PerfectDraft Style Profile - Wheat Beers

A brief history of Wheat Beers:

Wheat beers have been around for centuries, with the first recorded mention of them dating back to the 10th century in Germany. These early wheat beers were brewed with a combination of wheat and barley, and they were often flavoured with spices like coriander and orange peel.

Wheat beers became increasingly popular in the 15th and 16th centuries, and they spread to other parts of Europe, including Belgium. In Belgium, wheat beers were further developed, and new styles like witbier and Lambik were created.

In the 16th century, wheat beers were so popular in Bavaria that they were actually used as a form of currency. Farmers would often trade their wheat beers for goods and services. This practice eventually died out, but it is a fun reminder of the importance of wheat beers in Bavarian culture.

The most popular style of wheat beer is the Hefeweizen, which is a cloudy, unfiltered beer with a strong banana and clove aroma. Translated from German, the word "Hefe" means "yeast" and "weizen" is "wheat."

Fast forward to today, and we’ve got some incredible wheat beer kegs on Perfectdraft; Hoegaarden, Hoegaarden Rosee, Franziskaner and the seasonal “King”, Franziskaner Royal! That selection is soon going to be getting a little bigger as well…

Flavour profile of Wheat Beers:

Wheat beers are typically characterised by their light body, refreshing flavour, and white head of foam. They often have a slightly tart or fruity flavour, which is due to the use of wheat in the brewing process. Wheat beers can also have a slightly spicy or clove-like flavour, which is due to the use of certain types of yeast.

German Weizenbier (Franziskaner): A cloudy, pale wheat beer with a strong wheat flavour and a slightly sweet, fruity aroma. German Weizenbiers are typically brewed with a combination of malted wheat and barley, and they are fermented with a top-fermenting yeast that gives them their characteristic flavours of spice and banana-like sweetness.

Belgian Witbier (Hoegaarden): A cloudy, pale wheat beer with a refreshing citrus flavour and a light spice aroma. Belgian Witbiers are typically brewed with malted wheat, barley, and spices such as coriander and orange peel, and they are fermented with a top-fermenting yeast that gives them their characteristic flavours of caramel sweetness and spice.

Food pairing ideas:

Appetizers: Wheat beer is a great choice for appetizers, as it can help to cut through the richness of some dishes. Try pairing it with spicy chicken wings and creamy dips. The sweetness will also really help with any super spicy wings!

Main dishes: Wheat beer should be paired with things such as grilled fish, pork chops, or chicken. The fruity and spicy notes of the beer can complement the flavors of these dishes really well.

Desserts: Wheat beer goes really well with rich decadent desserts, such as fruit tarts, chocolate pastries, or ice cream. The sweetness of the beer can help to balance out the richness of these desserts.

So now you've a crash course on wheat beers, it's time to try some wheat beer kegs at home on PerfectDraft - we've got you covered!