Professor Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse - Professor Fritz Briem

gdfan47

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- pours a nice light yellow with no head or lacing... remarkable
S- yeast, a tart sugar smell, wheat, very inviting
T- very tart and refreshing,very easy to drink but complex at the same time, some hints of wheat and sugar but not very sweet
M- really really carbonated, refreshing, its so hard to believe its so carbonated cause it looks so flat... sneaky sneaky
D- this beer is 5 percent, awesome... give me this one all day

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2009 06:11:07 | More by gdfan47

Adamdc

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into Duvel tulip.

A: cloudy, yellow pour with thick, white 1 inch head. I left the large clump of sediment in the bottle.

S: Amazing! The wheat and the lacto blend nicely in the nose. There's some lemon, grass and banana also.

T: Once again I'm really liking the wheat and the sour together. The lemon and banana are there also.

M: Nice and crisp! It's so refreshing and perfect on a summer day.

D: Very, very high! This beer really took me by surprise. I had no idea that the Germans messed with lacto. This was the perfect blend of wheat and lacto (that's the 3rd time I said that). I can't wait to find more beers in this style. This would be a great intro to sours!

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 21:48:27 | More by Adamdc

Brad007

Vermont

4.63/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

It's not often that you see an example of this style in stores. The only example I've tried comes from Dogfish Head.

Regardless, pours a beautiful bright yellow color with a thin-head into my glass. Love the color, even if others would find it average.

Tart with citrus and cherry in the nose. A huge whiff of wheat in the aroma as well.

Ditto for the taste. Tart with cherry and light citrus notes. Cloves and wheat make up the rest of the taste.

Lingering citrus, cherry and tartness followed by a hint of clove. Very interesting.

Wow, now this is to the style! I didn't know what to expect but I have to rate this high for drinkability, etc.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 03:32:53 | More by Brad007

ccrida

Oregon

4.65/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

500ml bottle that I've cellared for about a year. Poured into my large Gulden Draak tulip, 1809 is chill hazed pale gold with a large white head that leaves light lace.

Smell is a bit of sour wheat, light sweetness and a hint lemon.

Taste is very nice, clean wheat flavor, light tartness from the acidity, quinine like mineral finish. Very similar to a fine saison, by far the best berliner weiss I've ever had, and also the only one I've had that is from Germany.

Mouthfeel is light and lively, dry, very nice, fine spritz.

Drinkability is high, this is an excellent beer. I love it.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 22:07:45 | More by ccrida

krisandajt

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Picked up some of these while visiting family down in Baltimore. Just getting into the style, here it goes...

Poured from a bottle into my Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass.

Appearance: Wow, quite the carbonation in this bad boy. Heaps of bubbles are shooting up from the bottom of the glass rising to meet at least two inches worth of bone white, thick, bubbly head. The retention is some of the best I've ever seen, though there's not much lacing which I find surprising. There's also a bit of cloudiness to this light golden colored brew.

Smell: There's a nice tartness to this beer, kind of gives the smell a bit of bite. There's some nice wheat beer characteristics coming through too, a slight yeasty grassy kind of smell. Smells quite refreshing.

Taste: A refreshing mix of lemon citrus and tart blended perfectly with the thirst quenching qualities of a wheat beer. Crisp, smooth, nice. This is a damn good beer.

Mouthfeel: A nice light to medium body with enough carbonation to make the beer tingle on the tongue. Outstanding.

Drinkability: It's the first 70+ degree day I've seen this year, and I can't think of a better beer to drink on this beautiful day. Very refreshing, tasty, and a reasonable and sessionable ABV. I highly recommend picking this one up if you get the chance...I know I will the next time I see it.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 22:14:00 | More by krisandajt

Immortale25

Florida

4.65/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a Green Flash snifter. No freshness date.

A- Pours a medium gold color with a huge two-finger crown that retains good and long before arriving at a 1/4 inch. Sudsy, billowy lacing.

S- Wonderfully funky wild yeast smell with a crisp citrus undercurrent. Possibly some lactic acid aroma. Short whiff of tropical candy.

T- Quick punch of yeast and citrus that transforms into a tart lemon aftertaste. Definitely some lactic acid present as this can officially be classified a "sour" beer. It all works well together though and doesn't deter one from taking multiple sips. A little soapy.

M- High carbonation and a very soft, fluffy feel. Some pucker at the end.

O- So this is what a real Berliner Weisse should taste like. I like it much better than DFH's "neo" berliner weisse, Festina Peche.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 01:48:38 | More by Immortale25

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.68/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into pint glass.

A- Slightly hazy yellow pour with a short lived finger width white head. Lacing is minimal.

