Help Please!

[Luckies]

Beer help that is. I’m looking for a good, non-filtered, wheat beer. I’ve been going through the beer isle (drinking my way through) at the local booze mart and haven’t found anything that really has it. And by has it, I mean has a good smooth taste and not that bitter bite that some of the wheats I’ve tried have. By the way, does anyone know who started making wheat beer, is it an old beer that has been recently revived, or a new beer? Anyway, I’ve had better luck with finding a good tasting wheat on tap at bars, but somebody has to make a decent bottled wheat. Any suggestions?

[GSTom]

Beer help that is. I’m looking for a good, non-filtered, wheat beer. I’ve been going through the beer isle (drinking my way through) at the local booze mart and haven’t found anything that really has it. And by has it, I mean has a good smooth taste and not that bitter bite that some of the wheats I’ve tried have. By the way, does anyone know who started making wheat beer, is it an old beer that has been recently revived, or a new beer? Anyway, I’ve had better luck with finding a good tasting wheat on tap at bars, but somebody has to make a decent bottled wheat. Any suggestions?

Sorry to disappoint Dave, but your search for a "good" wheat based beverage is in vain. Beer should be made from barley. I don't think the various wheat based pizzles qualify as beer. :brow

[SNC1923]

:drink

Don't know much about beer, though it's my favorite beverage and I consume more if it than I should. For smooth taste, you cannot beat Boddington's (http://www.bodingtons.com). It's an ale, but not unlike a beer milkshake--and well worth the price. Check it out.

[kbasa]

Wheat beer, eh? One of my personal favorites. If I remember my brewing history, wheat beer was made by the Germans and has evolved into a couple different varieties, including Belgian White and some other varieties including naturally fermented lambics. Lambics are fermented by wild yeast and typically have fruit flavor added to them. Framboise is one of the more popular flavors and it has the taste of blackberries added to it. Quite nice. You'll find them very fizzy, almost like a champagne and they're typically served in a glass that looks a little like a martini glass.

In Germany, Wiezen is brewed in a couple different styles, either krystal, which has been filtered, dunkel, which is actually rather dark and as hefe wiezen, which seems to be what you're looking for. Wheat beers are typically served with a slice of lemon. Before you guys get all wiggy about fruit in your beer, go have a hefe with a slice of lemon on a hot afternoon and let me know what you think. This is a very old and traditional beer style.

I believe this is one of the oldest beer styles and they're typified by a fairly light character, little hop bitterness and a citrusy taste in some cases. Good wheat beer is made with a specific type of yeast that is different than the yeast used to ferment barley based beer. If you see domestically produced wheats, they usually don't use the correct yeast and the beer doesn't have the effervescence and sparkling character it should.

When I brewed, I liked to brew wheat beer because you could brew it and be drinking it two weeks later. I'd brew it, let it ferment for a week, bottle it and then it was ready to go the next weekend.

OK, so who to buy Wheats from? I like Tucher, Hacker Pschorr and Franziskaaner. They're pretty much true to style, though the Tucher tends to not be as sharp. The Hacker Pschorr tends to be milder, and isn't as sparkly. Good wheats should have a head on them that's composed of very fine bubbles that leave a nice ring on the glass as you drink it.

Franziskaaner is probably my favorite bottled wheat.

Find a nice high end liquor store, or one with a good beer selection (not all 27 varieties of Busch/Bud/Miller/Coors) and talk to the owner. As an alternative, see if there's a home brewing club in your neighborhood. You can brew up a batch that'll make 2 cases for about $25. The tools to get going with extract brewing are cheap too. Some plastic buckets, some sanitizer and some tools and you're good to go.

I used to brew a wheat with no hops, but fermented with frozen cranberries at Christmas. It was a wonderful light pink color and was like beer flavored soda pop. People loved it as gifts.

[username]

when i reach for a wheat beer i reach for celis white. pierre knows what he is doing. might require a high-end beer store as kbasa is referring to. worth it. this beer tastes great, and from what i can tell, after i drink a couple, i get smarter and better-looking. ;)

[DarrylRi]

KBasa has given you some solid info. Franziskaner Weizenbier is very good. A key to a weizenbier is the particular strain of yeast that the Bavarians use; it's different from all the other ale strains and produces a phenolic character that is sometimes described as cloves. If you like that flavor, you can get even more of it from Schneider Weisse or Erdinger, both smaller breweries in the Munich neighborhood.

I wouldn't bother with most of the American wheat beers, which aren't made with this type of yeast, and are merely bland.

