along the glass.

Nose: Crisp granny smith apples, straw, slight lemon zest or rhind, wheat, salt, grass and pear.

Taste: Lemon zest, granny smith apples, wheat, salt and straw to begin. Mid palate the taste is more tart lemons and apple and a finish of pear, grass and mineral.

Mouthfeel: Drying like champagne after an initially prickly white wine body. Crisp.

Overall: My first of this style, this is exceptionally like the BA description. A fantastic beer, I'll enjoy this often over this summer. Absolutely fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 06:36:45 | More by waltersrj

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle. Aroma: Lots of funk, white wine (cat piss), lemon. Weird but nice. Appearance: Milky yellow with small head. It’s far from cute but it is so unusual I kinda like it. Taste: Packed with flavors I can’t believe it. Lots of lemon, brett. This is very dry and very tart. I love it. Palate: Dry, thin Overall: This is the more drinkable and refreshing beer I’ve ever had. This 3% berliner weisse couldn’t have been better executed. If it wasn’t for the price tag and availabilty, that’d be my go to summer beer. Best surprise in a long time.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 21:47:19 | More by Luk13

DovaliHops

California

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

Pours a clear, straw, white-wine-like color with a large white head that disappears slowly. Scent is tart lemon with some wheat and grain in the nose. Nice citrus aromas with bright, tart fruit notes. Taste is initially like a very light wheat beer that lacks in all the clove and coriander flavors (which is a good thing) and is replaced by tart lemon and citrus notes. Pleasant yeast flavors make the tart flavors more mellow than they want to be. Finishes with lovely lemon and wheat flavors. Mouthfeel is EXTREMELY light and airy...perfect for this style in beer. Drinkability is EXTREMELY high. Overall, this is an outstanding beer that represents this style to a tee. With such low ABV and such high drinkability, this beer is perfect for session drinking and hot summer days/nights.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 06:14:53 | More by DovaliHops

schoolboy

Ohio

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

Wow. I have had more sour beers, but never a tart I liked as much as this one. It feels like I am drinking a large glass of wine.

The fruity, yeasty taste is barely tempered by any of the usual beer hops or malt tastes. The yeast is the story, and it is wonderful.

The aftertaste is to die for - I hope to burp for a long time! The very low alcohol is nice for a change, the balance is kept, but it could stand more malt and the resultant kick. This is highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 00:06:43 | More by schoolboy

MisterClean

California

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

On tap at Sac Brew for Bruery night.

A - Pours straw yellow with a 2 fingered white head. Dissipates moderately fast and leaves little lacing.

S - Honey, toffee, brett, with some zinfandel grapes in the background.

T - Honey, toffee, light oak, grapes and brett.

M - Full-bodied, malt dominated and sweet, with a light brett pungency.

D - Great overall. Would seek again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2009 04:40:59 | More by MisterClean

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

HopHead84

California

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

I've had this on tap many times so now it's time to review the bottles. Consumed on 9/13/2009 and poured into my Moonlight pint glass. The beer is light straw golden with a fizzy white head and decent retention.

The nose is grassy, with a lot of lemon. Actually, the bottle has noticeably changed since I first had it a few weeks back. There's a lot more lemon now than before. Brett imparts a musty and tart quality. Notes of wheat are evident, and there's no alcohol at all.

What a flavorful beer. Excellent tart quality and a nice tart and musty Brett character. There's a decided zing of lemon, as well as notes of ripe apples. There's a wheat quality to the beer. The finish is lemon and tart with a nice lactic sourness. Excellent!

The beer is light bodied with a nice high medium level of carbonation a crisp mouthfeel. This is a hell of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2009 05:39:03 | More by HopHead84

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

krisandajt

Pennsylvania

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

This is a beer that I have enjoyed on several occasions with a truly generous BA, mymrnngjckt. It's about time I've sat down and gave this beer its proper review.

Appearance: With an easy pour into my Duvel glass, the first thing I am greeted with is an almost overflowing amount of bone white, bubbly, fluffy head. It's actually interesting to watch, as peaks and crags of the head burst and slowly fade to a thin ring hugging the glass. The beer itself is slightly cloudy, with a soft yellow color.

