Beer drinkers of the world, unite! Put
down that light and pick up one of these full-flavored wheat
brewskis. It's harvest time in July.
The purpose of drinking is to assuage thirst. At least that's what
some people tell me. As the summer season starts to heat up, you'll
probably find yourself reaching more frequently for the proverbial
"cold one." Cabernet rules, sure, but it's not exactly what I'd
call a poolside quaff. Beer is more like it, especially Weisse
beer. Weisse is a dangerously thirst-quenching brew, pronounced,
appropriately enough, "vice." It's made with a high percentage of
wheat (Weizen in German). Once considered an obscure holdover from
Bavaria, consumed mainly by
Alpine yodelers in leather shorts,
Weisse has now become a booming business, thanks to the continued
interest in craft brews.
In
Bavaria, Weissbier has commanded a 30 percent share of the
market. In the States, Weisse is mainly known as wheat beer,
although some brewers use German designations. I particularly like
Hefeweizen, a wheat beer with a fluffy head and a cloudy appearance
due to unfiltered particles of yeast (hefe) left in the finished
product.
Belgium's version, called wit, is the most recent wheat
beer to seduce American taste buds, and is undergoing a craze of
its own, fueled by the nonstop trend for Belgian brasserie
foods.
Wheat-based brews are summery and refreshing, with tropical fruity
flavors. Serve them - in a glass, please - with a slice of lemon
for a little extra pucker. Here are three of my favorites,
Weisse-guy that I am.
MICHELOB HEFEWEIZEN ($7 per
six-pack)
When the American craft-brew movement really took off in the 1980s,
the large corporate breweries were left holding their pull-tabs,
wondering where a significant chunk of their market had disappeared
to. It took a while, but they finally wised up - or should I say
Weisse-ed up? Craft-brews have become such a hot commodity that the
big guys are now in the game, too. Even if you live in a town
without a corner brewpub, you can get interesting beers at your
local supermarket.