Professor Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse - Professor Fritz Briem

gleemonger

California

4.6/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very pale yellow and fizzy - looks very much like a cheapo adjunct. Frothy white head that falls quickly and leaves no lacing, but leaves a small head throughout.

Sour lemon and apples, some earthiness, yeasty banana. Very refreshing smelling.

Very interesting flavors here. Similar to the nose, I'm picking up the sour lemony apple flavors with a bit of an earthy, barnyard hop taste. Also getting a backbone of a weizen taste of banana and clove yeastiness. Super tasty and refreshing, very unique.

Crisp, highly carbonated but not too frothy (like an adjunct), thin.

This is my first of the style, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but got it because I've been wanting to try one and because of the good reviews. Definitely not disappointed, and would love to seek more of these out (and I've seen some random ones popping up at domestic breweries). I just really appreciate all the flavors that come through in this, despite the sour twang, which sometimes tends to overpower for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 01:56:07 | More by gleemonger

gabemasiulis

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A) This Berliner-Weisse is litght in color, quite murky, but still translucent, it had a decent size fine fizzy head, almost like a soda.
S) The aroma was sweet with a hint of a tart fruity taste, maybe kind of cherry-like.
T) This beer bites in dry, but rapidly swells to a sweet and wet lingering taste. The dark cherry sweetness lilts leaving the tartness at the bottom of the palate to linger.
M) This beer has a fair share of complexity to its feel. It starts dry, lingers wet, as if it were almost sticky, if it wasn't for the fizz dancing on the tongue.
D) The tart-sweetness, combined with the light fizziness strikes me like it would be a very nice summer celebration beer. It is tart, but very slightly, and leaves me wanting another.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2008 19:25:31 | More by gabemasiulis

gabeerfanswife

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Split a bottle with gabeerfan. I was anxious to try this as a different style of wheat beer I have not yet had. Its probably better closer to the source. I was a bit underwhelmed for all the hype.

A: No head at all. Looks more like wine or cider coming out of the bottle into the bulb glass. Also not cloudy either.

S: tart and wheaty; in line with the style

T: ehh...I am a big hefe fan and this took some getting used to. This is very fruity but is more like lemons and pears. No banana, no clove, no coriander. Really, it tasted a lot like pear cider to me; just dryer.

M: not much fizz at all.

D: I would like to try other brands in this style and would probably like this beer better closer to its source. Not sure I will be picking it up in the bottle again any time soon.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2008 00:49:39 | More by gabeerfanswife

stimy

Maryland

3.8/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I drank this at an "Art of Refermentation" beer tasting hosted by Garrett Oliver at the National Geographic.

These are my tasting notes:

This beer had a Lambic type aroma. The finish on the beer was tart. The mouthfeel was champagne like.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2008 17:38:29 | More by stimy

SourBatchKid

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Share with a few friends and some hot soft butter pretzels.

A- Sunshine yellow with a cloudy hue, about a finger (mine) of head that quickly evaporates to only the memory of foam. Be-careful, if you blink you might miss it.

S- It smells like I just walked into a french bakers kitchen, creamy butter, yeast, and the slightest of bit of buttermilk. I love how this smells, its like someone just baked up some butter milk biscuits.

T- Refreshing and slightly tangy, green love from the funky farmy horse barn-age. I am diggen this one and am really glad I got two.

M- Spicy carbonation that cuts my tongue as it aerates in my mouth. All most to the point of (good) pain, it slowly subsides. Its like S&M in my mouth, it like it.

D- This is a summer time patio pounder, I could drink this refreshing brew siting out side looking at the ocean. I cant thing of any thing I would rather have on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2010 16:28:04 | More by SourBatchKid

t8s8l8

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look- A hazy golden yellow appearance. Nice smooth fluffy head that falls quickly and leaves a band of foam around the glass.

Aroma- slight acidic aroma, also present are fruits, pears and golden delicious apples, slight spiciness not necessarily clove like though, Brett seems to be current as well.

