Lagers and IPAs might dominate the beer shelves, but if you’re in the mood for something a little different—crisp, effervescent, and slightly dry–then a sour beer might be what you’re after.
Enter Berliner Weisse, a classic German sour wheat beer. This beer is making waves again, thanks to its bright, refreshing flavor, which is winning over both beer newbies and longtime brewers.
And you can make it at home as well. The iGulu Berliner Weisse Brewing Ingredient Kit makes it easy to create this style at home, with no stress involved.
Brewed true to tradition, our version is light-bodied, naturally hazy, and delivers a zesty citrus tang and a clean, dry finish.
This Berliner Weisse brewing guide covers everything you need to know to replicate this style at home, from brewing steps to flavor enhancements.
Let’s dive in.
What is Berliner Weisse?
Berliner Weisse is a sour wheat beer variation that originates from Northern Germany, principally Berlin. While we can’t say for sure when it was first made, the first written mention dates back to 1572.
Berliner Weisse is recognized for its pale, cloudy appearance and crisp, tart flavor. According to legend, Napoleon referred to it as the “Champagne of the North” due to its bright effervescence and elegant character.
Wheat malt makes up a significant portion of Berliner Weisse, often at least half the grist, with the rest being barley malt. But while it has a hazy appearance, it’s light-bodied, with high carbonation and a dry finish.
With an ABV usually between 2.8% and 3.8%, Berliner Weisse is a great example of a session beer, a brew designed for sipping throughout the day without getting drunk on your feet.
What sets Berliner Weisse apart is its lactic sourness. This distinct characteristic results from combining yeast and lactic acid bacteria during the fermentation stage.
Often, this beer is served with a shot of flavored syrup, such as raspberry (Himbeere) or woodruff (Waldmeister). The syrups add sweetness and color, balancing the beer’s sourness and making it more appealing to a broader range of beer drinkers.
Why Brew Berliner Weisse at Home?
If Berliner Weisse sounds like something you’d enjoy drinking, then it’s definitely a beer style you should try brewing at home, and there are several reasons for that.
First, it has a quick turnaround. Many sour beers require time to mature–some take months, even years–but Berliner Weisse has a short fermentation time of about a week. This makes it ideal for brewers who love tart beer but hate the long wait.
Since it’s low in alcohol, crisp, and light-bodied, Berliner Weisse is perfect for warm weather and outdoor events, such as backyard barbecue gatherings. It’s refreshing and easy to drink, which makes it an excellent choice even for those who don’t usually lean toward sour beer styles.
Brewing at home allows you to experiment with flavor. If you find the original taste too tart or simply want to get more creative with your brew, you can experiment with fruit additions or flavored syrups. That way, you can tailor the batch to your taste and play around with flavor combos that might not exist in store-bought versions.
Lastly, brewing Berliner Weisse at home is much more affordable than purchasing commercial sours. This is mainly due to the unique brewing process, which can take months, and limited availability.
With Berliner Weisse, you won’t have to take up your equipment for months. You can make multiple batches throughout the season, at a fraction of the cost of buying sour beer in stores.
iGulu's Berliner Weisse Brewing Kit: Simplifying the Process
Whether you're already a fan of sour beers or trying out a new style, the new iGulu's Berliner Weisse Brewing Ingredient Kit offers a straightforward way to enjoy a fresh, balanced Berliner Weisse at home.
This ingredient kit is designed for both beginners and experienced brewers. It eliminates the guesswork and hassle associated with sour beer homebrewing and recreates the clean, tart profile of a traditional Berliner Weisse–all without the complicated steps or specialized equipment.
Brewing Berliner Weisse at home is as simple as adding the ingredients to the iGulu machine and scanning the RFID card–and the machine takes care of the rest. The iGulu keeps both temperature and pressure under control throughout the whole brewing process, ensuring consistent and high-quality results each time.
Most Berliner Weisse recipes involve a time-consuming multi-step souring process, which not only can be tricky to manage, but often requires extra steps and gear. With iGulu, the whole workflow is automated into one streamlined process within a single machine, which makes it much more approachable for homebrewers who want to enjoy sour beer at home, hassle-free.
Brewing Berliner Weisse with iGulu F1: Step-by-Step Guide
Being a fully automated brewing system, the iGulu does all the grunt work for you. But here’s how to brew Berliner Weisse, from start to finish.
1. Equipment sanitization
Before you start brewing, you need to sanitize all the equipment that will come in contact with beer–any utensils, containers, or tubing. This prevents contamination and ensures the final result has a clean, sour taste.
