Witbier Wheat beer Weizenbier Weissbier Weißbier

I was introduced to the delights of Weizenbier (a.k.a. Weissbier) when I was working at Schloß Elmau in 1984, and as I found it difficult to obtain any outside Bavaria I became quite obsessive ever since about promoting its virtues to anyone I encountered. Is it coincidence that over the last few years a veritable "wheat beer boom" has arisen, and even British supermarkets have started to stock "own brand" versions? I wonder! Anyway, here is a brief description...

Varieties

Whereas most beer is made out of barley, Weizenbier is made out of wheat. This gives it a much stronger flavour -- those into such things often refer to it as 'cloves, banana and bubble-gum'(!) -- as well as more fizz (although I'm not really sure of the reason for the latter). Having said this, it is generally not 100% wheat, but (in Bavaria) generally somewhere around 66% wheat and 33% barley (sometimes 50/50). Other wheat beers include the 'sour' Berliner Weisse (33% wheat / 66% barley, often drunk in a semi-spherical glass mixed with brightly coloured syrups such as raspberry or woodruff) and the Belgian Witbier ("white beer"; the Flemish for "wheat beer" is Tarwebier; the French term "Bière Blanche" is also used), while many of the Belgian Lambic beers contain fruit in addition to wheat. Here's an article comparing Witbier with Weißbier.

In Sachsen, particularly Leipzig, a nearly-lost traditional wheat beer called Gose has made a comeback (and is now found in many breweries outside Germany too). There are many similarities with Berliner Weisse, including the manufacturing process and the habit of adding syrups (raspberry or woodruff to make the "Sonnenschirm" = parasol, Curaçao to make the "Blaue Engel" = blue angel, cherry brandy to make a "Frauenfreundliche" = woman-friendly (!) version, and Allasch caraway liqueur to make the "Regenschirm" = umbrella). The first post-war batch was in fact made in a Berliner Weisse factory. Gose has a unique shape of long-necked bottle (originally uncapped: the thick froth was supposed to keep out any germs), and vase-like 0.8 litre glasses. The 1824 Döllnitzer Ritterguts Gose is available in the Gosenschenke "Ohne Bedenken" and now a second Gose pub has been created through the restoration of the Bayerischer Bahnhof station.

Gueuze is a Belgian lambic beer, which tastes 'sour' in a similar way to Gose and Berliner Weisse, but with the following differences:

According to the Cantillon brewery, wheat is generally used to add sour notes to a beer, but contains much less starch (=> sugar to be fermented) than barley, which makes it hard to create a 100% wheat beer.

Another tradition does however appear to have been lost: the Breyhan or Broyhan beer from North Germany. An entry from Zedler's lexikon in 1733 says that it was made from malted wheat and hops, and often used in soup(!). It was named after Cordt Breyhanen, a Hamburg brewer, who moved to Hannover and recreated his Hamburg beer there on 31 May 1526. See also Old German Beer Styles.

Brewers in many other countries have also produced wheat beers (see below), which are often tasty and more interesting than conventional brews, but in my mind none really come up to the Bavarian ones. Recently some American brewers have created very strong wheat beers named "wheat wine" (in the "barley wine" mould), although this could cause confusion as there some winemaking enthusiasts also make "wheat wine" (which is totally different, and probably closer to the Weizenwein described in a few old German recipe books... while Weißwein is of course something entirely separate again).

Even within Bavaria there are many different types: Hefe-weizen (yeast is left in, which makes the beer cloudy and improves the taste), Kristall-weizen (crystal clear: a slice of lemon is sometimes added, although I have recently witnessed a few Bavarians even adding lemon to Hefe-weizen), Leicht (light = low alcohol / low calory), Weizen-bock (double strength), Dunkel-weizen (darker), and even Dunkel-weizen-bock. I have also found organic, "smoked", non-alcoholic and shandy varieties. German shandy made with non-Weizen beers is normally called Radler (meaning "cyclist"; recently even some Germans call it "biker"). This name was apparently coined in the summer of 1922 when Franz Xaver Kugler, the owner of a mountain hut, found the cyclists were drinking him dry so diluted his beer with lemonade, claiming this to be a new drink he had invented specially to allow them to return home safely. Weizen shandy on the other hand is called "Ruß" (Russian), a name coined a few years earlier (in November 1919, at the time of the November Revolution). In this case, it was a Munich landlord (at the Mathaserkeller) who found himself in danger of being drunk dry by communist sympathizers, so stretched his (Weizen) beer in the same way.