The Munchners have made wheat beers for at least a millenium. In the 1300s the royal court had two breweries, one for barley beer and one for wheat. That famous tourist trap, the Hofbrauhaus, is located where the wheat brewery used to stand.

You might want to note that the Germans use both Weizen and Weisse (or Weiße) to name these beers. The former means wheat, the latter, white (refering to the big, white head they form). So, you can order a dunkles Weiße -- a dark white ;-). German dark (dunkles) beers are generally smooth with little bite, unlike Guinness. There are also Weizenbocks, strong and somewhat sweet beers; look for Aventinus at your high end liquor store if you want to try this.

Finally, Weizenbiers have very high carbonation. You have to pour carefully if you're going to fit a half liter into one of those curavceous wheat beer glasses. There is a trick you can try, however; but do it over the sink until you master it. Open the bottle, put the glass upside down over the bottle, then invert them both. The beer will stay mostly in the bottle. Gradually (!) lift the bottle straight up and the beer will slide undisturbed into the glass.

[lorazepam]

I like Blue Moon Belgian White beer. I can even get it out here in the sticks, so I imagine you can find it too.
It is an unfiltered wheat, but has just a bit of spice added by those wacky Belgians, to make it have a unique taste.
One place I know that serves it puts an orange slice on the glass as a garnish.

[Hodag]

I like Blue Moon Belgian White beer. I can even get it out here in the sticks, so I imagine you can find it too.
It is an unfiltered wheat, but has just a bit of spice added by those wacky Belgians, to make it have a unique taste.
One place I know that serves it puts an orange slice on the glass as a garnish.

By the way thats a coors product, but i enjoy it sometimes.
If its not my brothers creation I prefer Hacker Pschorr.
mark

[Bob_M]

http://www.widmer.com/beers/hefeweizen.html
This link takes you to Widmer breweries. They make a hefeweizen that they claim is america's (not capitalized!) original hefeweizen and their flagship beer.

[TZOLK]

Schneider weiss, Erdinger, Paulaner, Hacker-Pshorr are some of the imports available around here. Erdinger is big in Bavaria. I was lucky enough to be granted a 2 year tour via u.s.army in northern Bavaria years ago and fell in love with the weiss biers. A big thing also is adding about 1/4 to 1/3 coca-cola to these brews. They call it a Cola Weizen.

Most medium sized towns over there have their own sets of biers and that is really cool. Just imagine the selection we would be privy to if that held true over here.

[SCDorman]

All of the above, and I also enjoy Weihenstaphaner.

Steve

[lorazepam]

Dang I love you guys, new territories to explore :beer

[RebeccaV]

Tonight, I am drinking Black Wheat, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Co.

The New Glarus Brew Co. Is nestled right in the heart of Wisconsin's BEST motorcycle riding country. Coincidence? Maybe. The Brewery is the first in the U.S. to be founded and run by a woman - Wisconsinite Deborah Carey - and features one of the country's only Master Diploma Brewers.

All of their credentials are lovely of course. Fortunately for me, their products ROCK. Here is the description of the Black Wheat from the side of the label:

"Our Black Wheat arrives to relieve the bleak bore of Wisconsin's winter. Rich and chewy this bottle conditioned weiss is bursting with Midwestern wheat, oats, rye, and finished by malted barley. This style is a rare gem even in the Black Forests of Bavaria. We brew it now as an accompaniment to meaty feasts or to sip near a roaring fire.

Expect this beer to pour the deepest black body topped by an opulent head of lip smacking foam. Roasted chocolate and toasted caramel notes brim over the top. Lavish spice aromas of clove and cinnamon are promoted naturally by the yeast we import especially for this most individual of brews.

While some find comfort in a familiar glass, this brew will satisfy the bold explorer who dares to be...."

I just call it 'Yummy.' If you ever get a chance, I would encourage you to try any of their product line.

[TZOLK]

[QUOTE=boxergrrlie]Tonight, I am drinking Black Wheat, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Co.

WEowsers! Never heard of that one but it sounds DEliCiOUs!!!! Will have to look for it, being from Wisc it might make its way over here. The only American Weiss bier that ive had that actually tastes like the German variety was Sam Adams Weiss bier. It made an appearance here 2 years ago and hasnt been back since....? Tasted just like Hacker-Pshorr and more cost effective.
Sam, if your out there, CAll me!!

I urge you all to try The Cola-Weizen mixture. 1/4 or 1/3 Coke to 3/4 or 2/3 Hefe-Weizen........uuummmmmmmm.

[username]

Tonight, I am drinking Black Wheat, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Co.

this beer goes well with cheese curds, you know. ;)

[Visian]

Tonight, I am drinking Black Wheat, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Co.

