White beer

Witbier, a top-fermented beer style with strong roots in Belgium, shines in a pale yellow to light blond color and is brewed with a mix of malted and unmalted wheat. The taste of wheat beer is fruity and refreshingly sour, often enriched with additions of coriander and curaçao (orange peel). The alcohol percentage usually varies between 4 and 6%.

The history of wheat beer is closely linked to the Belgian beer pioneer Pierre Célis. When the popularity of wheat beer was waning, he gave it a new life. Years later, Hoegaarden, his creation, became known worldwide as an excellent wheat beer.

• The term "white" in wheat beer has nothing to do with the color. It is a derivative of 'wheat', which means wheat. The beer has a pale yellow to blond color, is cloudy and has a creamy, collapsing foam head.
• The smell of wheat beer is fresh and fruity, with hints of citrus fruit and coriander. Wheat beer is best known as a refreshing summer terrace beer, a real thirst quencher with a taste profile that is slightly sour, accompanied by aromas of citrus fruit and coriander. Sometimes there are subtle notes of vanilla and honey, and spicy accents such as pepper, resulting from the hops, are present without being overpowering.

In the past, wheat beer was sometimes served with a slice of lemon, often accompanied by a pestle. This custom arose when the demand for wheat beer exceeded the supply, and brewers sent the beer to the catering industry more quickly. To maintain the refreshing taste, adding a slice of lemon was recommended. Although this advice was withdrawn when supply and demand came into balance, the lemon slice still remains inextricably linked to this Belgian beer style.

Weizen, a beer with at least 50% wheat malt in its composition, is a seductively thirst-quenching visual pleasure: a generous half liter in a glass with a slim waist and a foam head that rises a few centimeters above the rim protrudes.

As a top-fermented beer style with roots in southern Germany, Weizen is characterized by its fresh and fruity character, sweetness, a touch of fresh acid, abundant carbonation and the fruity aromas of banana. The unmistakable notes of banana and cloves emerge from the yeast. The alcohol percentages usually vary between 4.5% and 6%. The yeast plays a crucial role in the flavor palette of this beer style. When pouring, it is recommended to loosen the last bit of yeast from the bottom and pour it into the glass, which makes the taste even fuller and creamier.

• The color of Weizen varies from blonde to amber, and the beer is cloudy with a robust, stable head.
• The aromatic experience of Weizen evokes associations with ripe bananas or banana meringues, while the typical scent of cloves comes from the yeast.
• The taste of Weizen is mainly rich, fruity and sweet, with an occasional slightly refreshing sour note.

Weizen is referred to in different ways, such as Weissbier, Weisse or Hefe Weizen or Hefe Weissbier. The word 'Hefe' means yeast, and this ingredient is essential. The cloudiness of the beer is partly determined by the yeast, which is also responsible for the characteristic aromas of cloves and banana.

Often associated with the state of Bavaria in southern Germany, the Von Degenberg family long held exclusive brewing rights for Weizen. After a decline in interest and income, King Ludwig II sold the brewing rights to Georg Schneider in 1872.