Other variants (see also www.abseits.de/biermix.htm) include Colaweizen (50% Weizen, 50% Cola; also known as Flieger, or by the "politically incorrect" name Neger-Ruß), Frühstück Weizen ('breakfast' Weizen, with orange juice), Hollodri (with elderberry juice), Kirschweizen (with sour cherry juice), Pfirsichweizen (with peach juice), Bananenweizen (75/25; with banana juice; also known as "Elephant Sperm"!), Potsdamer Weizen (Berliner Weisse mixed with a conventional light-coloured beer such as Pilsner, but served in a Weizen glass), and Berliner Weisse Blau (with Blue Curacao). Even stranger combinations doubtless exist outside Germany / Bavaria, although in many cases it seems the brewers just add fruit flavours etc. while making the beer, rather than mixing afterwards.

All Bavarian Weizen are served in the same distinctive shape of glass, which is quite fragile (I've broken them when pouring, and even bitten through one!) so when toasting somebody you should clink the heavy base of the glasses together instead of the top. I have been told that the glass was made this shape in an attempt to suppress the Weizen's froth, although I suspect it is rather designed to promote a good head. Beer in Bottles used to offer a wide range of Weizenbier glasses. Straubs (in the USA) had a large variety (the Americans seem to call them all Steins), and there are some nice examples of Weizenbier Krüge (stone mugs, sometimes with lids) at the First Original Bavarian Shop on the Internet. Here is a picture of two unusual Weizenbier mugs I have myself: one with Schloß Neuschwanstein and the motto "Deutschland ist schön", the other with "Bayern" and a picture of mad King Ludwig.

Homebrew Weizen label

Pouring

Draught Weizenbier used to be quite rare (I'd even say non-existent) in Germany and Bavaria, although I did find some in New Zealand of all places. Since around 1995 however it seems that the boom in the West has been mirrored inside Germany and Bavaria, and draught Weizenbier is becoming increasingly common (which coincidentally means that 300 ml glasses are becoming quite common too). I have heard that it is quite popular in Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- for whatever reason. Cans are still comparatively rare: almost inevitably Weizenbier comes in half-litre bottles, which are all basically the same shape and thus easily recyclable.
[Having said this, I find Schöfferhofer bottles irritatingly thin -- and some firms favour bottles with long, thin necks, which means that their made-to-measure glasses don't work well with other firms' bottles.]

Pouring the beer is a wonderful "traditional" art. The glass should be rinsed out with cold water (some bars now have introduced a technological solution whereby an inverted Weizenbier glass can be pressed down onto a nozzle and rinsed instantaneously), then held over the mouth of the bottle (without drying it) and both inverted -- preferably over a sink, as without practice it is very easy to let the foam spurt out wildly. Professional barmen can however pour two at the same time without even looking ...

As the beer gushes out the bottle should be lifted up slowly, and when nearly empty should be withdrawn completely and swung around in one hand to capture the last grains of yeast, which are then poured in vigorously to cloud the beer (with non-filtered varieties). It should also have a good, firm head, although it is easy to tilt the glass too much so that the head takes on the glass' shape. Note: this is the school of Weizen-pouring which I learned, and there is much debate over the correct method of performing each step!

The definitive book on wheat beer, available at Amazon (and elsewhere).

