A style of many faces, wheat beer has become one of the USA’s most popular brews and a perfect summer quencher. Bavarian-style Hefeweizen, complex and spicy; American wheat, light, simple and refreshing; funky Belgian wheat ales and of course countless wheat based fruit-beers are just a small sampling of the different styles of wheat beer. Today we focus on two great summer refreshers that might change your mind about ordering your “usual”

    Wheat beer is a very old style that most agree originated in Bavaria.  This beer’s grain bill, or ingredient list, is heavy on wheat malt, light on hops.  This malt gives the beer a dense, white head. 

    The traditional Bavarian wheat beer, known as "Hefeweizen," (which means, “yeast wheat”) A.K.A "Weiss," (“white”) or even "Weisse," (again, “white”) is typically deep gold to ruddy orange in color, hazy, highly carbonated, and rich with the aroma of bananas and clove.  A unique strain of ale yeast is used that actually produces the same chemicals found in bananas, cloves, and vanilla! This style is lightly hopped with classic European noble hop varieties like Saaz or Tettnang, leaving the rest of the bitterness to come from the clove-like compounds produced by the yeast.  Try an Erdinger Hefe next time you’re in the Fat Fish to experience this pleasing and interesting combination of flavors.

    American wheat beers often use neutral American ale yeast ale or lager yeast for fermentation, resulting in a comparatively mild potion compared to their hearty, lusty Bavarian cousins. The American style is also slightly hopped, giving the wheat malt a chance to shine thru. A great example of this style is Goose Island 312 Ale, which coincidentally, the Fat Fish has on tap! 

   The Lemon question: Adding a lemon slice to wheat beer is a uniquely American invention and a great way to flatten the head and mask the flavors of your beer.  You ask, “Do I or don’t I want a lemon in my wheat beer”? One can answer that with some other soul-searchers like; “Do I salt my steak before I taste it”?  “Do I put ketchup on my peanut butter sandwich”? “Does Lou Pinella’s liver distend farther than mine”?  “Why is Jerry Lewis so popular in France”?  O.K maybe I slid a little off topic…..anyhoo, why not try your wheat beer without lemon, just to get a feel for the real flavor.  

  The next time summer’s heat is nipping at your gizzard, shoot your lawnmower and head to the Fish and drown your thirst in a refreshing wheat beer… and be brave, hold the lemon.  

Until next time, drink well my friends!  Cheers!