A refreshing neo-BerlinerWeisse fermented with honest-to-goodness peaches to (get this!) 4.5% abv! Because extreme beers don't have to be extremely boozy! Available in 4-pack and draft during the sweaty months
In the nose: Sweetness and fruit are first, then along comes sour. Very promising.
In the mouth: Pucker kicks it off, with lush peach flavors coming in after. Tart. refreshing, light in body. Nicely balanced, not too anything, just right. Not a trace of bitterness, and not too sweet. Crisp and tasty. I'm enjoying this, and you know what? I do recommend it.
I wonder what I said about it 10 years ago? This was posted on BeerAdvocate in February of 2008:
"In a spiffy Belgian tulip-type glass...
Hazed faint peach/pear appearance, nice, if slim slab of white foam above.
Effervescence at large in aroma, light fruit, again, peach and pear, ...pilsner-like...slightly sweet, slightly dry.
Taste: sour, puckering, spritzy, ...citric, tart, then dry...like pear champagne. Light bodied, light finish, too...and the flavor's not doing it for me.
Boy, I've been meaning to try this for a long time, grabbed a bottlle in Wisconsin that was foul, and now this time...not crazy about this. It's probably as good as it should be, but, clearly, it's not pushing my buttons.
It's actually growing on me as I finish it. Would make a nice
dessert brew. Sparkling, dry, and a little fruity. Good. Not great."
A different take, to be sure. Did the beer change or did I? Maybe both. I've certainly learned to appreciate it more.
And here's what the brewery wants to tell you:
Sadly, there are only a few breweries left in Berlin still brewing the Berliner Weisse style, which is characterized by its intense tartness (some say sour). There were once over 70 breweries in Berlin alone making this beer!
In addition to fermentation with an ale yeast, Berliner Weisse is traditionally fermented with lactic cultures to produce its acidic (or green apple-like) character. Served as an apertif or summertime quencher, Festina is delicately hopped and has a pale straw color. To soften the intense sourness, Berliner Weisse is traditionally served with a dash of essence of woodruff or raspberry syrup.
In Festina Peche, since the natural peach sugars are eaten by the yeast, the fruit complexity is woven into both the aroma and the taste of the beer so there is no need to doctor it with woodruff or raspberry syrup. Just open and enjoy!
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