Taste- Real smooth it has that fruit bite from the acidic aroma that follows through in the taste especially in the middle. the mouthfeel is extremely light, not as dry as I was expecting, some what wheaty which i think is common. a champagne bubbly smoothness as well. the acidic character really plays nicely my mouth is still watering as I write this review.
Overall Experience- This was my first Berliner Weisse and i really enjoyed it. the aroma and taste was similar to a nice sour but the wheat character gave it a very summery kick. a mix of summer wheat with a sour would love to try some others of this style.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 21:56:47 | More by t8s8l8

MichaelGreene

California

4.28/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my Erdinger Weissbrau glass. Small champagne like bubbles OUT OF CONTROL. So crazy fizzy, could not control the head as I was pouring it. Died down VERY quickly though, no lasting head, no lacing. However, I think that do to the champagne like quality of the beer, that is what I would expect. Not really a negative for this beer.

Smells very citrus like and light.

Taste is acidic, citrus like and mild. No aftertaste, but a lasting dry acid bite, very white wine/champagne like, more like a wine then a beer. Its weird but I could almost be fooled into thinking this came from the vine.

Mouthfeel, Exceptional, like champagne...exactly, close your eyes its champagne.

Drinkability is really good because, for this type of beer, its the best. I could actually sit and drink this regularly, where as others of this style are more just for trying.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2009 06:32:27 | More by MichaelGreene

CJStout

Missouri

4.55/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Upon asking clerk for a style that is somewhat out of the ordinary with a distinct flavor this beer was recommended. In short - great call.

Smell: Muted, fresh, appropriate for style.
Taste: Like a tart, sour (tastefully) Jolly Rancher German wheat beer.
Mouthfeel: Very carbonated, quenching.
Drinkability: Off the charts - would drink plenty (if I could afford it!!!)

Overall: Fantastic, refreshing beer! It scratches that summertime itch...

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 23:15:01 | More by CJStout

StarRaptor

California

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this at a sour tasting held 7-Mar-2011 at my homebrew club
A: Pale, Golden Yellow, Cloudy, very low carbonation/head (this will be a theme) and small particles floating towards the bottom (I refined this section in from my notes)
S: Lemony?, Sour, Sweaty
T: Lemony, very similar to Hottenroth from the Bruery, Mild Tartiness
M: Low carbonation but it tingles (I think these are opposing statements), Slick?
Q: A bottle of this? Yes. Like drinking a more neutral lemon water and as refreshing

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2011 19:04:11 | More by StarRaptor

cmoody91

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass.

A: big foamy head that dies off quickly into no lacing or head. very light straw golden color with a bit of cloudiness. Loads and loads of bubbles racing up and breaking the surface of the beer.

S: Lemon, green apple, super fresh and sweet smelling

T: Wheat, loads of fresh sweet tart fruits: apple, meyer lemon, tangerine. Finish is juicy and just a tiny bit dry. Sweet without being cloying. Lovely.

M: Light, finish is punctuated by carbonation.

O: Super great summer beer. Best Berliner i've ever had. Definitely pick up a couple bottles if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 02:26:45 | More by cmoody91

IrishKevin

Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle (no experation date) into a weizen glass.

Big huge fluffy head typical of wheat beer.

Aroma was very citrusy with a little musty funkiness.

Had very pleasent citrusy tartness. Didn't hit you in the jaw like a lambic, but had a nice sour taste. Highly carbonated and refreshing. Would be great on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 20:34:30 | More by IrishKevin

JAYAR1

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured into my no-name tulip from a bottle purchased at Binny's
Very murky and you can't see through it.
Slight yeast and malt odor.
Very tart and dry, like a sparkling white wine ,maybe Prosecco. Somewhat grapey aftertaste.
Thin mouth feel. Nothing outstanding.
Overall, it's an interesting beer with with a non-traditional flavor. Thought I read it is usually served with a sweet syrup. Will drink again maybe with a little fowl.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 21:21:19 | More by JAYAR1

electrobunny

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours clear with a very pale yellow body and a thin white head. A lot of lemon in the nose with some apple and pear that give away the yeast in the bottle. Also some banana in the aroma along with some skunky grass notes. Very refreshing. Lemon, pineapple and apple cider are prominent. Definitely has a tart champagne quality with a some husk/wheat malt coming through at the finish. Hops are subtle but impart a nice grassy quality. Light bodied and well carbonated. Mouthfeel is tart and fizzy with a dry finish. Not a lot to this beer but it's very enjoyable if you're in the mood. The right amount of sourness to play off the malt. A bit Phenolic as it warmed but super easy to drink. Great presentation.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 02:29:47 | More by electrobunny

shamsoftabriz

Kentucky

4.4/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This was my first example of the Berliner Weisse style, and I was awfully impressed.

