Back from Germany - need to find Berliner Weisse

The Tap in Haverhill had a Berliner weisse on tap over the weekend. You may be able to get it in growlers, I'm not sure. Good stuff. Cambridge Brewing Company makes one as well and its the one that introduced me to the style 4 or 5 years ago. Haven't seen them put it out this year though.

 

This can be found in most shops around the Camberville area.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4909/65752

 

I may be way out of my element (I'm from Chicago) but to my knowledge the best standard Berliner which is readily available in most of the country is Prof. Fitz 1809.

 

White Birch (which is in NH, so assume you can get it in Mass) has a Berliner: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20417/59462

 

I'd def hit up CBCs Berliner. It's fantastic; and is served (at least when I went) with raspberry or woodruff syrup (traditional). If you're in Boston, I know Downtown Wine & Spirits in Davis Sq has a great selection on their long wall. I would say Marty's in Newton as well, but I feel DWS in Davis is better for this type exactly.

 

The Tap still has some growlers of their berliner as of tonight.

 

The ones that I know of around Boston are the American versions. I really like Nightshift's Somer Weiss, but it's flavored (with lemongrass and ginger). Festina Peche is another easily available flavored version. White Birch makes one and Grand Teton's Snarling Badger is around, but I haven't had either of them, so I don't know how plain they are. I haven't seen German versions that I can recall, but I haven't looked either, so someone else can chime in.

I had them a couple of times in Berlin myself with the syrup and I thought they were fun and refreshing. Good luck in your search.

 

Yes, Professor Fritz is available at some local shops:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23495/36378

 

Berliner Weisses seem to be gaining in popularity--I feel like I saw quite a few of them from local breweries around New England over the summer. As has been said, though, a lot of them, like Nightshift's and Smuttynose's, are already flavored. Or there are a lot that are only available in a brewpub. I'm not sure if they're still around, but White Birch had a nice, tart, unflavored Berliner Weisse out as a summer seasonal. They were having a sale on their remaining summer palettes at the brewery a few weeks ago, but not sure if they've cleared out by now. Could be a cheap way to match your stock of syrups, though.

 

I haven't seen the CBC Berliner Weisse in a couple years, either, but it was very good. And I loved the name: Berliner Kendall, a play on the famous Berliner Kindl brand.

 

i love this thread. cheers to you ab5000 for doing something ive dreamed about. while i dont particularly care for the syrup additions, i think its cool you got them seemingly from the source.

im not down with the boston beer availability but your best bet might be to check out some local places and see if they are getting rid of the supply for the season. iron hill here in PA still has it on draft and i think nodding head is winding down for the year. your unflavored bottled options that are "easily attainable" might be limited to 1809 and the 2x versions of baynof.

 

I know I've seen the White Birch version at Granite in Weymouth recently and I remember Marty's having a ton of White Birch they were discounting. I expect it is still around Boston in various places. I keep thinking I want to try it myself some time. Maybe this will be my incentive.

 

Avoid this beer. Seriously.

Look for the one from Bahnhof, especially the Brettanomyces Lambicus version.

 

Really ? I agree with searching out the Bahnhof but the White Birch is actually a very nice example of the style and in my opinion one of the better versions I've had from the states... I not vouching for all WB beers but this one is worth giving a shot !

 

Maybe I just got a bad bottle, but the one I had was literally undrinkable - I split it with a few other guys, and not one of us was able to finish even a quarter of a bottle. Read my review (which I linked to in my initial post) if you want to get an idea for how truly disgusting this beer was.

I bought it because I enjoyed the BW I had at their booth at the ACBF one year, but that beer was a proper 3% or so and was actually tasty. The bottled version is a completely-I-mean-seriously-not-in-the-least-appropriate-to-style 6.4%, and it used every molecule of its strength to make me hate not just the beer but life itself.

Obviously ymmv, but you've been warned.

 

Another you may try and although it's supposed to be peach flavored I can hardly tell. That would be Dogfish Head Festina Pêche. I've had the 1809 and find the two quite similar, although I've never had them side by side.

 

guys, sorry for necroposting but I have to add some ideas which I heard from one my german friend who worked as bartender in Leipzig.
here it is. take 1 part of classic Weizen (not belge witbier or any herbal kind of Weiss beer) and 1 part of banana juice, put it in one glass. sounds crazy, but it works! especially in summertime.

 

Looks like Jacks Abby has a berliner weisse as well as a cranberry berliner. I know the cranberry berliner is tasty and available now, but the standard says May, but I have not seen it lately.

http://jacksabby.com/beers/berliner-style-lager/