Smell: The first thing I notice is a subtle tart sourness. Mixed in with that sourness is hints of grass and an almost sour citrusy quality. Not the type of citrusy that can be attributed to hops, but more like lemon zest. I have to admit, however, that what I find most intriguing about the smell is that no one part of it really overpowers another. Each portion of the smell exist in a delicious synergy that, combined, is very enjoyable.

Taste: Taste is clean, crisp, and tart. The grassy tones I picked up in the smell are virtually non-existent, and the sour mingles with the citrusy lemon zest in a tasty dance of awesome. It leaves me with a refreshed feeling, yet is so good I must go back for more.

Mouthfeel: This beer screams light, crisp, and refreshing. The mouthfeel is light, carbonation is very adequate, and it goes down easy with a slight mouth puckering tart. Very enjoyable.

Drinkability: I have to say that this beer is perhaps one of the most drinkable beers I have ever come across. It's light, crisp, has an enjoyable bit of tartness to it, all with a very sessionable 3.1% ABV. I could easily see myself enjoying a couple of bottles of this in an evening. I highly recommend trying this beer if you get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2010 01:15:43 | More by krisandajt

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Grub does the pour and manages to get a nice shot of protein in the glass, which clouds the pale pastel yellow body slightly. A brief eggshell white head produces a champagne finger of foam and fizzles away to nothing. I don't expect retention or lace from this style, so the appearance is too par. A sniff reveals the expected lemon juice, but also some light funk, which has me excited. Definitely some barnyard, musty leather notes in there, which provide a great contrast with the zingy lemon notes.

The flavour is remarkable clean and refreshing. Lemonade with funk more or less nails it. The tartness is moderate, but not overly puckering, and barnyard adds depth and interest to what could otherwise be a one dimensional drink. Light body is quenching, and spot on for the flavour. It seems a bit weak in the tail, but if I'm looking for a refreshing beer I could knock back in huge amounts I'm not really looking for a heavy flavour in the finish.

Its simple, and easy to drink, which is exactly what I'd look for in a Berliner. Beers like this could easily become a summer standby for me, and its really too bad that more examples aren't brewed.

Huge thanks to viggo for bringing this to the epic Bruery tasting. Perhaps my most anticipated beer, and it wasn't a let-down.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2010 13:20:36 | More by bobsy

Cresant

Kentucky

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

Poured this 750 mL brown bottle into a becker glass. No date. The pale body looked a lot like ginger-ale. The bright white head was spritzy and dissolved quickly.

Smell was spicy, ginger-like. Fresh grass. Lightly herbaceous.

Taste was cheek puckering sour. Yummy lemon (sort of like Alka Seltzer cold medicine - in a good way!). Pretty drying. Salty. This seem like the ultimate summer session beer.

Mouthfeel was light bodied. Crisp, with tiny carbonation. Nice. I think this is my first Berliner Weiss.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2010 13:20:10 | More by Cresant

grub

Ontario (Canada)

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

sampled april 10/2010 as part of our giant bruery tasting. Viggo and ritzkiss provided the brews, so thanks to eric and eric!

750ml bottle.

pours hazy super pale yellow, almost white, with a small white head. the head drops fairly fast with only a few spots of lace.

aroma is great. lemony. bit of cider vinegar. a bit spicy. light acidity. orange peel.

taste is great. lemony. cider and malt vinegar. white bread and cracker. touch of orange peel. light vinegar and acidity. very light and refreshing.

mouthfeel is great. super light body. medium-low carbonation level.

drinkability is great. light, well balanced, and super drinkable. a great refreshing summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2010 21:35:05 | More by grub

steadydose

California

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

Poured this beer into a tulip, and was imediately impressed by the three finger thick cap of rocky white foam sitting on top of a clear effervescent pale straw body. Although the head fell pretty quickly, it left a little lacing on the side of the glass.

Aroma delivered a little tartness. The smells was mostly clean, but raw dough and pie crust came to mind as I look for terms to describe what I can smell in this beer.

The taste delivers a clean tart taste. Maybe a little green apple, a little bit of yeastiness, but mostly clean lactic tartness. The bottle says that this was spiked with some Brett, although I don't taste any, I wouldn't mind if the Brett was a little more prominent, perhaps laying a bottle down for a year would allow that to build a little more.