Sue R-M turned me on to this beer when I visited last year. Most excellent!

Other than that white stuff that appears in Wisconsin about half the year, you all are SO LUCKY to live up there.

I really enjoyed my ride through the area on my way to Minne-SLOW-ta.

Ian

ps => Paulaner Hefewiezer... beer of the gods.

[DarrylRi]

A big thing also is adding about 1/4 to 1/3 coca-cola to these brews. They call it a Cola Weizen.
Another drink is the Radler (bicyclist). It's half and half Weizenbier and 7up or Sprite. Supposed to be very refreshing (but I find it too sweet). The Brits make a similar drink called a shandy.

[RebeccaV]

this beer goes well with cheese curds, you know. ;)IMHO, everything goes with cheese curds! :stick ;)

[BobFV1]

In my opinion, there is no mass-produced and packaged wheat beer in the USA worth drinking, it all tastes like hog swill. And I LIKE weizens, especially krystalweizens.

I started drinking this stuff while travelling in Germany in the late 80's/early 90's. On a warm, summer day in Bavaria there is no better way to spend the late afternoon than with a tall glass of weizen with a lemon wedge. When I got back to the US I started brewing my own beer but found that I had no luck in getting a tasty weizen (but I produced some great lagers and ales!). I think that weizens just don't take to the packaging process well and that they are not well-disposed to mass production. I have had the occasional brewpub (NOT microbrew - that is different) weizen here in the USA which was okay and that is how I recommend you consume your weizen, like a rare treat at a specialty brewpub when circumstances permit - sounds like a great Saturday ride destination (provided there is a motel next to the pub and you can make it home on Sunday!)

Happy drinking!

[SuperMoto7]

Best one I found is at a brewpub in Tampa,Fl (Ybor City) Tampa Bay Brewing Co.

http://www.tampabaybrewingcompany.com/beer_wit.jpg
http://www.tampabaybrewingcompany.com/beer_wit_txt.gif
A Belgium Styled White Beer. Made using unmalted wheat, malted barley, and oats. Spiced with Coriander and Bitter Curacao Orange Peels. The name is derived from the beer being cloudy wine.

[Hodag]

IMHO, everything goes with cheese curds!

I second that, and the point about new Glarus brewery, hadn't heard about the Black wheat yet.
Must be rough not being able to buy fresh warm curds. Had some 4 hour old ones last Friday. is it Friday yet,the day the cheese factory has fresh ones.
mark

[bigfoot105]

So many Choices....So Little Time....

Hmmm, I better get started!! :drink

[Luckies]

HOLY HEFE!!! :thumb Great response from everyone. I've made a list to check off while I drink. :drink Check it out and if missed something or added something I shouldn't let me know. :beer

Tucher
Hacker Pschorr
Franziskaaner
Celis white
Schneider Weisse
Erdinger
Aventinus
Blue Moon Belgian
Widmer
Paulaner
Weihenstaphaner.
Black Wheat, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Co.
Sam Adams Weiss
WIT

Dave

[BMWBeauty]

Blue Moon Belgian Is Definitely A Favorite Of Mine... :drink
In October And November You can Find Their Pumpkin Ale....Quite Tasty As Well.... :beer

[BubbaZanetti]

blue moon is defenetly a great beer, and in comparison to some imports from smaller breweries, fairly cheap............defenetly a good "first wheat" to get into

[Luckies]

:twirl Good day hunting.

[Luckies]

More good news :thumb

[kbasa]

God, I love the internet. :1drink :beer

:buds

[RebeccaV]

:twirl Good day hunting.
We're going to need a full report! :thumb

[manicmechanic]

We learned a new word in school today - sharing!

[DarrylRi]

I notice you picked up a bottle of Schlenkerla Rauchbier. You won't soon forget that one! I do suggest you have it with a meal, preferably real pit BBQ.

[kbasa]

I notice you picked up a bottle of Schlenkerla Rauchbier. You won't soon forget that one! I do suggest you have it with a meal, preferably real pit BBQ.

No doubt on that one. Rauchbier is kind of hard to find around here. I had it once back in Mass., but that's the only time.

BBQ is definitely the appropriate accompaniment to it. The Germans call it "smokebeer".

http://www.schlenkerla.de/ (There's an English page)

[alien_hitchhiker]

I’m looking for a good, non-filtered, wheat beer.
I've been following this thread & biting my tonque, trying not to be an opinionated ass, but I can't help myself (somebody stop me).

Dave, I'm sorry, but there ain't no such thing as a good wheat beer.

