Adding Lemon or Orange to Wheat Beer

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by TastyFoodAndDrink, Dec 8, 2014.

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  1. TastyFoodAndDrink

    TastyFoodAndDrink Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2014 Maryland

    Recently I found myself drinking a Victory Winter Cheers (a hefeweizen), and found myself wondering where the idea of adding an orange or lemon to a beer came from. As I've learned this is a controversial topic, but what are the origins? I'm sure that Blue Moon (and Coors) are responsible to an extent, but does anyone know if it has a deeper history?

    Also, are you for or against adding citrus fruits to your beer?
     
  2. lester619

    lester619 Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2009 Wisconsin

    I think the word controversial is a little strong when you are talking about a lemon wedge. I'm pretty sure it came from someone figuring out their beer tasted better with a lemon or orange in it. I don't think it needs to go any deeper than that. I don't like it personally, but knock yourself out.
     
  3. Beertsipper

    Beertsipper Devotee (491) Nov 18, 2008 New York

    Blasphemy.
     
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  4. TastyFoodAndDrink

    TastyFoodAndDrink Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2014 Maryland

    Perhaps controversial is a little deep, I read though that the citrus oils could disrupt the head thus, and hence my thoughts, 'decapitating' the beer. Which is certainly not something you'd hope for.
     
  5. FaradayUncaged

    FaradayUncaged Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2014 Michigan

    Concur. Added flavor and kills the amazing head associated with the style? No thank you.

    But, potential source:


    http://imbibemagazine.com/Hazed-and-Confused-Hefeweizen
    "This may be a clue to the origin of the lemon slice that accompanies most pints of Hefeweizen served in the States—an origin as hazy as a pint of Hefeweizen itself. Widmer figures this practice started at the Dublin Pub where the owner originally served the Widmers’ Weizenbier with a slice of lemon, a habit he continued with the Hefeweizen. When that beer caught on via the bartenders and waiters from other restaurants that drank at the Dublin Pub, adding lemon—thereby enhancing the beer’s prominent citrus flavor—became de rigueur."
     
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  6. FaradayUncaged

    FaradayUncaged Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2014 Michigan

    Exactly. Having said that though, if you enjoy it, do it! :slight_smile:
     
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  7. raffels

    raffels Initiate (0) Dec 12, 2009 West Virginia

  8. horsehockey

    horsehockey Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2014 Illinois

    My guess is that it enhances the natural aromas and flavors of the beer. A well crafted Hefeweizen probably wouldn't need the citrus addition. I don't know where the practice originated.
     
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  9. lester619

    lester619 Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2009 Wisconsin

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  10. Vitacca

    Vitacca Champion (800) Sep 15, 2010 Montana
    Society Trader

    I heard a tour guide say that the Sumerians added fruit to the beer to make it more appealing to women. That was Lakefront Brewery. Pretty sure all the tour guides are drunk.
     
  11. Kanger

    Kanger Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2013 New York

    Adding lemon to beer is a throw back to the days when people would mix fruit syrups into their bad tasting beers to make them palatable.

    But keep in mind lemon will destroy the head of the beer.
     
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  12. Andrew041180

    Andrew041180 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    If a server delivered a wheat beer to my table with fruit in it I would want to send it back. I'm not much for confrontation at restaurants, so I'm not sure if I would send it back, but I would want to.
     
  13. horsehockey

    horsehockey Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2014 Illinois

    I'm the same way. Unless it's a big mistake I don't send things back.
     
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  14. jesskidden

    jesskidden Poo-Bah (2,250) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Trader

    Some quotes that mention citrus in wheat beers (primarily in Germany) that pre-date both Blue Moon and Widmer Hefeweizen.
     
  15. LMT

    LMT Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2009 Virginia

    I'll only add lemon if the beer sucks...to make it suck a little less.
     
  16. JLaw55

    JLaw55 Meyvn (1,215) Jul 10, 2014 Missouri

    I personally enjoy a orange or lemon wedge in my beer, depending on the type of beer and scenario. If I am drinking a SN Kellerweis Hefeweizen or a Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, then no way. If I am drinking a Blue Moon or Shock Top on tap, maybe even a Widmer Hefeweizen, then heck yeah. Probably because the first two focus more on the banana and clove flavors and the last three focus more on the citrus flavors. In that scenario, the fruit enhances the flavor in my opinion. From the others, it does not.
     
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  17. hopnado

    hopnado Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2014 Michigan

    You paid for the beer, garnish it with a hearty slice of meatloaf for all I care
     
  18. TastyFoodAndDrink

    TastyFoodAndDrink Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2014 Maryland

    Would you recommend, pork, veal, beef, or perhaps a mix? Personally, I like mine wrapped in bacon, and on the side of Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen :wink:
     
  19. SmashPants

    SmashPants Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2012 Australia

    I agree with your argument.

