Introducing Berliner Kindl Weisse

January 2012

Here at James Clay we take great pleasure in bringing new and interesting drinking cultures to the UK. So, let us introduce you to Berliner Kindl Weisse. It was known as the “champagne of the north” by Napoleon’s troops as they occupied Berlin in the Franco-Prussian war.

Garrett Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, offers the tantalising description below:

“Berliner Weisse is a very pale top-fermenting wheat beer with a subtle fruity aroma; a thin, dry effervescent palate; and a whipcrack of acidity virtually unchallenged by hop bitterness. Just as short cold days coax refreshing acidity out of the grapes of Reims and Epernay, lactic fermentations do the same for this beer. While lactic bacterial fermentations are no longer common in beer, they are widely used by vintners of white wines to turn the harsh crabapple-like malic acid into the softer lactic acid. Whatever its appropriateness for white wine production, it has a dramatic effect on this beer. After months or even years of aging, the beer emerges with a floral lemony fruitness and fine, knifelike acidity.

“The comparison to champagne deepens when one considers that nearly all champagne starts out too acidic for the average palete – a dose of sugar before bottling calms all but the rare “brut sauvage” varieties. So too with Berliner Weisse  - the bracing acidity is a bit much for most people, who decide to soften it with herbal or fruit syrups”.*

The addition of Woodruff (a syrup derived from the Waldmeister herb) turns the beer bright green and makes Berliner Weisse such an iconic drink in Berlin – where it still holds appellation controlee type protection status.

Berliner Kindl Weisse (3.0% Abv)
20 x 330ml

We also stock flavoured syrups, added as a shot to make sweeter versions of Berliner Kindl Weisse. Flavours Available: Woodruff, Raspberry, Strawberry and Cherry.

*Extract taken from “The Brewmaster Table – Garrett Oliver” Available here

If you would like to enquire about stocking Berliner Kindl Weisse please contact us on 01422 377 560.