What are they doing to my Berliner Weisse? For the longest time, Berliner Weisse was amongst the rarest of beer styles. There were Schultheiss and Kindl from Germany, and that was about it excepting the odd version produced here and there in America. Those, though, were few and far between. In the past few years, though, suddenly every craft brewer has their own Berliner Weisse. And they’re putting all sorts of stuff in them.

There is precedent for that one supposes. The Germans like to add a dash of woodruff or raspberry syrup to their Berliner Weisse to attenuate the sharp acidic tartness. They do this after the fact, however, to remain Reinheitsgebot compliant. American brewers save you the trouble and brew their extra ingredients in. Case in point: Terrapin T-Time Berliner Weisse, described on the can as German Style Ale with Tea and Lemon.

T-Time is, of course, a play on words as this is a golf-themed brew meant to be quenching and suitable for drinking on the green. It combines elements of those two southern favorites, sweet tea and lemonade.

From the can label:

“T-Time Berliner Weisse German Style Ale” is a tart and thirst-quenching wheat beer made with fresh tea and lemon peel. This easy-to-drink summertime refresher will get you back into the swing of things both on and off the course.

Terrapin T-Time Berliner Weisse has an alcohol content of 4% by volume which is about 1% stronger than the style calls for. It runs $10.99 a six-pack, which is about $1 more than I think is a reasonable price. Berliner Weisse relies on its sourness, not hop bitterness, to deliver a quenching trait, and as a result he beer has only 5 IBUs. T-Time is made with Maya Tea.

Terrapin T-Time Berliner Weisse pours to a hazy yellow color with a thick head of spritzy foam that fades as quickly as it forms, with a tart lemony nose. Taking a sip, the beer is certainly tart and citrus lemony with permeating herbal tea aromas. It finishes sour and citrusy tart. As a Berliner Weisse, it’s not so great for me, but as a novelty beer it’s OK I guess. The tea notes and citrus dominate, and this came off more as a soft drink to me than a beer.  

Not really something I would buy again.



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