Braxton Labs Kiwi Berliner Weisse
Braxton Brewing Company - Braxton Covington

 

Going head to head with the pear version, Braxton Labs hold a tasty competition where the kiwi reigns supreme. Copious amounts of the tropical fruit pour into the Berliner styled sour wheat ale for a natural taste of fermentae that bounces off of the fruit magically.

Kiwi Berliner Weisse evokes mouthwatering sensations and jaw tightening with the very first whiff. Pale canary and cast in a foggy gaze, the ale leads with the succulence of tangy tropical fruit but a rise of cider, white wine, melon and soft earthen spice tingle the nose with promises of sourness looming. Early sweetness takes the shape of saltwater taffy, sourdough and a starburst of fruit flavor.

And then the flavors explode on the middle palate as the full juicy flavor of kiwi washes the tastebuds with sweet nectar, tangy kiwi juice and the subtle succulence of honeydew. Sweet juiciness quickly gives way to the more sour side of dry french cider, crabapple, peppery chardonnay and sour white grape. Gooseberry and burlap come in late with a playful astringency and woodsy must to round out the taste.

Medium light on the palate, the light and playful fruit flavors whether natural or additions all work to keep the profile light and airy. Highly drinkable and with utmost refreshment, this kiwi facelift updates the beer that Napoleon's troops dubbed the champagne of the north, right down to a fleeting afterglow of kiwi and balsa.