Berliner Weisse
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Berliner Weiße is a wheat and barley beer variant brewed exclusively in the area of Berlin, Germany.
Weiße contains only around 2.8% vol of alcohol, making it one of the weakest German beers. It is top-fermented, slightly barm-clouded and relatively sour. Due to the sourish taste, it is commonly drunk mixed with red raspberry or green artificial woodruff syrup, and is then called Weiße mit Schuss. The optimal drinking temperature is 8° to 10 °C. This mix-drink is very refreshing in the hot summer months and served throughout Berlin. It is served in a large goblet with a straw. An older variation is the Weiße mit Strippe, which is mixed with a small amount of caraway schnapps (Kümmel) or grain spirit (Korn).
Berliner Weiße is first mentioned in 1642 by the Berlin doctor J.S.Elsholz, as an enhancement of the beer Broihans from Halberstadt. A famous Weiße drinker was Albrecht von Wallenstein, who during the Thirty Years' War complained in a letter to his subordinate captain Arnim von Boitzenburg that he does not know how to satisfy his thirst, for [he could] not bear the taste of barley beer. Berlin was hard up for wheat at the time, so that it could not be used for brewing. Later during the 19th century, Berliner Weiße was the most popular drink in Berlin. Several breweries specialised on this variety. Every third realty hosted a tavern, among which many inns.de:Berliner Weiße fr:Berliner Weiße