Brewers

When I started this page I had no idea how many breweries were producing Weizenbier in Bavaria (let alone elsewhere), except that I'd sampled around 100 varieties (judging from the labels I collected: click on any "pic" link below to bring up a picture in a separate window). Recently, however, I have come to realize that the number is well over 1000, and it is futile to attempt to make any definitive list. For example, one collector says he has over 2500 Weizenbier glasses from 1100 breweries, and photographs on the various other sites linked from SammlerNet are equally awesome. I am therefore no longer going to update this list that often, although I hope it still gives some idea of the scope available throughout the world. Various professionally or commercially-run websites also have large lists (complete with "tasting notes" etc.; e.g. Ohhh My Head and Beer Advocate) and the number of hits for Weizenbier / Weißbier / Wheat Beer / Wheat Ale etc. on the Internet is increasing daily, so there is no shortage of information for those who want it -- unlike in 1995, when this was effectively the first page of its kind. Also, there seems to be a trend for local brewers (microbreweries, brewpubs, etc.) in the UK and USA to produce different beers every year, including the occasional Weizen. Many of these are only available draught, at the brewer's own establishment or beer festivals, so while I welcome the fact that this is happening, attempting to list all their names is a waste of time. Another problem is that many beers are now being given "brand names" rather than simply using the brewery name as in the past. Anyway, the end result is that Weizenbier is now much easier to obtain throughout much of the world, so my original purpose in setting up this page seems to have been accomplished.

If you notice any errors in the list, or unusual additions (e.g. strange ingredients, new countries) please let me know (see "Contact me" at the foot of this page) ... especially if you can provide me with samples of any wheat beers I've not yet tried! :-)

Bavaria (and some from Germany):

