Hallo! My name is John, and I’m a Berliner Weisse addict. Berliner Weisse and I go way back, you see, back to the early 90s when I was drinking the classic Berliner Kindl Weiss and, the first domestic example of the style I ever ran across, Oldenberg Weiss. Today, Berliner Weiss beers are popping out of the woodwork in America, but most of them leave me cold.

Why? There are two rules I apply to a Berliner Weisse. First, it should be intensely tart and sour, with what I like to call a tarty tart tartness. Second, it should be low in alcohol. German Berliner Weisse (like Kindl) often runs around 2.5% by volume. Many American examples fail at least one of these tests; some fail both.

The good news is I have been faring better with European Berliner Weisse. Earlier this year I really enjoyed Mr. Candy King from Brewski of Sweden. Now, I’m here to tell you about Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse Raspberry from Mikkeller. Both beers are akin to a Berliner Weisse mit schuss, or syrup. The Germans will often add raspberry or woodruff syrup to their beers, and Michael Jackson once remarked that when drinking them in Berlin he was regarded as a madman when he asked for his unadulterated.

Mikkeller is a “gypsy brewery” and produces their beers at other breweries around the world. Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse, of which there are several varieties, is brewed in Belgium at De Proef. I have enjoyed the very excellent Angelique Abbey Style Dubbel from them, as well as Mikeller To From and Mikeller Hop Burn which they also produce under contract.  

Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weiss Raspberry has an alcohol content of 3.7% by volume, which is close enough for me to pass my second rule with a B. It is very pricey, however, at $4.48 for a half liter can. Mine is stamped with a best by date of 20/10/17, or October 20th of 2017 in the European date format. I think it will keep far longer; what's it gonna do, go sour?

Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weiss Raspberry pours to a pinkish red color with a light frothy head and a tart, gently berryish nose.  Taking a sip, the beer has a medium body up front with notes of tart wheat, light fruit raspberry that is not at all sweet, and an intense powerful puckering sourness in the finish. There it is! This one definitely passes my Cardinal Rule of Berliner Weisse and has that tarty tart tartness I want in the style.

A wonderful version of a Berliner Weisse mit schuss, though a very pricey one and while delicious, not a beer that will replace my Berliner Kindl. I’ll definitely drink it again, though.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled, Canned

(D)=Draft

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