Hottenroth Berliner Weisse - The Bruery

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

ngeunit1

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Clear golden-yellow with a thin finger of bubbly white head. Fades quickly.

S - Wheat and grainy malts, lots of funky yeast, tartness, acidity, tart stone fruit, farmhouse smells, lemon zest.

T - Wheat and other grainy malts, lots of funky and lightly sour yeasts, lemon zest, tart stone fruit, acidity, farmhouse characters.

M - Medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a tart and funky finish.

D - Great berliner weiss. Great balance with good funky yeast character.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 05:41:58 | More by ngeunit1

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

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

750ml bottle into a tall tulip

A: Very nice looking beer - pours a transparent light golden color with active carbonation throughout. Two fingers of fluffy head forms. Retention is very good.

S: Lemon tartness upfront with a good dose of wheat. A bit of stone fruit as well. Very clean smell.

T: Lemon tartness balanced by a good dose of wheat and a bit of fruity sweetness. I get a bit of and off flavor in the aftertaste - Almost a mustiness, maybe a bit of wet cardboard.

M: A tad thick for the style, with appropriate carbonation.

O: The aroma on this was great, but I had a hard time getting over the off flavor described. It's not bad, but not one of the better Berliner Weisses I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 02:01:49 | More by coreyfmcdonald

mdaschaf

Washington

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

Review from notes. Thanks to Lance for sharing this one!

A: Pours a hazy, light straw/yellow color with a one finger white head on top with decent head retention and thin lacing down the glass.

S: Nice and tart on the aroma with some lemon and apple with a heavy dose of wheat. Very inviting.

T: Fantastic flavor mixed with spot on tartness. Lemon, green apple, a bit of pear with some wheat and a little grassy.

M: Light to medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.

O: Had a feeling I would like this one and I was right. A perfect summer beer all the way. Thanks again Lance.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 01:14:31 | More by mdaschaf

mdfb79

New York

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

From 10/13/12 notes. Big thanks to whoever brought this to the Top Hops tasting; been wanting to try this one for a while. 750ml bottle.

a - Pours a very clear, pale yellow color with an inch of bright white head and low to moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells sour, of sour fruits, sour citrus, maybe some brett, wheat, grains, earthy notes, and hay. Not overly tart, but a very enjoyable level or sourness.

t - Tastes of citrus, sour fruits, earthy notes, spice, funk, hay, wheat, sour dough, and grains. Sourness is there again with hints of barnyard funk; a step up from the nose in my opinion.

m - Light to medium body and moderate carbonation. Not too acedic or sour so very easy to drink.

o - Overall a very nice, easy drinking berliner. It is sour and funky, but not overly in either direction, which makes it very easy to drink. I think this would be a good berliner to give to someone getting introduced to the style, as it is a good example of a lightly sour/funky beer without being overwhelming. Would like to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 18:29:28 | More by mdfb79

claspada

New Jersey

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

Pours out a clear, pale yellow color with a frothy, sudzy, white head that settles out fairly quickly.

Aromas begin and end quite straight-forward with a sour, lemony flesh/zest with a small amount of white wheat malt backbone.

The tastes begin with a faint pilsner maltiness coupled with a little wheat. After the short hint of sweetness, you get some tart fresh lemon juice and wave of lactic sourness.

The mouthfeel is quite light-bodied but that is fine for such a low ABV beer, with medium carbonation. Finish has a pleasing sourness on the light, lemonesque finish.

Overall I am not particularly enthralled with this beer, the sour twang notes are a bit too light and the mouthfeel could use a slight carbonation bump. Flavor profile was not too far from an undersweetened lemonade.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 18:37:42 | More by claspada

WillCarrera

Illinois

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

On-tap at Rustico in Arlington. Poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a hazy pale yellow, produces a thin white head, minimal lacing.

S- Lemony citrus, some vinegar, pungent, almost cheesy funk, some grain and wheat sweetness. Smells very nice with some nice complexity.

T- Lots of lemon and tart apple, nice puckering acidic tartness, a light barnyard funkiness and more wheat sweetness towards the finish.

M- Light-bodied, smooth feel with puckering acidity.

O- A very nice Berliner Weisse, it's very drinkable and refreshing. The tartness is spot-on in typical Bruery fashion, and the bacteria provide some nice complexity. Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2012 06:55:56 | More by WillCarrera

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

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

Thank you mrbubbler.

Appearance. Pours a hazy, pale straw with a finger of white head that doesn't last long.

Smell. Lightly toasted, and a bit doughy smelling wheat with some lactic sourness.

Taste. Sour lemons and lime, lightly toasted wheat. Very nice!!

Mouthfeel. Light body with medium+, fine and lively carbonation.

Overall. A great Berliner Weiss. Love the style, loved this beer. Another nice one, Bruery!