    Personally I see adding fruit to beer akin to adding salad dressing to the salad on my plate. Some people like dressing, I don't. A few places I have been to have the dressing on the side to add if you want. Similarly, most places ask if you want lemon in your beer - or at least they should.
     
  20. tylerstravis

    tylerstravis Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2014 Colorado

    The brewer for Blue Moon said it wasn't really for flavor, but more as a lazy marketing ploy in a bar. People ask what they're drinking with the orange. It worked. (as told to my wife from the brewer)
     
  21. DarkDragon999

    DarkDragon999 Aspirant (251) Feb 13, 2013 Rhode Island

    Yeah Im against it. Keep the beer pure.
     
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  22. qchic

    qchic Defender (629) Jul 6, 2004 Maryland

    Beer should stand on its own. As a newbie though, I thought I was hot shit with my Paulaner and lemon wedge. The gateway, perhaps...
     
  23. TastyFoodAndDrink

    TastyFoodAndDrink Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2014 Maryland

    I have a friend back home who has always been a cider and fruity drink kind of guy, but we used to have this local place with a ridiculously good selection, including many casks. While he's never really dove into beer, he definitely has broadened his horizons. Life is short right, so you should not only drink what you like, but take some time to explore. We all only get one pass after all! Cheers, and thanks for the reply :slight_smile:
     
  24. shnsajax

    shnsajax Initiate (0) Jul 2, 2013 Idaho

    I believe lemon started in Europe way back when as a way to keep flies away.

    Oranges are just bullshit unless they are handing out beer at halftime at your kids soccer game.
     
  25. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Poo-Bah (1,896) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Society

    The pub in the town where I lived in Germany would sometimes add banana juice to HefeWeizens...that was different
     
  26. hopnado

    hopnado Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2014 Michigan

    I prefer good old fashioned beef loaf drowning in a pool of ketchup but the bacon wrap would be a welcomed option
     
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  27. PalatePilot

    PalatePilot Disciple (316) Dec 24, 2010 Colorado

    I tell the Bartender

    " I'll have a pint of ( Insert wheat beer ) and hold the groceries."
     
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  28. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Poo-Bah (7,855) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    Society

    If you want garnish in your beer... more power to you.

    If you put it in mine without me asking... you're pouring me another one..
     
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  29. herrburgess

    herrburgess Meyvn (1,124) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Brewery

    Said it before, I'll say it again (...and I'll never understand it): fruit in a Randall, barrel, cask, or fermentation tank = innovation; fruit as a garnish on your glass = abomination.
     
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  30. Uniobrew31

    Uniobrew31 Zealot (520) Jan 16, 2012 Pennsylvania

    If I catch someone "fruiting" a weihenstphaner hefe...let's just say balls will be kicked. :angry: Fruit the crap beer if you must but keep the good stuff pure. Or leave it on the shelf for someone who loves it for what it is!
     
  31. hopnado

    hopnado Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2014 Michigan

    Relax people! You act like drinking a beer with a lemon is more offensive than bear grylls drinking his own piss
     
  32. SoCalBeerIdiot

    SoCalBeerIdiot Defender (685) Mar 10, 2013 California
    Trader

    Aside from killing the head of a beer, citrus wedges at bars and restaurants are notoriously dirty so there's that.

    I used to drink Hoegaarden pretty regularly, though, before I got DEEP into craft and discovered almost by mistake one day that a squeeze of lemon juice onto the tongue before a sip was heavenly. To this day, if I'm at a restaurant or party and Hoegaarden is my best choice, I'll still try and get a lemon wedge with it (not necessarily IN IT, though, cuz yuck).
     
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  33. beesk80

    beesk80 Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2014 New York

    I lived in Belgium for a bit. Hoegaarden is always served with a lemon... Always. It doesn't matter when or where... You're getting a lemon in it, and it's good!
    So that's coming from the land of wheat beer.
     
  34. utopiajane

    utopiajane Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2013 New York

    I'm agin' it. I have learned not to be snotty and say something like "did I order fruit?" because they could come back atcha with "It comes like that. That is how it is supposed to be served." And after that there can be nothing but trouble.
     
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  35. hopnado

    hopnado Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2014 Michigan

    The customer is always right, I would throw a swift medium force punch to the servers windpipe and start flipping birds
     
  36. WunderLlama

    WunderLlama Poo-Bah (2,962) Dec 27, 2010 Massachusetts
    Society Trader

    I remember going to a bar outside Chicago ( Suell's in Northfield) in the 70's where they would serve a Hefeweizen in the proper tall glass. The bartender would stick the glass in ice to chill it. Pour the Hefeweizen for a full foaming head , squeeze in a lemon and leave a slice on the lemon. This was way before blue moon or shock top were ever a glimmer in the breezes eye .
     
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