Berliner weissbier Available in October?

All year round, in bottles. I had trouble finding it myself, but it's there. Mainly Berliner Kindl. It's a specialty beer just like it is here.

 

Here's my review of the Berliner Kind Weisse and the place where I had it is listed. It's a decent enough place but I wouldn't recommend it, I was just stuck there waiting for my family to finish shopping.

I'd imagine things have changed since I was there last in December of 2013 but Berliner Weisse was hard to find. If I saw it in bottles (and never von fass), it was always one of the flavored versions (one Mexican restaurant I went to for happy hour - how does that make sense? - had three). A possible exception to that is that they might have had it at Ka De We, I can't exactly recall. However, you should certainly visit Ka De We just to look at their selection (beers will cost you more than if you can find them elsewhere) and have a beer and snack from one of their kiosks. It is the 2nd largest department store in the world!

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Berliner Kindl Weisse
,33l "stubby" bottle @ Ranke 2, Rankestrasse 2, 10789 Berlin

Berliner Kindl Weisse has changed. After falling out of popularity over a very long period of time going back to WWII, it's marketing changed progressively over the years, and the old-school shots of woodruff or raspberry have now been eclipsed by the addition of grapefruit, green apple, white peach, black raspberry, strawberry, elderflower, sour cherry, and rhubarb in an attempt to get the younger generation to start drinking it again. In a nod to tradition, however, the stubby bottles of the straightforward beer are still available, as well as a long neck of the same volume - but they also bottle pre-mixed versions of the raspberry, woodruff, and black raspberry. Moreover, they encourage it's use as a mixer in cocktails.

With all of that said, the basic beer remains pretty much the same as it's always been. It's slightly stronger now at 3.0% abv rather than 2.5% but it tastes the same. It still offers the sharp tartness, low bitterness, and sparkling quality that it's know for, and it's still quite light in body. Additionally, I've tasted other "Berliner Weissen" (meaning NOT made in Berlin) and I've always found them slightly harsh with Phenols or off-notes but there's none of that here. And it's a classic, and that should not be ignored. Whatever your thoughts about the actual flavor of the beer is, you must keep in mind what it's intended to be, which was originally a very quickly made, light and refreshing beer for the working man. (Side note, it's not well known but "white beer" such as this was actually quite popular in the United States at one point). So, if you've never tasted it you really should; and please, I implore you, skip the grapefruit syrup!

 

Look for Schneeeule -- there were bottles available when I was in Berlin last December.

 

Schneeeule is the new hot stuff. It made the tradional way, using Brett yeast (which Kindl does not have). Surreptitious advertising: Get some bottles at Hopfen&Malz.