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 19:14:29 | More by Rutager

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

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

Poured from a large bottle into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter. The beer pours out very pale yellow and slightly hazy. There is low carbonation and a thin head with not much retention. Nose definitely tells the story here. Tart and slightly funky with a good dose of lemon zest.

Light body and good firm mouthfeel. Very tart and acidic, but not overpowering. Fruit notes of sour apple and lemon develop on the front of the palate and the acidity grows as the beer slides across the tongue. The finish is very wine-like and leaves a tannic, mouth-drying effect. Extremely refreshing. I thought the low carbonation would hurt the drinkability, but I find that the smooth character suits the flavor nicely. This beer has everything you want in the style.

I am not a seasoned drinker of this style. In fact, this is only the third one I have had. I reviewed the beer straight from the bottle, but this is the first time I also tried one with both of the traditional syrups added: Waldmeister (woodruff) and Himbeer (raspberry). While adding these sweet additions does tend to make it more softdrink-like (if overdone), I think everyone should try it. They work really well with this particular beer, especially when you just add a dash.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 23:17:52 | More by deadonhisfeet

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

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

On tap at Ginger Man.

Beer is cloudy, golden yellow. Small white head. Retention not great.

Smell is full of lemon, lacto (some strawberry notes). Seems tart. A bit of funk. Wheat.

Taste is very tart for a Berlinerweisse. Lemon, lacto, some strawberry flavours, wheat, clove. A bit funky. Dry cereal. Refreshing.

Light bodied, moderate to high carbonation. A bit puckery.

Overall, very good. Nice beer and the tartness works well.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 22:19:55 | More by jrenihan

GPHarris

Alabama

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

a - poured a four-fingers thick fluffy, pillowy white head into a tumbler that settled to a thin ring which disappeared about halfway through the beer. the body was a pale golden color.
s - some slight funky tartness with a hint of citrus.
t - tart, bready with some orange peel and maybe a hint of lemon.
m - thin and slick.
o - very quaffable and nice complexity for a 3% ABV beer. very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 15:33:15 | More by GPHarris

Tschnab

New York

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

A- appearance is a cloudy yellow straw color with a thin lace of bone white bubbles.

S- smell is grassy and lactic, slight funk, cereal and corn, lemon juice as well.

T- the taste hits the nose well, as the tart and grassy flavors start it off, and the wheat and lemon comes in next. It is an excellent summer beer, ridiculously drinkable.

O- this beer is not as sour as I've heard it was, and is instead a tart thirst quencher, and is a well crafted version of the style that doesn't stray outside of the lines like the brusry usually does.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 18:00:51 | More by Tschnab

waltonc

Colorado

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

Picked up a couple bottles of this at Provisions yesterday. This is one of my favorite Bruery offerings. Pours a nice hazy golden wheat color with an inch of white head. Refreshing scent of lemon, freen apple, and a nice grainy quality. Pleasant tartness on the palate. Sourness level is perfect for my taste. Nice wheat character along with lemons. Perfect beer for a summer day. Would love to see this distributed in Colorado.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 03:37:06 | More by waltonc

rawfish

California

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy straw like lemon juice with a thin 1 finger head. Basically no retention or lacing on the glass. A small bit of effervescence. Um, true to style...I suppose.

Light, tart and funky. A light dusting of earth and basement boards over straw, pale malt, lemon juice, yeast and lactic acid.

Pale malt, hay, straw and lemon juice. Very tart and vibrant flavor with a perfect amount of funk. Mouthwatering tartness and a dry finish that leaves you yearning for the next sip.

Watered down thin, and awfully flat like juice. Dries fairly well and is a quencher.

Pure to style with low alcohol, and nice mix of tart and funky. Flavor really comes out as it warms but I could see taking it a bit colder for a hot July afternoon. Nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 04:18:03 | More by rawfish

oline73

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this at Max's, poured from the bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy yellow with a finger of white head that fades rather quickly.

Smell: I'm picking up some sour apple/apple juice with tart lemon and a slight funk. You can tell this one is going to be nice and light.

Taste: Really light and tart with lemon and a slight funkiness. Light and very refreshing. I didn't really pick up the apple notes I found in the smell.

Mouthfeel: Light body with lots of carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I wouldn't have minded a touch more tartness, but I still really enjoyed this beer. I don't know that I've had a better American Berliner.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 01:11:07 | More by oline73

mcallister

Ohio

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

Pale straw colored with an overly active, highly carbonated brilliant white head that dissipates quickly at about 50 decibels.

Wonderful lactic aromas, lemon zest, wheaty, with some sour berry fruits and light funky, horse blanket, earthy aromas. Very effervescent and estery.

Nice wheat flavors, and new mown grass smells. Lemon, white pepper, lactic acid, some orange zest and bready into the finish. Very light and refreshing on the palate but maybe a little too light. However this is only 3% ABV. A nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 20:33:27 | More by mcallister