Professor Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse - Professor Fritz Briem

bound4er

Wisconsin

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

A. Straw colored with a cloudy appearance. White, two finger head that's quite dense.

S. Grains, cracker and lemon. Not complex but nice.

T. Lemony tart/sour goodness. This really tickles the palate in a nice way. Finishes clean and dry.

M. Light bodied and refreshing with plenty of carbonation.

O. This is a solid Berliner Weiss that is oh so easy to drink. On a hot summers day, I could easily see downing two or three of these.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 00:58:02 | More by bound4er

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

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

morimech

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Slightly cloudy golden color with a massive head that settles to a thick cap. Light specks of lacing is left down the glass.

Interesting aroma that consists of wheat, lemon, green apple, and light funk.

Tastes much more funky that it smells. Moderate amount of lactic sourness. Notes of apples and lemons with a wheat base. Nice grassy notes. The flavor falls off a little quick. Finish is dry and crisp.

Light and lively body. Nice for a sour beer and quite refreshing.

A very good wessbier that was surprisingly funky.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 17:39:28 | More by morimech

harrymel

Washington

3.8/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Brewed/bottled: unk
Had this at the Sour Soiree with the South Sound crew, and was unimpressed, but then again, there were more than 30 sours there, so not all that fair IMO.

Pours a clouded light grainy yellow with a loose, vibrant three fingers of white foam. This falls over 5 or so minutes to leave a solid sheet. Lots of funky Brett on the nose, with some wheat and yeast and peppercorn notes. Don't really anticipate sourness. Very lightly tart with a solidly wheaty flavor and some hints of metal. The brett plays second fiddle to the lactic acid. There are plenty of subtle tones in the beer, and I would hesitate to put syrup in this one, as it's fairly refreshing as is. Medium to full bodied with hi carb and semi dry finish. Nice beer, better than last time.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 04:57:24 | More by harrymel

ehammond1

California

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2012?)

The Bruery Provisions
Orange, CA

Clear golden yellow with a large, somewhat persistent, near-white head. This doesn't leave much stick down the glass but is altogether a very pretty beer.

The aroma is very nice and perfectly appropriate for the style: wheat, lemon, moderate acidic sourness, and light grain.

The flavor is similar to the aroma and quite delightful. A lovely combination of wheat, lemon, pear, green apple, and moderate sourness combine for an incredibly easy drinkable berliner.

Thin to medium bodied with high carbonation. Perfectly appropriate.

Just lovely.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 01:15:25 | More by ehammond1

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle into imperial pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours slightly cloudy golden straw color with a 1 finger foamy white head with poor retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. No glass lacing, and a good amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big tart lemon, apple, pear, grape, grass, hay, cherry, and yeast spices. Fantastic aromas here, with good acidity and balance. Smells a lot like a dry cider. Taste of tart apple, pear, grape, lemon, pepper, grass, hay, yeast spices, and slight funk. Fairly dry on the finish; but there are some lingering notes of apple, pear, hay, grass, and yeast spices on the finish for a bit. Great balance of flavors with a nice tart/sweet balance. Medium-high carbonation and fairly light bodied; with an extremely smooth and crisp mouthfeel. Alcohol is completely hidden at 5%, with no warming present at all as expected. Overall this is a fantastic Berliner weissbier. Fantastic flavor balance, with a nice amount of flavors. Very drinkable and highly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 03:54:50 | More by superspak

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. Pours a clear yellow straw with tons of bubbles rising and a massive, 4+ fingers of fluffy white head.

Smell. Funky and slightly sweet wheat, lemons and a bit of orange zest. Has a really great dry, earthy funkyness going on.

Taste. Light lactic sourness and that sweet wheat I was smelling. Not as much flavour coming through as I would expect from the great smell.

Mouthfeel. Light body with pretty strong carbonation. A little watery.

Overall. Nice beer but I have to admit, I'm a little underwhealmed. I think BR Tartare has ruined me forever as far as this style goes.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 01:37:54 | More by Rutager

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a chalice

Pours a slightly cloudy straw yellow with a creamy bone white head that rose quickly and fell just as fast. Settled to a thin layer of foam. Some delicate lines of lace.

