Hottenroth Berliner Weisse - The Bruery

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

callmescraps

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Blue Palms, was intrigued.

Appearance - A couldy light gold. A ton of haze. Very light. Nice rocky head. Almost lemonade looking.

Smell - Ok, so NeroFiddled called it "cat piss". Um, I definitely see where it's coming from. Some tart lemon, but then this musty stinkiness that was very off-putting. Not good and funky, but more like a couch that an alley tom cat had used to mark its' territory.

Taste - Surprisingly better. Very tart. Quite tart. Some citrus and lemon. A hint of funkiness, but that weird mustiness disappeared. Nice and light, but so thin and tart that it's a little tough.

Mouthfeel - On the lighter side, but some nice carbonation.

Drinkability - The tartness and lightness might be great on a hot day, but it's almost so tart that you don't want too much more.

This is a strange style, and I get that. However the smell was simply bad. It reeked. The flavor was much better and pretty nice. I'd like to try some more examples of this style, but I just didn't think it was a great beer, frankly.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2009 18:18:20 | More by callmescraps

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

glid02

Georgia

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

Had on-tap at the Bruery.

Pours a slightly hazy lemon-yellow color with a half-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of lemon rinds with hints of smooth wheat. A hint of musty hops wafts out every now and then.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Mildly tart citrus flavors - mostly lemon but with hints of orange - manage to be pretty smooth. Slightly musty flavors join in as the beer warms but the tart lemon flavor really begins to shine as the beer warms.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with solid carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I drank my glass quickly and could have a few more.

Overall this was a very solid berlinerweiss, and makes me wish that the style were a bit more common. Certainly worth a shot, especially as I hear they will begin bottling this soon.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2009 20:29:37 | More by glid02

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

On tap at Stone. Thanks for driving me there, Carlos, you truly are a wonderful host!

A: Light golden yellow with brilliant clarity, a thick fluffy head that disappears a little quickly

S: Light, bready and tart, pleasantly so. Lactic sourness is present, and unless my nose is deceiving me, there's some brett character too. Great stuff

T: Opens light, bready with a pleasant tartness. Lemony with a slight green apple character. Finishes refreshingly dry

M: Light with a nice dextrinous palate that adds a little body to the tartness and dryness. Crisply carbonated, great finish

D: This is truly quaffable, I need a sixtel!

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2009 13:57:40 | More by DefenCorps

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

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

Douglas14

California

5/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The beer has a super light yellow color...must be pure base malt (barley and wheat, maybe?). Great clarity. Little to no head. The aroma is sour and of cereal. The flavor has such a nice sour kick to it. There is also some corn flavor, but not DMS-like...more cereal and grainy. The carbonation seems high but it's nice in this beer...it helps accent the sourness. At ~3% ABV in addition to being great tasting, this beers drinkability is off the charts.

It has such an unreal clean lactic flavor. No acetobacter/vinegar flavors. Pure clean sourness. There is no doubt in my mind that this is easily my favorite session beer of all time, and one if my absolute favorites of all time.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2009 20:36:26 | More by Douglas14

Nickls

District of Columbia

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

(From notes)

A - Really clear, light green-tinted yellow color and was poured with absolutely no head at all

S - Lemon-lime sweet-sourness and a bit yeasty

T - Lightly tart at first but not as sour as suggested by the aroma. Refreshingly sour, but had some sweetness as well.

M - Very light body, a little dry, and nice snap of carbonation

D - Hugely drinkable as it was refreshing, interesting, and I could scarcely believe the 3.4% abv. Very easy quaffing

Overall, a neat brew and one that would easily be a staple in my diet if I were able to find it more often. Great stuff, and worth a look.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2009 20:13:05 | More by Nickls

Overlord

California

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

Hey now! Why can't I buy sixers of this?

Pours a very pale yellow. Almost no head, just some bubbles. Still manages to have a lively, zesty mouthfeel, though.

Smells like unripe apples and sour grapefruit. Taste is puckering, but not overwhelmingly so. Crisp lemon on the finish.

I really liked this quite a bit. Shame it's so tough to find.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2009 03:18:15 | More by Overlord

tpd975

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another brew sampled at Downtown Johnny Brown's San Diego.

A: Pours a very light clear yellow hue. Little head with lots of fizz.

S: Nice, tart, and funky. Apples dominate with hints of funky Brett.

T: Nice tart kick in the mouth. Under ripe green apples mix with tart grapefruit. Light notes of funky yeast push through as well.

M: Very light, tart, yet drinkable.

D: Good I like this one, will head back for a few more pints before I head home.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2009 16:09:53 | More by tpd975

clearlydiluted

New York

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Johnny Brown's Downtown Bar in San Diego.

appearance : light yellow-orange hue with little head

aroma: light hints of wheat and some fruit

taste: hints of green apple, a light tartness and a slight touch of
brett funk before it proceeds to a nice dry finish

body: light in both body and carbonation

drinkability: would be great for a warm spring day especially at 3.1% abv...too bad I didn't have a growler with me.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2009 15:30:08 | More by clearlydiluted

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

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's early in the morning. Served in a Kasteel glass.

A- Hottenroth is a slighty hazy yellow with spots of light gold, nothing in terms of head except for some skim on the surface, leaving no lace. Some bubble activity on the surface.

S- A bunch of wheat with yeast backing and a nice lemon zest. A touch of grassy scents while all together being rather tart and with a mild citrus appeal. This will open your eyes upon smelling.