A: Very large head that continued to rise above the glass for a good minute after the pouring stopped. Golden sparkling appearance not unlike Champagne.

S: Bubbles in the nose. Crisp, clean, unsweetened Ginger Ale. Very dry. Again, reminds me of champagne.

T: Slightly sour, exceptionally crisp and dry. Sharp without much of an aftertaste. I could have used a touch more snap from the lacto b. bacteria, but it was quite good.

M: Clean and light

O: One of the most refreshing beers I've had. Think of a sharper, dryer S. Dupont with more fizz. Took me all of 3 minutes to guzzle it. Almost TOO refreshing, if that can actually be considered a fault. ultra-drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 02:43:31 | More by shamsoftabriz

BStalf21

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tried this at the map room in Chicago. Nice beer, I would have expected more tartness out of this the lemon comes through huge and ends up being more of a lemon hefeweizen more then anything else, no funk but some sour from the lemon flavor. medium body with a lot of yeast hanging around.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 03:23:00 | More by BStalf21

aflockofshegulls

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

First of all, 1809's bottle is great. I love the design and little history lesson included on it. The beer is brewed in a very non-traditional manner. The mash is hopped, and the resulting wort is not boiled. The beer is fermented with the presence of lactobacteria. I bet the brewer adds a controlled bacteria culture, but I suppose historically this beer was sour because of the wort went into fermentation without being boiled.

Totally unlike any German beer I've tried. I would compare it to a Belgian wit, but that is a stretch in itself. Appearance is pale straw, and a little unappetizing.

The use of lactobacteria in fermentation gives it a pervasive, though not dominant sourness. It is a wheat beer, and there is a certain hefe quality to it (banana/clove) as this is unfiltered. Carbonation is high; mouthfeel is effervescent and crisp, with a peculiar aftertaste. The taste is perhaps powdery? with a minor fruitiness (green apple present - acetaldehyde, but not from spoilage because this bottle tastes very fresh). I am a huge fan of sour beer, but 1809's sourness just can't be compared to that of a Belgian.

I really liked this beer. And would be interested in trying it with the raspberry or woodruff syrup that Berliners drink it with.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2009 16:26:11 | More by aflockofshegulls

BeerBean

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Lemon/straw yellow. Hazy, and adding the yeast at the bottom of the bottle on the second pour made it extra hazy. Big head that disappears quickly. No lacing... kinda disapointed, but that's the only thing wrong with this beer.

Smell is lemons and citrus fruits (grapefruit mostly). Acidity and yeastiness are present. The aroma is strong, hits you right out of the bottle. It's got a bite to it that is very tart and refreshing.

Taste is spectacular, like sour champagne on the first pour and a citrus-spicy yeast-fest on the second. Acidity seems to dissipate as it warms, and it sweetens up just a bit. The wheat comes through at the back.

The feel is crisp and light, but not empty. It's on the heavier end of light bodies.

What a great Berliner Weisse! Full of flavor and aroma, and a great beer to end the summer season on. Thanks to Will @ The Beer Store in Southampton for the recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 00:46:57 | More by BeerBean

Demitra

California

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Serving Type: Pilsner glass

Appearance: Bubbles float to the top very fast, champagne like. The head quickly disintegrates from the bubbles. Rich golden color. Has a thin viscosity.

Smell: Cider like, citrus, pear, green apple

Taste: Tart, refreshing, a little watery. I taste pear and almonds. Very easy to drink.

Mouthfeel: Very effervescent , the bubbles tingle my tongue a little more than I would like a beer to. The beer feels a little too thin, watery in my mouth.

Overall: I like it. Drinkability is the biggest factor, I can drink this with or without food. A no fuss, refreshing beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:52:12 | More by Demitra