The aroma is of damp hay, tart citrus and prickly barnyard funk. Fairly straightforward, as expected, since the bottle boasts as such.

On the palate, tart citrus bats leadoff with clean, damp wheat mid-palate. The carbonation is high, lifting this beer off your palate and leaving some manure/barnyard funk and tart citrus behind in the finish.

Light bodied, crisp, dry, and refreshing. Perfect on a warm day.

This is a classic, true to form example of the style. Personally, I like my Berliner-weisse to be a little smoother and not so high in carbonation.

Solid example of the style. One that everyone should try.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 20:25:14 | More by ColForbinBC

kevanb

Illinois

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

It pours a soft hazy golden straw color, a small amount of sediment sits in the glass with a nice amount of bubbles rising to the top. A bubbly white head appears with an aggressive pour, almost a finger, but vanishes almost instantaneously leaving behind no trace of its existence and no lacing. The aroma is nice, the grains are very apparent, tart apples, some funky yeast and a nice amount of lemon and clove come through, but all in all it's a simple aroma, but spot on for this style. The flavors follow very well, acidic lemon jumps out, but is cut well by some grains and funky yeast flavors, some mild banana pops out as well. The flavors are simple, tart, mildly acidic, but just the way I want them, not too heavy, not too light and not too sharp. The body is nice, very effervescent, quite dry and leaves a bit of a cottonmouth.

Verdict: Light, simple, sour, excellent Berliner Wiesse, and one I can find almost anywhere. At nearly 5% ABV, it could actually be called an Imperial Berliner Weisse as most beers in this style hang around the 2 to 3% mark.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 02:24:50 | More by kevanb

shand

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

This is a superb looking beer, a pale white-golden color with a large head that retains for days. The aroma is fruity and sour. The taste is good, it's got a nice, well-balanced tartness that is rather quaffable. Fruit flavors and a touch of yeast and wheat provide a supporting role. Very well-composed, if not fascinating. The mouthfeel is HIGHLY carbonated, it's been a while since I've had a beer quite this fizzy. The drinkability is very good. Overall, it's a solid introduction to the Berliner Weisse. It's not quite as interesting as some of the things that Florida breweries are doing with the style, but remains a great reference point for those who are interested.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 01:14:25 | More by shand

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

A. Strongly sediment-clouded dark golden color with a single finger of frothy whipped head that stuck around for several minutes but has minimalistic lacing.

S. Strong lemon yogurt aroma combined with some minor vanilla bean and even lighter banana notes and I can just make out the wheat malt aroma underneath all the olfactory tang.

T. Puckery acidic lemon and lactic sourness abound! Almost as acidic as a gueze, but not quite. Tiny moments of wheatey malt and funky yeastiness bob up and down in a turbulent ocean of sour tartness. Very dry and sharp overall just as it ought to be!

M. Lighter body with champagne-like bubbles, dry and crisp extended finish after the fade of sour.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 17:52:02 | More by WastingFreetime

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a hazy golden blond, very active champagne like bubbles, 1 finger of bright white head.

S - Tart apples, damp wheat, honey sweetness, has a lactic acidity aroma, some floral notes in the background.

T - Bright lemon tartness, pepper, green apple and grape skins, faint banana, salty, wheat malt. The salty tartness wraps everything up while still letting the malt shine. Finishes tart and dry.

M - Tart, light body, seltzer like carbonation, dry clean finish.

This beer provides a very balanced tartness. It's not sour but tart enough to wake up the palate. Very clean flavors and an excellent palate cleanser when tasting several big beers.
This is super clean, crisp, and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 19:09:36 | More by StaveHooks

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a cloudy straw color with good carbonation leaving a nice white cap with a good amount of bubbles

S: Funkiness, banana and some clove with a dash of hay

T: Like a tart saison blended with a hef with a nice big tartness.Light booze sting but man was this beer good and refreshing.

