What is a Wheat Beer?

In technical terms, a wheat beer is a top-fermented beer brewed with a large portion of wheat rather than barley malt. The result is a lighter style beer with a creamy texture and some unique, exciting flavours such as banana and clove.

Styles of Wheat Beer

Weizenbier/Hefeweizen - is a German Weißbier traditionally from Bavaria that came into production in the 15th century. Outside of Bavaria it is generally referred to as Weizen .

The term Hefeweizen signifies that it is unfiltered, which means you'll get a cloudy beer. But, you may have also seen Kristallweizen which signifies it is a filtered, clear wheat beer.

Dunkelweizen and Weizenbock are forms of dark wheat beer that typically have higher alcohol and more roasted barley and wheat malt to give a smokier, toasty flavour.

Witbier - is the version brewed in Belgium and the Netherlands that usually has additional spices such as coriander and orange added to the brewing process. Hoegaarden are perhaps the most famous producer.

Berliner Weiße - is a low alcohol, tart style of wheat beer.

Gose - is a slightly stronger version of Berliner Weiße and includes coriander and salt additions.

Lambic - Made in Belgium, lambics can be made with wheat and barley, but differ due to their use of wild yeast for spontaneous fermentation.