Steve-O :bolt

[Grey Matter]

This is the best thread EVER!

[kbasa]

Dave, I'm sorry, but I've never tasted a wheat beer.

Steve-O :bolt

fixified. :lol

[GSTom]

I've been following this thread & biting my tonque, trying not to be an opinionated ass, but I can't help myself (somebody stop me).

Dave, I'm sorry, but there ain't no such thing as a good wheat beer.

Steve-O :bolt

Lifted off the web

"Following is an English translation of the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516, the oldest provision still enforced to protect the consumer. This is taken from the article "History of German Brewing" by Karl J. Eden, published in 'zymurgy' magazine, Vol. 16, No. 4 Special 1993. "....... the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by the Court authorities' confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.""

Clearly a fermented beverage made from a fruit or grain other than barley cannot rightly be called "beer".

[The_Veg]

Clearly a fermented beverage made from a fruit or grain other than barley cannot rightly be called "beer".

#@%&*@&%$ PURISTS!!! :D

[TZOLK]

:twirl Good day hunting.


Dave, you SOB, where do you live, Im coming straight over! You cant drink all those alone!

[TZOLK]

I've been following this thread & biting my tonque, trying not to be an opinionated ass, but I can't help myself (somebody stop me).

Dave, I'm sorry, but there ain't no such thing as a good wheat beer.

Steve-O :bolt


WHAT! DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY? AN ANARCHIST HAS INFILTRATED OUR HOLY THREAD!

[Ron_B]

Tonight, I am drinking Black Wheat, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Co.

The New Glarus Brew Co. Is nestled right in the heart of Wisconsin's BEST motorcycle riding country....

"Our Black Wheat arrives to relieve the bleak bore of Wisconsin's winter. Rich and chewy this bottle conditioned weiss is bursting with Midwestern wheat, oats, rye, and finished by malted barley. This style is a rare gem even in the Black Forests of Bavaria. We brew it now as an accompaniment to meaty feasts or to sip near a roaring fire.

Expect this beer to pour the deepest black body topped by an opulent head of lip smacking foam. Roasted chocolate and toasted caramel notes brim over the top. Lavish spice aromas of clove and cinnamon are promoted naturally by the yeast we import especially for this most individual of brews.

While some find comfort in a familiar glass, this brew will satisfy the bold explorer who dares to be...."

I just call it 'Yummy.' If you ever get a chance, I would encourage you to try any of their product line.

I'm dying here... I love New Glarus beer, especially Spotted Cow and their India Pale. (hearty ale??) Is Black Wheat seasonal? (thought most wheat is) Geez, after reading that description, I'm..I'm...

Never mind. I want some. :drink

And cheese curds, of course.

[Hodag]

"Following is an English translation of the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) adopted in 1516...the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be Barley, Hops and Water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance, shall be punished by MARK confiscating such barrels of beer, without fail.""

Corrected

[Chacifer]

A big thing also is adding about 1/4 to 1/3 coca-cola to these brews. They call it a Cola Weizen.


I just had my first Cola-Weizen last night! It was actually pretty tasty, but I'm a coke(a-cola) addict and I alredy enjoy mixing sprite with my pilsners to create a delicious and refreshing beverage. Really, not as disgusting as one might think although the question that begs to be asked is why would one want to destroy a perfectly good beer?

Hoegaarden is a mild and flavorful white beer.

[Chacifer]

Good day hunting.

Dave,

Those are all the beers I've been drinking during the last week as I was trapsing around Bavaria. It's funny to think that you aren't even here in Germany and you can still get all of them, although fresh from the tap is always superior to bottled.

[DarrylRi]

Dave,

Those are all the beers I've been drinking during the last week as I was trapsing around Bavaria. It's funny to think that you aren't even here in Germany and you can still get all of them, although fresh from the tap is always superior to bottled.
I hope you've been enjoying those beers with a real Bretzen (not the limp things available over here) and/or a salted Radi. Did you go to Kloster Andechs? (It's a pilgrimage for true beer lovers.)

[Chacifer]

I hope you've been enjoying those beers with a real Bretzen (not the limp things available over here) and/or a salted Radi. Did you go to Kloster Andechs? (It's a pilgrimage for true beer lovers.)


You're talking about the Bretz'ls, right? Or Pretzels in English. Yeah, I've had a few. I made my dutiful stop at the Hofbrau Haus first thing when I got to Munich; amazing that my feet carried me right to their door without so much as a glance at the map. The Bretz'l girl came around and just before she got to my table some drunk guy was putting his arms around her in an overly friendly way. I felt badly that she had to incur this behavior as part of her job, so I bought one of her 3,50 Euro pretzels. It was delicious, but EXPENSIVE.