M: Light body, dry, well carbonated and loads of funk and tart on the palate to keep me happy

O: Very good!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 13:54:18 | More by barleywinefiend

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy light yellow with a 2 inch fizzy white head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of subtle wheat, lactic acid, and some tart and sour aromas. Taste is of subtle wheat, lemon, and some tart lactic flavors. There is a grain aftertaste as well. This beer has a higher level of carbonation with a very crisp and bubbly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good and refreshing beer and one of the better examples of the style I have tried so far.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 03:24:36 | More by UCLABrewN84

DaveBlack

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Straw yellow, looks very crisp and clear. The head is about 2 1/2 fingers and is constantly being fed by bubbles from all around the glass so it stays around for a bit.

S: A complex smelling brew, every time I stick my nose up to the glass I come away with something different. My first thought was sour green apple (much like hard cider), then a nice yeasty aroma, then a light malty aroma.

T: Once again, the comparison to hard cider is unavoidable. Only instead of being sickly sweet like so many of them are it has a beautiful sour tartness. There is a slight maltiness at the beginning and a bitterness at the end, taste of white grapes pervades throughout.

M: Light and heavily carbonated, a very crisp and refreshing beer.

O: While this isn't my favorite style of beer, and I wouldn't drink it all the time I have a lot of respect for it. It brings in a lot of flavors and goes down easily. A well crafted beer and definitely worth a look.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 01:36:51 | More by DaveBlack

rangerred

Tennessee

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

500ml bottle poured into a nonic.

Head is humungous and it takes several minutes to subside enough to pour the rest of the bottle in. Body is a hazy straw yellow the tons of carbonation bubble visible in the glass.

Has a distinct lactic acid aroma with lemon and horseblanket. Smells similar to a gueuze lambic.

Lemony flavors are dominate at first quickly followed by tartness and barnyard characteristics although they are not overwhelming. There is a little bit of grain that makes an appearance at the finish and hop bitterness is all but nonexistent. Finish is very crisp and dry.

Overall I found this beer to be quite enjoyable and refreshing. Tastes kind of like a sour lemon drop but the tartness never becomes overwhelming. Very nice on a warm day.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 19:36:11 | More by rangerred

phichifiji00

California

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Straw colored, clear, poures 3 inches of fluffy white head that fades slowly. Lots of lacing.

Smell: Citrus, brett, horseblanket, peppery, funky, earthy, apple, pear, some dry white wine notes.

Taste: slightly tart, dry, citrus, peppery, earthy, apple, pear, apricot, lemon.

Mouthfeel: light bodied, heavy carbonation, dry finish, crisp.

Overall: A very tasty berlinerweisse. Fairly complex. Highly drinkable. Good balance.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 06:12:12 | More by phichifiji00

raveskdr

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my Hill Farmstead tulip. Big ups to the guys at HF for a bottle of this. Buying massive amounts of beer pays off.

A - Cloudy straw coloring with a fluffy white head that dissipates quickly.

S - Yeasty goodness with a slightly sour aroma. There is even a very slight banana in there.

T - Now that's a prototypical Berlinner. Taste follows the nose with yeasty sour goodness. Not overly tart, staying within the style, at least in this lushes opinion.

M - Light on the mouthfeel, the beer seems to just cruise down the back of your throat. Very slight creaminess to it.

O - This is a go to Berlinner. It's widely available and is just fantastic. It may not be elite but for the price and the availability, DO IT!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 04:01:44 | More by raveskdr

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Huge white head of a couple inches. A cloudy yellow body with nice streams of rising carbonation.

S - A light malty and recognizably sour aroma.

T - It has the flavors that remind of watered down Gatorade from a high school football game. This is one of the most unique flavors I've ever had in a beer. Well done.

M - Light and airy. Much like champagne but even less heavy.

~ This is not something I could have on a regular basis. It seems like it would be a very interesting conversation piece if it were to be served at a social gathering. Not something I will seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 02:03:01 | More by cdkrenz

schwaeh

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up in Zanesville, being forewarned by my buddy that it was probably an older bottle; I hope it worked out in my favor. No bottle dating ugh...

A: Pours a transparent light honey-yellow color, crazy carbonation. This this thing's head blew up into a faygo style fizz mountain, quickly receding into a little bubble cap.