1. Aktien-Brauerei Vilsbiburg (Hefe, Dunkel, Light; see also Mühlviertler under Austria below)
2. Alpirsbacher (Kristall / Hefe)
3. Altenmünster (Steinweizen / Hefe / Kristall) pic
4. Andechs (Hefe / Dunkel) pic
5. Arcobräeu (Hefe / Dunkel / Light / alcohol-free)
6. Arnstädter Urweizen (from former DDR; one of the oldest wheat breweries in the world)
7. Aufsesser (Hefe) by Rothenbach in Aufseß
8. Augustiner (Hefe) pic (N.B. the silver label proved almost impossible to scan!)
9. Ayinger (Leichte Bräu-Weisse = low-ish alcohol / Ur-Weisse = Dunkel)
10. Bamberger Kaiserdom (Hefe / Kristall)
11. Bauer's (Hefe / Gose)
12. Bavaria (Hefe / Bayerisch Weizen = Kristall / Dunkel / Ruß; also 100% wheat Weitz)
13. Berliner Kindl (Berliner Weisse) pic
14. Bischofshof ("Malteser" Hefe)
15. Blaue Loewe (Hefe)
16. Boltens Urweizen (Hefe) pic
17. Bräuwastl (Hefe)
18. Brauerkrone (Hefe)
19. Braun's Weisse
20. Bürger Bräu Edel-Weise (by Bürger Bräu Hof, Hof)
21. Choriner (also organic; from former DDR)
22. Darmstädter (Hefe / "Whizz" = Weizen + peach)
23. Dingslebener (from former DDR, but privately owned throughout)
24. Dinkel Acker ("Weissbier") -- its Weizen now seems to be a separate brand, Sanwald (see below)
25. Distelhäuser (Dunkel)
26. Eber by Sonnenbräu in Ebermannstadt
27. Eichbaum (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel)
28. Einsiedler (Hefe / Dunkel; from former DDR)
29. Eittinger Fischer ("Fest-Weisse" / "Weisse")
30. EKU (Erste Kulmbacher Actienbrauerei) (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel) in Kulmbach
31. Erdinger (Non-alcoholic / Light / Kristall / Hefe / "Schneeweisse" / "Champ" / Dunkel / Dunkel-bock (Pikantus) / Winter; also Hefe and Dunkel cans) pic
32. Erfurter (from former DDR)
33. Ettaler (Dunkel)
34. Fässla Weizla
35. Falkensteiner Cola Weizen by Jahn-Bräu, Ludwigsstadt
36. Falter (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel) by Schloßbrauerei Alois Falter, Unterkotzau bei Hof
37. FIPS from Deggendorf; now bought out by Arcobräu
38. Flensburger (Hefe: 33cl)
39. Flötzinger (Dunkel)
40. Franken Bräu (Kristall / "Jubiläum"); Mitwitz
41. Franziskaner (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel / "Franziskus" Bock / "Club-Weisse; also draught) pic (made by Spaten)
42. Freudenberger (Hefe)
43. Fürnheimer (Kristall / Hefe)
44. Fürstabt (by Allgäuer Brauhaus, Kempten)
45. Fürther (Hefe)
46. Glaabsbräu (Hefe / Dunkel / Kristall)
47. Gold (Hefe / Kristall)
48. Golden (Hefe); by Golden Getränke in Altötting
49. Gold Ochsen (Hefe / Dunkel / Kristall / Leicht)
50. Greif (Hefe)
51. Gruenbach (a specialist Weizenbier brewery with many varieties and a good web site)
52. Gutmann (Hefe / Dunkel / Leicht / Bock) pic
53. Hacker-Pschorr (/ Pschorr-Bräu) (Hefe / Dunkel) pic
54. Haigerlocher (Hefe / Dunkel) by Zöhrlaut Schloßbrauerei in Haigerloch
55. Hauf (Hefe / Dunkel, also ​a 42% brandy Weißbier-Brand, and two Magnum glasses up to 2 litres!)
56. Hebendanz Export (?)
57. Heller Bamberg (Rauchweizen)
58. Herrenhaeuser (unusually, a North German firm)
59. Herrnbrä (Kristall)
60. Hirsch
61. Hoesl Resi (Hefe / Dunkel / Leicht / Kristall / Hochzeit [!])
62. Hofbräuhaus München (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel)
63. Hofmühl (Leicht)
64. Holzkirchner Weisse Oberbrau
65. Hopf (Hefe / Dunkel / "Eisweissbier")
66. Huber Weisses (Hefe, Dunkel, Kristall, Light, 'Fresh' [small iced bottles]) pic
67. Hufeisen Keller
68. Ingobräu Edel
69. Irseer Kloster-Urweiße
70. Julius Echter (Hefe / Dunkel) from Würzburg
71. Kaiserdom Weizenland (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel) in Bamberg
72. Kaltenberg ("Weissbier" / Dunkel)
73. Kapuziner (non-alcoholic / Hefe / Kristall / Light / Dunkel / Winter / Kellerweizen / Radler; also cans & kegs of 0.5, 5, 30 and 50 litres!) in Kulmbach
74. Karg (Hefe / Bock / "Schwarzer Woipertinger") pic
75. Keiler (Dunkel) by Stumpf in Lohr
76. Kitzmann (Hefe)
77. Koenigsee (Hefe / "Weisse")
78. Krans
79. Kraus (Hefe) in Hirschaid
80. Kuchlbauer (Hefe / Bock / "Alte Liebe" = Dunkel)
81. Kuppler (from Leipzig, but not a Gose; sold in 2 litre flagons)
82. Laufer (Hefe / Light)
83. Lausitzer (Hefe; from former DDR)
84. Lauterbacher (Hefe / Dunkel)
85. Leikeim (Schwarze Weiße) in Altenkunstadt
86. Leinleitertal
87. Lichtenauer by Hauff in Lichtenau
