Nodding Head Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse

Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Festival 2009 – Seattle, WA
Belgian yeast was light the pumpkin was sour. This was a nice night ale.

GABF2009 - served without syrup, thank god - I went from a mediocre berliner, to a downright crappy one - this tasted like seltzer with a twist of lemon in it, and a faintly malty touch at the end - like some kind of watered down shandy, or something of that nature - a semi-tart kick on the back end livened things up, but I though this was boring as hell.

Tap at the brewpub: Slightly hazy golden with a white film of head. Grainy worty aroma with a wheaty tart note- light body with a slightly tart flavor. Some vegetal notes and a mild lactic presence over the sharp wheat. A bit grainy and not tart enough- but I like to see a brewpub making this style.

Tap at the brewery. Served with a dash of woodruff syrup. 3.75% ABV. Very lightly grainy with hint of sourness in aroma. Crystal clear with small fine white head. Very light malty sourness. Finish is dry and clean and lightly sour. Very refreshing.

On draught at Nodding Head. Served without the syrup (I’m assuming since I asked for it omitted). Arrived at the table a pale straw gold with a thin-moderate white head that lasted through the first quarter of the glass. Pleasant aroma of wheat and lemon. The flavor is again wheat and lemon along with a bit of Granny Smith apple. The fruit flavors are bright and tart. Nice crsip, tangy finish. Good stuff!

Without the wsyrup. Straw yellow pour with a creamy white head and lace. Nose of wheat and light lemon. Amazing tart apple like flavor. Very nice aggressive carbonation. An excellent beer nice apple like after taste very refreshing.

I really like this, tap at the brewpub with the woodruff syrup, but only a touch, and so I don’t think its a big deal, not as much as Any at least but yeah I understand though. Always psyched to try a new berliner weisse. Pours golden with a bright white ring. Nose is full of the woodruff. Taste is great, very tart, acidic refreshing. Yum.

Tap at the brewpub. When she poured this originally, I saw her squirt the woodruff syrup in without asking me first, which wasn’t cool at all. I had to have her pour me another. Bleh. Why would they do that?

Anyway, the beer had a very dull, spoony (?), mashed corn aroma. Small head. Crisp, clean and refreshing flavor, with a lot of wheat and wood, with a warhead-like lemon sourness flavor, though not nearly that tart. Easy drinking. I dug it. Certainly not the best BW by any means, I guess I just love the style.