S: This isn't the aroma I would expect from this style, the main thing is a kinda old caramel malt aroma. Some bubblegum, lacto, aged hops, and malt. Along with caramel this really has a honey sweet aroma.

T: As soon as I drink this has a "I start off seeming tart so I'm gonna get super puckering" thing that never really comes to fruition. It has a a good wine tartness I get some apricot, white grape, an apple variety, and spicy wheat. I enjoy the white wine characteristics on the swallow, the wheat kinda washes them out on the finish a bit. There is a fair amount of oxidation to go around.

M: Fizzy in the mouth. Real slick and coating with a not-too-thin body. One of the highlights of the beer for sure.

O: I've loved the other representations of this style I've had before, so I had high hopes for this one. I'm pretty sure this was indeed an older bottle and this stuff doesn't hold up the best. I would feel bad about rating this lower but they can't bother bottle dating these. I'd have to pass next time, too big of a gamble when most of the other Euro brewers can manage to date.

Leaving it in the glass for a little bit seems to let this open up much better. Dry white wine really begins to take over.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 23:55:43 | More by schwaeh

sommersb

Tennessee

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 02-10-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 500 ml brown bottle
Glassware: Chalice
Purchased: Single from Chuck's, Bowling Green, KY

A: Color is bright golden and semi-clear. Tons of bubbles are in the glass. Huge, off-white head has very good retention and no lacing.

S: Sour and spicy aromas of lemons, oranges and green apples. Very strong and unique.

T: Zesty and tart, with a fruity lemon citrus taste. Quite unlike most beer, this one is neither malty or hoppy. Sour, spicy and a little salty as well.

M: Highly carbonated, with a clean and tangy mouthfeel. Finishes dry, with lemon and salt aftertastes.

O: Very different and excellent beer. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. I think this would be even better on a hot day in the summertime.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 06:27:24 | More by sommersb

tony223366

California

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: The head is basically unmeasurable it's so huge. White and fluffy at 3++ fingers. It does quickly turn into just a thin layer though. Color is straw yellow and cloudy. That's to be expected with a wheat beer though. Nice lacing too.

S: Aroma is typical of hefeweizen... bubblegum and cloves. A very light tart related acid aroma too.

T: The first thing that strikes me is the sour acidic quality. Nice light tartness. After that the wheat comes through and there's a nice clove. Malts come out in a pleasant breadiness. Nice lemon as well. Also has a distinct sauvignon blanc flavor.

M: Body is light and effervescent. It perfectly goes with the rest of the beer.

O: Such a refreshing beer! Lightly tart, good carbonation and light body. A really delightful style and one I'd love to have much more of.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 05:49:14 | More by tony223366

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a crystal clear pale yellow with little visible carbonation. The head is about two fingers high fluffy white head. Excellent head retention and quite a bit of lacing.

S: Aromas of funky sourness with hints of grapefruit, lemon, and apple. A very clean aroma.

T: The flavors are sour up front followed by citrus and grapefruit notes. There is a nice balance and complexity to the flavors. Quite refreshing.

M: Light bodied with a moderate to high amounts of carbonation. It could easily be described as fresh, crisp, and effervescent.

O: One of my favorite styles of beer, would have been interesting to sample this with the red and green syrups as well as on it's own like I did when I was in Berlin last fall. Very refreshing and very sessionable, easy to drink in the cold or in the heat. Would easily pair with lots of different foods.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 00:14:18 | More by dbrauneis

danedelman

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Planning on brewing a berliner weisse so doing some homework. Poured in a large sniffter glass.

I have to say after looking at reviews on youtube that those people do not understand the style at all. Saying it is like bud light and lime is an insult. They say the french brought over the sour mashing technique as they traveled through Flanders, it shows!!

A-very clear pale yellow with a nice white fluffy head.

S-funky sourness, grapefruit, lemon juice, wheat, peach, apricot and on and on. Very clean.

T-starts with the sourness of a ruby red grapefruit with lemon and some grass. Wheat smooths this one out nicely and adds some body. Flavors of peach come out too similiar to a Fou Foune.

M-very light and refreshing. I am brewing this to be enjoyed in the heat of summer. Can't wait!!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 02:19:55 | More by danedelman