[RebeccaV]

I'm dying here... I love New Glarus beer, especially Spotted Cow and their India Pale. (hearty ale??) Is Black Wheat seasonal? (thought most wheat is) Geez, after reading that description, I'm..I'm...

Never mind. I want some. :drink

And cheese curds, of course.
Hey Ron, Yes, it's seasonal but I know the Beer Fairy personally. Lemmee see what I can do.....

[Luckies]

Dave, you SOB, where do you live, Im coming straight over! You cant drink all those alone!

Come on over, there one or two left to drink. Better hurry! :bliss

[Luckies]

I notice you picked up a bottle of Schlenkerla Rauchbier. You won't soon forget that one! I do suggest you have it with a meal, preferably real pit BBQ.


Okay, I'm saving this one till I can get my hands on some good BBQ. Thanks :)

[Luckies]

Dave,

Those are all the beers I've been drinking during the last week as I was trapsing around Bavaria. It's funny to think that you aren't even here in Germany and you can still get all of them, although fresh from the tap is always superior to bottled.

I wouldn't get anything done if I were in your shoes, I'd have to drink my days away. :drink

So you liked the Coke and beer? I don't know if that sounds right, but I'll have to try it. :beer Cheers!

[Hodag]

I've often drank a mixture of beer, coke, and whiskey(not in equal proportions). A co-worker called it Geiser meiser's. very tasty mixture. Like a rootbeer float minus the rootbeer and icecream.
I also used to add rootbeer schnapps to beer.
Mark

[The_Veg]

When I lived in a small town near Stuttgart they called beer and Coke 'Diesel.' I never tried it because it seemed like a waste of good beer. Of course I did try one of countless variations on the Boilermaker when my friend Jim handed me a litre-mug of local brew and a shot-glass of what I think was Asbach Uralt and instructed me to drop the glass into the mug and drink fast.

[BobFV1]

Whoa - that "Diesel" concoction sounds as bad or worse than that darn "tomato beer" stuff that hails from your current state of residence, Veg!

Oh yeah - and to anybody - what the heck are the cheese curds you are describing? I thought curds were what was left over when you strain the whey out of raw cheese product.

Hey - there's a real barf-o-rama: you could mix beer with whey for a delightful protein/malt beverage!

[Hodag]

"A cheese curd is an orangish cheese byproduct that feels like Silly Putty but tastes a lot better. It was invented accidentally by University of Wisconsin cheese scientists attempting to create an object of pure cholesterol that would still squeak. Rats who are fed this remarkable food develop an unusual capacity to polka and drink beer."

Cheese curds are fresh, young cheddar cheese in the natural, random shape and form before being processed into blocks and aged. Cheddar cheese is typically aged from 60 days to 4 years before being sold. Unlike the aged variety, curds lose their desirable qualities if refrigerated or not eaten for a few days (the squeak disappears and they turn dry and salty). Then they must be covered in a beer batter and deep fried. Often served with a side of horseradish or ranch dressing.

To me they are just a little slice of heaven.

Mark

[Hodag]

Tonight, I am drinking Black Wheat, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Co.

The New Glarus Brew Co. Is nestled right in the heart of Wisconsin's BEST motorcycle riding country. Coincidence? Maybe. The Brewery is the first in the U.S. to be founded and run by a woman - Wisconsinite Deborah Carey - and features one of the country's only Master Diploma Brewers.

All of their credentials are lovely of course. Fortunately for me, their products ROCK. Here is the description of the Black Wheat from the side of the label:

"Our Black Wheat arrives to relieve the bleak bore of Wisconsin's winter. Rich and chewy this bottle conditioned weiss is bursting with Midwestern wheat, oats, rye, and finished by malted barley. This style is a rare gem even in the Black Forests of Bavaria. We brew it now as an accompaniment to meaty feasts or to sip near a roaring fire.

Expect this beer to pour the deepest black body topped by an opulent head of lip smacking foam. Roasted chocolate and toasted caramel notes brim over the top. Lavish spice aromas of clove and cinnamon are promoted naturally by the yeast we import especially for this most individual of brews.

While some find comfort in a familiar glass, this brew will satisfy the bold explorer who dares to be...."

I just call it 'Yummy.' If you ever get a chance, I would encourage you to try any of their product line.


Thank you, thank you, thank you

Its that good, just a slight hint of wheat.
Now I'm on to the uffda
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm beer
thank you again
plus it was on sale at the store. I'm willing to make a trade for some "fat tire"
Mark