T- Tartness up front going into a crisp wheat taste with yeast to boot. More tartness with a lemon flavor taking charge and some mild citrus notes. Not very complex which is on par for the style.

M- A very light bodied brew with a nice tartness all around if your into that kind of thing. I got some carb coming from this. Not something to gulp though as that would be to much.

D- This is the lowest ABV on a beer that I've had in a while, but the tart acidic nature of this brew is two and through for me, even though I could do two a day if it were available. This was perfect after a night of heavy drinking.

Thanks to Patrick for bringing this to philly.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2009 01:57:17 | More by onix1agr

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's... this was beer juice, and at 10:30am it was a very welcome treat.

A: golden straw yellow body. nice haze. bubbly head which quickly diminished.. little lacing

S: Sour lemon citrus notes mostly. Nice farm fresh wheat character. Some tart, earthyness.

T: Lemon citrus up front and in the sour aftertaste. Earthy. Funky. Reminded me of a spring morning with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice while enjoying the sunrise.

M: Light body. Almost mimosa like in feel.

D: I'd be hard pressed to find a session beer that rivals this in taste. At 3.5% you could start your day with this and not feel bad.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2009 19:24:17 | More by callmemickey

mrkrispy

California

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Stone World Gardens.

A brilliant clear yellow, sort of reminds me of Mello Yellow haha. Lots of bubbles, no head or lace to speak of.

A slight funk in the aroma, a very faint sweet and sour I can't place.

Taste is really tart, almost puckering at first. It mellows on the second sip. I only get a mild sourness behind the tartness. Flavors of citrus and light grains. Fairly light body, almost surprising. effervescent. Goes down very well, leaves a fairly clean palate although the tartness sticks around.

An excellent beer that I could have several of.
Stone's menu listed the ABV at a meager 3%, a nice change especially during lunchtime haha.

I look forward to having this again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2009 19:09:16 | More by mrkrispy

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

4.8/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours slightly hazy, ultra-pale yellow, almost dishwatery, with a small, fizzy white head that quickly disappears.

Nose is musty, some horse blanket - wet leather really sticks out. Lemony citrus as well.

Taste is a combination of musty, wet leather and some citric sourness & acidity, with hints of barnyard coming through. Zesty, refreshing, delicious.

Mouthfeel is light, softly fizzy. Greatly adds to the drinkability.

Drinkability is through the roof - low abv, very refreshing. on a hot summer's day, there's no end to how much of this I think I could put down.

Overall, an interesting Berliner Weiss that seems to have just a touch more of a gueuze-like quality to it than is common. Loved it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2009 13:30:34 | More by JohnQVegas

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

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hottenroth, related to David Lee Roth? Pours a slightly hazy lemony yellow hue with no much on head retention and lacing. Ok for style though.

The nose is subtle overall. Some light grainy and wheaty notes but very limited on the sourness. Some lemon and a light yeast note that is closer on the Belgian style than Berliner Weisse. Some pepper notes and a light DMS character but not over bearing.

The taste is closer but still misses the mark for style. The sourness is present but limited. The malt comes out with more noticeable wheaty and pilsner flavor. Some lemon juice notes that leaves a slight citrus finish in the aftertaste. Some minor funk and barnyard notes but subtle.

The body is light but has some lingering sweetness. Overall Berliner Weisses are tough. Not bad, just missing some more sour/lactic quality.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2008 22:03:28 | More by Oxymoron

DoubleJ

California

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

Had this at The Bruery earlier tonight. Well, on to the beer:

Semi-hazy lemon juice yellow in appeaance. The aroma is mild with lemon and other citrus juice flavors, mixed with a tart note. The beer is very light in flavor, almost to the point of being nothing more than water. Similar lemon and orange flavors, some tonic water character brushes against the palate. It has refreshment potential, but the sweet/tart citrus flavors run out of steam towards the end.

I was glad to try it, but this beer ended up being too light for me. (I should also note this was the first beer I had during the night.) Maybe Berliner Weiss' aren't my thing.

UPDATE 6/20: more sour and tart flavors + less tonic water character = better beer. Lemme up the score here.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2008 03:34:55 | More by DoubleJ

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Cat piss and cider. And I am quite familiar with the style and its production, and this is not quite right. It's not horrible (well, unless you think all Berliner-style weisse is horrible...), but it should be better, somehow cleaner, and definitely less cidery. Oddly, it's an incredibly easy beer to make. And this is a little known fact, but because of that, it was actually quite common in the U.S. at one point. I digress, you are kind of at the mercy of the 'unknown' in its production, but you do have some control, and you do have taste buds... it's also an easy beer to blend if something goes astray! I've never had another beer from The Bruery so I can't judge it against anything else they've done. Hopefully what I had was just a bad batch. Oh, I should mention though, that it was well-received by the rest of my party.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2008 00:58:08 | More by NeroFiddled

Halcyondays

California

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

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a translucent golden yellow with a light white head, but good head retention for the style, not a bad look.

S: Wheaty, acidic, lemon zest, citrus fruit, light funk.

T: Lemon juice and acidity on first taste, goes more into the wheat as the taste evolves. Lemon and goat cheese/funk. Interesting, haven't had a lot from this style, but this is a good flavour.

M: Much lighter on the acidity than in Berliner Kindl Weisse, the only other version I have had, found it a bit thin at times, very light-bodied.

D: A nice beer from the Bruery, would be great on a hot day. Not a style I have a lot of experience with, glad to see a local brewer taking on this kind of beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2008 06:53:46 | More by Halcyondays