Cherry Blossom Berliner Weisse
Strand Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumed on October 3rd, 2013. Poured into a De Koninck chalice.

Beer is a somewhat hazy yellow-orange. A thin white head forms and dissipates rapidly.

Aroma is lightly sour cherry. Nice with a little tiny bit of the funk.

Flavor is light but assertive; wincingly tart as it moves into the mouth across the tongue, the primary flavors are a sharp tartness and some sour cherry. The aftertaste is mild and yields a touch of light and indistinct grain character. Really, it is all about the sour.

Mouthfeel is considerable; sharp and effervescent (vaguely like champagne) with medium body.

I wouldn't call this easy drinking, but it is easy to drink, if that makes any sense. The cherry is nicely balanced and the beer has an overall acidic bite. This beer is far better than Strand's Ito-Weisse, which sort of tastes like Parmesan cheese and old socks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's a listing on beeradvocate for a "Cherry Blossom Ito Weisse", but the name and ABV are both different. Checking other internet sources confirms the information I'm drawing from the label to add this: "Cherry Blossom Berliner Weisse." "4.2% Alc by Vol." Label is white with a cherry blossom; simple elegant label art. 1 pint .9 fl oz brown glass bottle with unbranded pry-off cap acquired at a local SoCal bottle shop for $6.99 and served into a flared stem-snifter in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; I quite like good offerings in this style - but then again Strand has yet to really impress me.

Served cold - straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a half finger wide beige colour head of decent creaminess. Thickness is also merely decent. Retention is below average - about 1.5 minutes. No lacing.

Body colour is a dull murky orange; not horribly alive or inviting. A pretty generic appearance, and not an appealing one for the style. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Lots of room for improvement here.

Sm: Sweet cherry and berry notes with a bit of an artificial feel. Wheat. Sweetened floral notes. Cherry pie crust. Some apple. Vegetables. Doesn't feel natural or genuine. Smells like a homebrew fruit wheat beer. It does have some light tartness and a touch of sourness - which are the only appealing notes so far. No yeast character, bacteria, or alcohol is detectable. Maybe some floral hop notes. A not unpleasant aroma of mild strength. Leaves a lot to be desired.

Getting some distinct vomit notes as it warms; reminds me a bit of Budweiser Chelada (though that comparison does make it sound far worse than it is).

T: Okay. Artificial cherry, peach, apple, appleskin, and sweet floral notes clash unfavorably with light vomit notes. Pale malts. Some backgrounded cherry pie notes. Boy is the balance atrocious; that vomit note ruins it. Something went horribly wrong during the sour mash, but it's really not too awful - just quite unpleasant. Wheat fills out the body. Zero complexity or subtlety here; the off note tanks all chances of success there. Maybe some floral hop character. I'm not enjoying this one.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Acidic. Lightly tart. Overcarbonated. Decent body. Okay presence on the palate. Suits the flavour profile okay.

Dr: This shouldn't have made it to market. Definitely the worst berliner weisse in recent (~1 year or so) memory. Who's running QC over at Strand? They should be relieved of their job. Sloppy brewing. The price is inexcusable for this stuff. Definitely avoid. It just shouldn't be on shelves with these off-flavours. All things considered, though, it's not offensive in spite of the vomit notes. Just poorly constructed overall. I'll finish the bottle, but I definitely wouldn't get another.

D