88. Löwenbräu (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel ("Schwarze Weisse"); also cans)
89. Maisacher Sedlmayer (Hefe)
90. Maisel Bamberg (Hefe / Dunkel) Note that this is totally separate from the other Maisel below!
91. Maisel Bayreuth (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel / "Furst" / Winter) pic
92. Maltezer
93. Martini, draught
94. Meinel (Hefe)
95. Michel Mahr's (Hefe / Bock) in Bamberg
96. Michelstädter Rathausbräu
97. Mueller (Dunkel)
98. Münchner Kindl (Hefe) pic
99. Neckarmueller (Hefe) pic
100. Neumarkter Lammsbraeu (Hefe) pic
101. Oberdorfer (Hefe / Dunkel) by Sailer in Marktoberdorf
102. Oechsner
103. Oettinger (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel)
104. Original Bayrisch (Hefe, Kristall, Ur-weiße; formerly made by Will-Bräu, now part of Hochstift
105. Ott'n (by Leicht in Memmelsdorf)
106. Palmbräu Rezent
107. Park (Hefe / Dunkel / Weizen-Radler / "Sunny" with fizzy apple juice)
108. Patrizier (Dunkel / "Black Rider" = Light Colaweizen)
109. Paulaner (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel; also cans) pic
110. Pfister
111. Pinkus (Hefe: organic)
112. Plank (Bock, Heller Bock)
113. Der Postillion (Hefe) by Karl Meyer in Nesselwang
114. Postkutscher (from former DDR)
115. Pott's (Hefe and alcohol-free; small bottles but nice!) - also Hopfen-Weisse
116. Püls-Bräu (in Weismain)
117. Preminger Weissbier
118. Prinzregent Luitpold (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel; also in 30 litre kegs; not easy to outclass the Prince of Bavaria's own brewery!)
119. Privat (Hefe)
120. Pyraser (Hefe)
121. Quenzer (Hefe)
122. Qowaz (65% Kristall, 35% Cola, lemongrass) by Fürstenberg
123. Raitenhaslach (Hefe / Dunkel)
124. Rauchenfels (Steinweizen)
125. Rawetzer (by Nothaft, Marktredwitz)
126. Reiler
127. Rhöner (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel; from former DDR)
128. Riedenburger (organic)
129. Ritter (Hefe / Dunkel / Light)
130. Rothaus (Hefe)
131. Rother Öko (Hefe / "Ur-Weizen" = Dunkel?; organic?) from Hausen
132. Saalfelder Gaudi-Weizen (Hefe; from former DDR)
133. Sandler (Dunkel)
134. Sanwald (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel / Light / "Blue" = Light Colaweizen; also cans)
135. Schäff (Dunkel) from Treuchtlingen
136. Schalchner by Schwendl from Tacherting
137. Scherdel (Hefe / Dunkel)
138. Schlenkerla (Rauchbier Weizen)
139. Schlossbräu (Hefe)
140. Schmidt's Heiner (Hefe / Dunkel / Light) by Zeltbräu, Hof
141. Schmucker (Hefe)
142. Schneider Weisse (Non-alcoholic / Kristall / Hefe / "Wiesen" / "Original" / Dunkelbock/Doppelbock/Eisbock (Aventinus) / Bock; also draught Weizenhell); world's oldest Weißbier brewery pic
143. Schnitzei by Schnitzlbaumer from Traunstein
144. Schöfferhofer (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel / "Weizen Lemon") pic
145. Schultheiss (Berliner Weisse)
146. Sigel Kloster (Kristall)
147. Söldenauer Schloss
148. Sonnen-Weisse (Hefe; from former DDR)
149. Speicher (archive) (from former DDR; no longer makes Hefe-Weizen)
150. Spessarträuber (Hefe) pic
151. Spezial
152. St Georgen Weisse Ritter / Schwarze Ritter (Dunkel)
153. St Scheidmantel (Hefe); Coburg
154. Staffelberg (Hefe) pic
155. Staudenweizen (Hefe)
156. Steinhaeuser ("Weizenbier")
157. Straubinger (Hefe / Light Colaweizen)
158. Stuttgarter Hofbräu (Kristall)
159. Thurn und Taxis (Kristall / Hefe)
160. Traunsteiner Hofbräu
161. Tucher (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel / Light; also cans)
162. Unertl (Hefe) pic
163. Urbanus (in Pfaffenhofen): champagne-flavour Weizen, due to the yeast, not any mixing
164. Urgäuger Weizen
165. Valentins (Kristall / Hefe)
166. Veldensteiner
167. Waldhaus (Hefe; from former DDR)
168. Weihenstephan (Kristall / Hefe / Dunkel / "Bernsteinweisse"); from the oldest brewery in the world ... pic
169. Weiherer
170. Weißbräuhaus (Dunkel / Kristall) by Herrnbräu in Ingolstadt
171. Weisserfranke (Hefe) pic
172. Weisser Kaiser (by Kaiserhof, Kronach)
173. Weizen ("Gold" / Dunkel)
174. Weizenthaler (non-alcoholic) pic
175. Weltenburger (Hefe / Dunkel / "Anno 1050"; also draught)
176. Wieninger (Hefe)
177. Wolfshöher (Dunkel) from Neunkirchen
178. Zoetler (Hefe, Dunkel). Comes from Retternberg, the "southermost brewery village in Germany".
179. Zwiefalter Kloster (Kristall)

