Berliner-Style Weisse - Craft Beer Monkey

Color: Straw to pale. These are the lightest of all the German wheat beers. Versions made with fruits or other flavorings may take on corresponding hues.

Clarity: May appear hazy or cloudy from yeast or chill haze

Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Malt sweetness is absent

Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Not perceived

Perceived Bitterness: Non-existent to very low

Fermentation Characteristics: Fruity-estery aroma and flavor should be evident at low to medium levels. Diacetyl should not be perceived. Brettanomyces character may be absent or present at low to medium levels, and if present may be expressed as horsey, goaty, leathery, phenolic, fruity and/or acidic aromas and flavors. The unique combination of yeast and lactic acid bacteria fermentation yields a beer that is acidic and highly attenuated.

Body: Very low

Additional Notes:

Carbonation is high. Berliners are sometimes served with sweet fruit or herbal syrups.

When using these guidelines as the basis for evaluating entries at competitions, brewers may be asked to provide supplemental information about entries in this category to allow for accurate evaluation of diverse entries. Subcategories for unfruited and fruited or flavored versions of the style could be created. For unfruited versions, brewer would indicate that no fruit or flavor has been added. Fruited or flavored entries would be accompanied by a very brief description of the fruit/flavor used by the brewer.

Color SRM (EBC): 2-4 (4-8 EBC)
ABV: 2.2%-2.7% (2.8%-3.4%) %
IBU: 3-6
AE - Apparent Extract: 1.004-1.006 (1.0-1.5 °Plato)
OG - Original Gravity: 1.028-1.032 (7.1-8.0 °Plato)