S- Apple juice, lemons, lemon skin, grape skins and a touch of white wine. There is a nice sweetness I haven't experienced with any other Berliners I've had.

T- Apple juice, apple cider, lemon juice, lemon skin, grapes and a touch of white wine. Very refreshing, very tart and all around just fantastic!

M- Light bodied, excellent carbonation, cheek tingling tart.

O- This is beyond any Berliner I've come across. This is just magnificent in all aspects.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 23:52:13 | More by korguy123

Grundle20

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance:
The beer pours pale straw yellow in color with a substantial haze, looks sort of like Orangina. A sizable rocky white head is quick to build but almost equally so to fall while leaving little lacing, probably the only draw back I would say is the wonky head retention on this beer.

Smell:
As is to be expected from Weihenstephan this beer smells great. There's a strong presence of bananas, lemon zest, sourdough bread, and a kick of nasty runners socks way in the back (love that funk!). There's some lesser notes of pepper and nutmeg but they are more apparent towards the end of the smell.

Taste and Mouthfeel:
The beer drinks light, crisp, and rather effervescently. Up front there's some dry wheat character partnered with a refreshing boost of sour lemon zest and a tinge of a switch of straw. The beer drinks a tad abruptly and finishes with a flavor that I could easily mistake for yellow Sour Patch Kids in a blind tasting. There's little aftertaste to note with an exception of about 3 seconds of funky wheat.

Drinkability:
This beer takes everything that is great about hefeweizen and makes it a tad more refreshing and crisp. It's hot and humid out and I couldn't be drinking a more satisfying beer.

Bottom Line:
My first dip in to this style and up until actually trying it I expected something more sour from what I've read. This is not the case, the beer is only mildly tart and it really only serves the beer well rather than being overwhelming like you might find in even domesticated lambic. Awesome beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2007 20:09:03 | More by Grundle20

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A= The pour is a great looking translucent light yellow color with a tall white head on it. The head falls pretty quick and lively looking. There is not lacing on the glass but the large bubbles of the head stay on top looking like some sort of sparkling juice.

S= The smell is is a nice grassy lemony smell to it. There is a light sweetness to it and a good bit of wheat. It's not as wheaty as other berliners I've had.

T= The taste is right on for a berliner. Wow. There is some great lemony tartness to it but not enough to make it unenjoyable to sip on all day. There is a great grassy wheaty taste and a fruity sort of sweetness to it. Worth every sip.

M= High on the carbonation. Quite spritzy. Reminds me a lot of the carbonation in sparkling juice.

D= I would love to drink this all the time. If this came in a can and was affordable I think I would drink this all day everyday. Wow. A wonderful brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 23:14:11 | More by jjanega08

MillRat

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly cloudy lemon yellow with a fine white head that disappears quickly, save for a persistent ring from the abundant carbonation. The aroma is that of a great hefeweizen with a sharpness from the Brett. The flavor is true to the smell, with a clear sourness that does more to balance the malty body than the light hop bitterness. Absolutely adherent to style and with such clean and crisp flavors that the addition of the woodruff or respberry syrup traditional with this style would be a sacrilege. Certainly will inspire a homebrewing batch in a month or so.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 00:38:26 | More by MillRat

chugalug06

Colorado

4.78/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Massive five-finger head rushes out of the bottle. White soapy foam lingers on top of the brew for some time. Brew is cloudy yellow with tons of whites.

WOW. A true Berliner Weiss (BW)... Lemon, orange, spices, wheat, lots of stone fruits too.

Perfect (light) funky tartness, awesome carbonation, zero bitterness. Yum. Lots of apple, apricots, lemon, orange, pepper.

IMO, this is how a BW should appear, smell, and taste. Highly recommended, this is a must try for likers of the style

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 00:25:12 | More by chugalug06

Jmoore50

Nevada

4.8/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

What an outstanding example of the style! Could drink this beer all day and all night, and maybe even in the shower.

The appearance is a nice light straw color with a great white head that has incredibly fine bubbles. It leaves a nice leg on the glass that shows its oily body.

The smell is great, nice crisp lemon rind. Great must and wheat smell as well. A sharp acidity that is just right.

The taste is amazing. Great lemon and acidic flavors with an easy drinkability that is killer. Has a bit of a wheat and oat background, but with the funk, its amazing. It is really light on the mouthfeel side, which is perfect for this stye. Is the perfect cure for those refreshing sour cravings that I sometimes have. Simple, but delicious.

