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BJCP 2021 / 23A

Berliner Weisse

A bright, sour, low-alcohol wheat beer with sparkling carbonation.

  • Drink fresh
  • session strength
  • pale color
  • top fermented
  • central europe

Serve: 40 to 46F, Tulip or goblet

OG1.120
1.028 to 1.032
FG1.030
1.003 to 1.006
IBU120
3 to 8
SRM40
2 to 3
ABV14%
2.8 to 3.8%

Taste it in order

Aroma

12 pts
  • Clean lactic tartness, like lemon or yogurt
  • Bready wheat
  • Little to no hop
Vague
Sour
Better
Lemony tartness and wheat
Best
Moderate clean lactic sourness, like lemon juice, with soft bready wheat, no hop, a faint funk is acceptable

Appearance

3 pts
  • Very pale straw
  • Clear to hazy
  • Bright white head that vanishes quickly
Vague
Pale
Better
Pale straw, hazy
Best
Very pale straw, clear to slightly hazy, brilliant white head with poor retention

Flavor

20 pts
  • Bright, clean lactic sourness
  • Soft wheat and cracker
  • No hop bitterness, dry crisp finish
Vague
Sour
Better
Tart lemon and wheat, dry
Best
High clean lactic acidity like lemon, soft cracker and wheat, no bitterness, dry sharp finish

Mouthfeel

5 pts
  • Very light body
  • High to very high carbonation
  • Crisp and sharp
Vague
Thin
Better
Very light and prickly
Best
Very light body, very high carbonation, crisp and prickly acidity

Overall Impression

10 pts

Lifts it

  • Clean sourness
  • Crispness

Drops it

  • Vinegar
  • Bitterness
  • Heavy funk

Writing tip

Separate acid types. Example: 'Clean lactic tartness like lemon, no vinegar. Crisp and refreshing.'

Pour these

  • Berliner Kindl WeisseBerliner KindlTart and bright with a hint of wheat
  • Berliner WeisseBayerischer BahnhofClean lactic sourness and a light funk
  • 1809 Berliner WeisseProfessor Fritz BriemVery tart and lemony

Often confused with

Fine here

  • Sour/Acidic: Lactic tartness is the point
  • Estery: A trace of fruit is fine

Ruinous here

  • Sour/Acidic: Vinegar sharpness from acetic acid
  • Diacetyl: Butter
  • Vegetal: Cooked-vegetable or onion notes

Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.