Berlin Beer Garden · Sour Wheat Beer
Berliner Weisse
Photo: Dtuk / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Before the syrup habit took hold, Berliners often livened up this tart, low-strength beer with a shot of caraway schnapps (Kümmel) instead of raspberry or woodruff.
Berliner Weisse is a low-alcohol, sour wheat beer traditionally served with a shot of raspberry or woodruff syrup to balance its sharp acidity. Bartenders will ask 'rot oder grün?' — red or green — when you order one.
Why it's made this way: The style developed in and around Berlin from the 17th century onward, and its syrup-mixing ritual remains a beer-garden fixture unique to the German capital.
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