Belgium:

1. Albert Heijn Witbier
2. Blanche de Bruges / Brugs Tarwebier pic
3. Blanche de Brunehaut
4. Blanche de Bruxelles / Brusselse Witte by Brasserie Lefebre (Quenast)
5. Blanche de Fantôme (draught)
6. Blanche de Namur
7. Blanche des Flandres
8. Blanche des Honnelles
9. Blanche des Neiges
10. Blanche du Hainaut Biologique
11. Dentergems pic
12. Dupont Blanche de Hainaut (organic)
13. Florigaarden Witbier
14. Floris
15. GB Wit Bier, Brussels
16. Grisette Blanche by Brasserie Friart (Le Roeulx)
17. Hoegaarden (White / Special; also draught) pic
18. Karlsquell Witte by Brouwerij "De Kruydtmolen anno 1821" (Houthem)
19. Kuurnse Witte
20. Limburgse Witte
21. Mater
22. Miroir speciale (from Jette)
23. Riva Blanche
24. St Josef Limburgse Wit
25. Sillenrieux Sara (buckwheat: don't think that really counts, but anyway ...)
26. Silly Blanche (was Titje)
27. Steenbrugge Wit-Blanche
28. Steendonk (also draught) pic
29. Student by Brasserie Lefebre (Quenast)
30. Timmerman's Blanche Wit by Brouwerij Timmermans (Itterbeek)
31. Vlaamsch pic
32. Watou Wit by N.V. van Eecke (Watou) pic
33. Weesper Wit by Gooische Bierbrouwerij De Horste
34. Witkap Stimulo
35. Wittekerke by Brouwerij Bavik (Bavikhove) pic
36. Witte Wieven Witbier

Netherlands:

1. Albinootje by Brouwerij Sint-Servattumus (Schijndel)
2. De Hemel (cans and draught, Serafijn - used to make Witte Raaf)
3. De Leckere Witbier (organic) by Brouwerij "De Leckere" (Utrecht)
4. De Parel Heintje
5. Haacht Super-8
6. Hillegoms Tarwe Bier by Scheldebrouwerij ('s Gravenpolder)
7. Horn's Wit by Bierbrouwerij "de 3 Horne" (Kaatsheuvel)
8. Jonge Daen and Ouwe Daen
9. Korenwolf by Gulpener Bierbrouwerij (Gulpen)
10. Kroon Oirschots Witbier by Bierbrouwerij "De Kroon" (Oirschot)
11. La Strada (from Goes)
12. Leeuw Valkenburgs Wit and WinterWit (the brewery appears to have been taken over by Haacht - see above)
13. Limburgse Witte by Sint-Jozef (Opitter; also by Martens in Bocholt, Belgium?)
14. Maasland Witte Weiven
15. Maximiliaan Speltbier (draught)
16. Moerenburg by Bierbrouwerij Tilburg
17. Texels Wit by Texelse Bierbrouwerij
18. Theater Wit by Ambachtelijke Brouwerij "De Griffioen"
19. Waags (from Amsterdam)
20. Weizener
21. Wieckse Witte by De Ridder in in Maastricht; now owned by Heineken - as are countless others listed here
22. Willibrordbier (from Utrecht)
23. Witte Raaf - now made by Bronckhorster? Alongside Eigenweiss (cans and draught)
24. Witte Wieven (Wit; and pineapple) by Maasland Brouwerij (Oss)
25. Wit Voetje by De Bockaar
26. Zeeuwsche Witte by Bierbrouwerij De Halve Maan (Hulst)