J

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2010 03:33:14 | More by Jmoore50

ausonius

New York

4.8/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

500 ml bottle into a Riedel Vinum Bordeaux

My bottle - like all the other ones I've seen say Dr., not Professer, but whatever.

Murky yellow, straw, orange.
Big foamy Wheat Beer head. Settles in a few minutes. Not too much lacing with this foamy head.

Nose: Sweaty lactic sour with earthy key lime & some funk in the background. Violet, licorice, fresh semolina bread, & a hint of raw tangy, pungent honey.
Some complex yeasty Belgian-like creamy sweetness.
Miraculous & unique.

Palate: Big, full, round & grainy. Pungent/spicy ginger & beautiful grainy wheat. Hints at limestone minerality allied to blood orange/lime & wheat character. Vinous, & even Champagne-like, in an earthy, lactic way.
Pretty friggin' complex on the palate as well.

96 Points

One of the great, unique beers of the world.

Not sure if I can ever live without this one.

CHEERS!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 23:19:43 | More by ausonius

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.83/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an effervescent honey with 1+ finger of eggshell white head. Clouds up as the bottle drains, above average head retention & just a bit of lacing

S: Sour wheat, lemons, grapes & damp cereal

T: Lemons, grassyness, tart, tart wheat up front. Some apple like crispness & much more tartness along with lemons as this warms. Finishes crisp & tart & dry

MF: Spritzy, dry, tart with light/medium body.

Great summer time session beer, would tire after 3 or 4, but man this cuts the dust! I can't find much fault with this style-wise or flavor-wise

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2008 01:58:05 | More by russpowell

dar482

New York

4.84/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Found that they had this bottle at Spritzenhaus in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

The color is a slightly hazy golden yellow.

The aroma is very yeasty with some sour and a bit of a moldy funk.

The flavor has a malty flavor and a wheat beer character, but then with a nice sour tart bite. The flavor is of pear, sour apple and some yeast. The maltiness really carries this beer so well. For those who aren't into sours, this is wonderful. It has a bit of sour that really makes this beer attractive and refreshing.

I would drink this for hours during the summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 04:20:13 | More by dar482

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Weizen glass at the Old Eagle Tavern.

The look is instantly recognizable. Big, puffy white head, bountiful sediment and a hazy, lemony yellow color attract the senses immediately. A wild carbonation surges, forcing the sediment to dance throughout the liquid. Truly a sight to behold.

Aroma is just as enchanting, boasting the tartest of lemon juices, mild whiffs of banana and a slight milkiness.

Flavor is just as lemony, with a creamy consistency that's most likely due to the lacto bacteria and the lightest hints of orange and pineapple. The mild musk in the conclusion nicely balances out the tart bite, making for a light and Summery treat.

Modesty be damned... This just might be the most drinkable beer on the planet and, as the warm weather starts to seem like a distant memory, it's nice to drink this and remember all of those sunny Saturday afternoons.

Note: I've also tried this on several occasions with the Raspberry and Woodruff syrups, and, while those are interesting additions, believe this beer is best served straight up.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 02:36:47 | More by deapokid

Rennpferd

Wisconsin

4.95/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

It poured very heady, but the head quickly receded to one finger. It had a pale yellow hue. There was a lot of carbonation.

It had a unique scent. A perfect balance of old bread dough, sour milk, and lemon.

It tasted a little sour. It had a touch of citrus. There was a nice mellow wheat flavor. It was lite bodied. It had a clean finish, it had a little punch to it.

Just a great beer. I was not expecting this. If you don't get a similar experience; try drinking it out of a tulip glass, that's what I did.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2009 02:18:31 | More by Rennpferd

IntriqKen

California

5/5  rDev +22%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Before reviewing this beer, I wanted to go over the style guidelines for it once again to be sure what I was looking for. It is very rare that I get the chance to drink a Berliner Weisse, living as far away from Germany as I do.

Wow!
This is the very first beer I've ever had that meets the guidelines word for word, scent for scent, color for color, and taste for taste.
I'm going to cut and paste from there because the only thing I have to add to it is that I love it and it is Perfect! (realizing that perfection is rare.)

"Berliner Weisse is a top-fermented, bottle conditioned wheat beer made with both traditional warm-fermenting yeasts and lactobacillus culture. They have a rapidly vanishing head and a clear, pale golden straw-coloured appearance. The taste is refreshing, tart, sour and acidic, with a lemony-citric fruit sharpness and almost no hop bitterness. "

Aftertaste is just the clean, tart and sour lemony-citrus.
slight alcohol warmth creeps in after you swallow.
This is a gorgeous beer.
I give it '5's because it is a perfect example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2007 19:51:39 | More by IntriqKen