News flash, July of 2015! Doc Dweller summer seasonal released as first OBC sour-Omaha Brewing Company, Omaha, Georgia. OK, so here’s the thing. I know Berliner Weisse is sour, but I never think of it as a sour. Does that make sense to you? Today, beer geeks tend to lump all sour beers together. You know, like Lambics and Flanders Red and maybe Gose and Berliner Weisse. I like to think of them by their proper style. Sue me.
OK, now that we have that out of our system, let’s enjoy our glass of Omaha Doc Dweller Summer Ale, shall we? They call this a ‘Georgia-style” Berliner Weisse (whatever that means) and I ordered it up when I saw it on tap at Taco Mac. Here’s what they say about it on the brewery website:
The
Doc Dweller is our adaptation of the German-style Berliner
Weisse. Our Georgia-style Berliner pops with an initial tartness that
gently tingles the palate and incorporates white wine and green grape
notes, derived from the beautiful combination of lactic acid and New
Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops. With a light, golden and slightly cloudy
appearance, we believe the Doc Dweller combines everything necessary
to enjoy a day on the dock.
Omaha Doc Dweller Summer Ale has an alcohol content of 4.4% by volume with 22 IBUs or 4% by volume with 7 IBUs depending on where you look on the Omaha website. We’ll go with the lower figure since that’s what Taco Mac had it pegged at. Either one is high for the style (should be 2.5% to 3%), and I continue to be dismayed that so many American craft brewers are afraid to get below the 4% ABV threshold. I paid $6 for an 11-ounce glass, also disappointing as I think this should be a full mug pour.
My glass of Omaha Doc Dweller Summer Ale arrived a pale yellow color with almost no head and a tart wheat nose. Taking a sip, there is light crackery wheat palate, quickly followed by a quenching dry sourness that approaches puckering at the last. A very tasty example of the style, and I love the dry sourness here. Certainly a beer that asks for another, but my reigning champion domestic Berliner Weisse is still Blue Tarp Funk Weisse. Equally tart and sour and just 3% ABV.
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
(D)=Draft