Mouthfeel is spot on for the style with high amounts of carbonation. Hottenroth finishes clean and crisp.

Probably one of the most refreshing beers I have had. At roughly 3%, I could drink a few of these. I would love to have a growler of this on a hot summer day or on the golf course. Amazing brew for sure!

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2010 02:46:34 | More by steadydose

DmanGTR

New York

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

Found this at Total Wine in Bradenton/Sarasota FL.

Poured a lovely light straw yellow, slightly hazy as it's supposed to be, with a 1" white short lived head. Very nicely tart and citrusy in the aroma. Hint of biscuit and a pronounced wheat twang. Flavor is a touch more complex than expected. Lemony tart, touch of yeast, puckering finish with a layer of "barnyard" funk, but this is almost hidden. Crisp and light, this beer is best served chilled (slightly above refrigeration temperature) in a flute or a weizen glass. Outstanding beer. Perfect for Florida weather.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2010 00:19:29 | More by DmanGTR

THECPJ

Delaware

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

Reviewed from notes

Many thanks to jsanford for this one!

A: hazy pale yellow with a 1 finger foamy white head

S: sweet, with a hint of sour, yeasty, bananas

T: bananas, cloves, yeasty, perfect flavor balance, slight sourness to it

M: very mild carbonation, crisp, clean, smooth

O: a delicious treat, ready to enjoy more at anytime!

Cheers!
The CPJ

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 15:03:32 | More by THECPJ

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

phichifiji00

California

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

Appearance: hazy straw color. Pours moderate head. Fades quickly. Minimal lacing.

Smell: barnyard funk, earthy, grassy, lemon zest.

Taste: tart, horseblanket,lemon zest, acidic.

Mouthfeel: light bodied, good carb, crisp, acidic.

Overall: very tasty. The best light beer I've ever had. Very complex. Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 04:15:24 | More by phichifiji00

DrewZ926

New York

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

A- not much to speak of here, a finger of head that fades to nothing. not much visible carbonation, but the clarity is brilliant, and the faded ocre reveals streaks of green.

S- green apple, subtle funk notes, lemon zest

T- superb, a well balanced tart attack and super dry finish. great green tart apple, pungent lemon zest, and a little bit of barnyard even. for such a low ABV, the balance and robustness of flavors is stunning, so well rounded and pronounced.

M- thin but great prickly carbonation, full and crisp.

O- best berliner weiss i've had to date, great balance and flavor profile. also extremely sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 01:17:16 | More by DrewZ926

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

MasterSki

Illinois

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

Had this at Monk's Kettle in San Francisco. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Finger of egg-white foam that dissolves to a solid cap. Hazed straw yellow color with some bubbles. Nothing unusual or super-exciting here - looks like Berliner Weiss!

S - Initially it is a potent blend of lactic sourness, sharp wheat and yeast and lemons, but as it warms it reveals some malted wheat and graham crackery sweetness while muting some of the sharp and tangy flavors.

T - Graham crackery malt sweetness, lemon, light lactic sourness, some tartness and acidity. Ridiculous amount of flavor for a 3.1% beer.

M - Medium-thin, very clean finish with a touch of stickiness. Medium carbonation. Style-appropriate, but nothing special.

D - The drinkability is off the charts with this one - great balance of tart, sour, and sweet elements and huge flavor for such a low ABV brew. Anyone who digs this style should check this one out immediately.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2009 18:10:46 | More by MasterSki

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

Pecorasc

Oregon

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

750ml bottle poured into La Fin Du Monde tulip. Served without syrup.

Pours a hazy, dirty yellow, almost neon with a green background. Perfectly white, aggressive head dissipated quickly, leaving a thin layer of foam with minimal lacing.

Acidic aroma, complemented by hay, yeast, and ginger.

At first, very tart. But I was tricked into thinking it was going to be much more sour than it is. The tartness gives way to an extremely clean and refreshing balanced session beer. This reminds me of washing down oatmeal cookies with lemonade.

Highly carbonated, almost sizzling on the tongue. Light and airy.

Drinkability is consistent with the style. Highly sessionable and at 3.1%, not a problem drinking several.

Great session beer, perfect for many thirst-quenching occasions. Nice to see a brewer take this under appreciated style and hit the nail on the head.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2009 22:16:40 | More by Pecorasc