2. Adding the ingredients
Open the iGulu Berliner Weisse kit and add the ingredients to the brewer. Scan the kit's RFID tag, which automatically programs the F1 with the correct parameters, so you don’t need to manually adjust temperature or timing. The Berliner Weisse brew stages are as follows:
-
Stage 1: 77°F/25°C for 5 days (active fermentation and souring)
-
Stage 2: 68°F/20°C for 1 day (conditioning)
-
Stage 3: 35°F/2°C for 2 days (cold crash and clarification)
Check out this video to see how scanning an RFID tag and starting the cycle actually is:
3. Fermentation
During the first stage (which lasts 5 days), lactic acid bacteria and yeast are more active, causing the beer to develop its signature sourness.
You can monitor the process on the iGulu interface or a phone app. Some clear signs of healthy fermentation are visible bubbling and a foamy head called krausen.
4. Tasting
Before proceeding to conditioning and cold crash stages, you should sample your beer. You want clean tartness and no off-flavors. If your Berliner Weisse is too sharp or not sour at all, let it ferment for another day–you can adjust that easily through the Master Mode.
Once you’re happy with the taste of your beer, the iGulu can proceed to the conditioning stage for a day before cold crashing for clarity and enhanced flavor.
Troubleshooting and Pro Tips
Even though iGulu F1 streamlines the whole brewing process, small adjustments can still make a noticeable difference in the final result.
For instance, if your Berliner Weisse seems too sour, there are a couple of things you can do to fix that. One solution is to shorten the fermentation stage by a day, thus limiting lactic acid production.
The other alternative is to move the brewer to a cooler spot in the house during fermentation. Cooler temperatures will also slow down the lactic acid bacterial activity, controlling tartness.
One common issue with wheat beers is a hazier appearance after the cold crash. This is easily fixable by extending the last stage for an additional day to help the sediment settle.
Low carbonation? Check the tank pressure before priming or connecting your CO₂ tank and purge the lines of oxygen.
Enhancing Your Berliner Weisse: Flavor Additions
One of the most enjoyable aspects of enjoying a Berliner Weisse is enhancing it with added flavors.
Traditionally, this style has been served with syrups to balance its tartness. The most common ones are raspberry and woodruff–raspberry adds a deep red tint and berry sweetness, while woodruff lends a sweet, slightly vanilla-like flavor and a green hue to the beer.
But who says you need to stick to the basics? Black currant (or any other berry), pineapple, plum–numerous fruit syrups can complement Berliner Weisse's delicate flavor profile without overwhelming it.
Alternatively, you can experiment with fruit additions during secondary fermentation. Fruits like mango, guava, and passionfruit are popular choices because they introduce tropical, juicy notes that pair well with the tart Weisse. Depending on your preference and setup, you can add the fruits fresh, as frozen pulp, or even in concentrated form.
When adding fruit, always make sure it’s sanitized and added only after the primary fermentation has slowed. That way, the fruit sugars won’t disrupt the initial souring phase, thus preventing the beer from becoming overly dry.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
Like with most drinks, serving matters when it comes to beer. To make the most of the flavor and aroma of Berliner Weisse, you should serve it slightly chilled–ideally at around 45–50°F (7–10°C). That sweet spot brings out its tart character while letting the light malt and any added fruit flavors shine through.
Regarding glassware, your best options are a stemmed tulip glass or a Weizen glass. Both types have a narrow shape that helps concentrate the aroma, while providing enough room for foamy heads.
When it comes to food pairings, Berliner Weisse goes well with light and fresh dishes. Think about spring/summer salads with citrus dressings, grilled seafood, and soft cheeses–all of these dishes complement the beer’s tartness without overwhelming the flavor.
At the same time, Berliner Weisse works well with spicy foods, such as Thai or Mexican cuisine, as it cuts through the heat and refreshes the palate between each bite.
Conclusion: Embrace the Sour Journey
Ready to explore the world of sour beers? There’s no better one to start with than Berliner Weisse. It’s light, refreshing, and full of character–perfect for gatherings and warm weather.
With the iGulu Berliner Weisse Ingredient Kit, making this beer at home is a piece of cake. Whether a newbie or a seasoned brewer, you’ll enjoy the streamlined brewing process and always-good final results.
Remember to share your brewing experience with Berliner Weisse and any flavor twists you try!
FAQs
What ABV is Berliner Weisse?
Berliner Weisse has an ABV of around 2.8% to 3.8%, making it a light beer.
How long does it take to brew?
With the iGulu Berliner Weisse kit, brewing time is just over a week–eight days to be precise (unless you change the parameters in Master Mode).
Do I need a sour mash?
You don’t need a sour mash for Berliner Weisse. Lactobacillus cultures are used to achieve the sourness instead of doing a sour mash, which can be unpredictable.
Can I add fruit?
Absolutely. Depending on the flavor intensity you’re going for, you can add them during fermentation or after. Just remember to sanitize it before adding to the beer.
Is this gluten-free?
No. Since traditional Berliner Weisse is brewed with wheat and barley, it’s not gluten-free.