Denmark:

There seems to be some confusion about Danish wheat beers. A few modern types are called Hvede, which undeniably means wheat, and some also use the Bavarian or Belgian names weisse or wit; most of these also seem to be derived from Bavarian/Belgian types. There are also several indigenous "Hvidt" (white) beers, unique to Denmark ("a remainder of the pre-lager Danish brewing tradition" / "often used in cooking and as a thirst quencher ... was earlier the most common beer in Denmark"). However, although these are described on several websites as 'wheat' beers, I have been informed that "Danish Hvidtøl has absolutely nothing to do with wheatbeer". This particular correspondent described it to me as follows:

Hvidtøl is a low-alcohol dark beer and is very sweet in its taste, and it has a complete different tradition and history. Hvidtøl was made in the old days when people believed in ferrys [N.B. despite there being a common variety called skibsøl, i.e. 'ship's ale', I don't think he means 'booze cruise' vessels such as the infamous Saturday-evening boat from Copenhagen to Malmö... but fairies!]. At Christmas time they made this "Hvidtøl" and apart from drinking it, they layed it on the roof to the ferry who lived in the house. Now people don't believe in ferrys anymore of course [too many bridges?], but now it is "that beer" children in Denmark start to drink. Most Danish children loves Hvidtøl.

The name "Hvidt" is quite ironic, as many varieties are dark. It comes from the fact that this beer is made from "white malt", i.e. malt barley harvested before it matures properly and changes colour from white to green. This presumably accounts for the low alcohol content (which incidentally makes it tax free) and its suitability for children (like Malzbier in Germany or Root Beer in the USA); indeed, in the middle ages it was generally recommended to drink Hvidtøl rather than water. It still has strong associations with particular seasonal festivities. Hvidtøl is generally said to come in four varieties — Lyst (Pale), Mørkt (Dark), Jule (Christmas) and Påske (Easter) — but it is not yet clear to me how the Christmas/Easter types differ from the others (maybe the Christmas Ale contains even more sugar?). A Danish friend says that the most popular variation is called Nisseøl ("Santa's Elf's beer"); while the Net-Etiket website lists many more historical varieties: Hvidtøl no. 1, 2 & 3; Skattefri, Kroneøl, Juleøl, Påskeøl, Skibsøl, Bitterøl, Lystøl, and Wienerøl. The website has pictures of lots of Hvidtøl labels and also some background information, but only the front page is in English, so if you don't read Danish, try a machine-translated version. More information in English can be found at Danish Breweries. For good measure, here are a few links to Hvidtøl breweries:

• Albani Påske, Jule, Mørkt
• Brøckhouse Jule (seasonal and sweet, but *not* a low alcohol variety)
• Ceres Jule
• Fuglsang Mørkt
• Hancock Påske
• Harboe Jule
• Kongens Bryg Mørkt; by Carlsberg, as explained on Danish Wikipedia (translated)
• Maribo Mørk, Påske, Slots Mørk [closed 2008]
• Refsvindinge Lys Bjørneøl, Mørkt, Skibsøl
• Thor Hvidtøl (a.k.a. Taffeløl), Jule
• Vestfyen Dana Mørkt Hvidtøl
• Wiibroe [closed] Neptun Lyst, Mørkt Hvidtøl

1. Apollo Lys Weissbier, draught
2. Brøckhouse Hvede, Wit (draught)
3. Carlsberg Hvede (draught only) pic1
4. Faxe Wit
5. Nørrebro Stuykmann Witt (wit)
6. Ørbæk Weissbier
7. Refsvindinge Enkens Anden Lyst (wit)
8. Semper Ardens Weisse (Hefe with apple) by Carlsberg; only available in 30 restaurants
9. Tuborg Classic Hvede pic1 pic2

Sweden:

1. Örbräu Dunkles Hefeweizen #1, Hefeweizen #2 ("homebrew"!)
2. Grodans Veteöl, ("homebrew"!)
3. HD Wit, ("homebrew"!)
4. Jämtlands Weiss President (draught)
5. Munkbo Kristall (also draught, "3.5", "6.8")
6. Nynäshamn Yttre Gaarden (draught)
7. Slottskällan Vrak (recovered from a 1915 shipwreck) and Vit (also draught)

Finland:

1. Karjala Weizenfest
2. Koff Weizze
3. Arguably, also Sahti

France:

1. Amadeus Bière Blanche (also? in 50cl and 5 litre cans)
2. Blanche du Mont Blanc
3. Britt Blanche
4. L'Aiguille Blanche
5. Moulins D'Ascq
6. Uberach Bière Blanche

Switzerland:

1. BFM (la Salamandre / la Torpille)
2. Falken Munot Weizen
3. La Tana del Luppolo, formerly a.k.a. Birreria Ticinese
4. Locher Appenzeller Bio-Weizen (organic; also an alcohol-free sort)
5. Sierrvoise Blanche
6. Wädenswiler Ur-Weizen (organic); also Hanf Lady, the first beer (Weizenbier?) specially designed for ladies (i.e. without hops, but with hemp);

Austria:

(see also Netbeer, Austrian Breweries and Der Brauereiführer)

1. S'Weizerl by Altwirt (Hefe, Bock)
2. Argus (Hefe)
3. Baumgartner (was Kellerbräu) (Hefe, Light, Dunkel, alcohol-free)
4. Bayrische Weisse
5. Bogner (Hefe, Dunkel); smallest brewery in Austria
6. Braukunsthaus (Dunkel)
7. Brigitta (Hefe; closed in 2011)
8. Diewald (Light)
9. Dombräu (Hefe, Bock)
10. Edelweiss (Hefe, Dunkel, Bock [Gamsbock], alcohol-free, previously also Kristall, Radler)
11. Faistenauer (Hefe, Dunkel)
12. Fassl (Hefe)
13. Fischer (Hefe)
14. Fohrenburg (Hefe)
15. Frankenmarkter (Hefe)
16. Gerstl Sommerweiße (Hefe)
17. Goldberg (Hefe)
18. Highlander Unser Weizen (Hefe)
19. Hirt (Hefe)
20. Huber Hefeweizen (Hefe, Dunkel); from St Johann in Tirol; not to be confused with the German or American varieties...
21. Isi-Bräu (Hefe)
22. Jörger (now Grieskirchner) (Hefe, Kristall, Dunkel)
23. Kemmet (Hefe)
24. Kirchbräu (Hefe) [closed 2006]
25. Malzinger's (Hefe) [closed 2004]
26. Moorgeheimnis Weissbier liqueur (25%)
27. Murauer (Hefe)
28. Neuwirth / Steirisch Ursprung (Hefe); brewed using solar energy, in an establishment that also offers beer baths for health and beauty!
29. Nöckl Sommerweizen, Weizenbockbrand (spirit made from distilled Weizenbock!)
30. Petri (Hefe)
31. Raggei (Hefe, Dunkel)
32. Ried (Hefe, Dunkel)
33. Sajacher Schlössl (Hefe)
34. Salm Bräu (Hefe)
35. Ennstaler Schnee Weiße (Hefe - organic)
36. Stadl (Hefe); probably the highest brewery in Europe (1280m)
37. Staffelmayr (Dunkel)
38. Starkenberg (Hefe, Dunkel)
39. Schlossbräu Rheder (Hefe, alcohol-free)
40. Schmankerlhof (Hefe, Dunkel, Bock)
41. Schmaranz (Dunkel)
42. Schmieden (Hefe)
43. Schnaitl Bayern-Weisse (Hefe, Dunkel)
44. Brauerei Fritz Schneeberger wheat beer-only brewery; yet another 'Schnee-Weisse' (Hefe)
45. SimalWeizen (Hefe)
46. s'Kloane Brauhaus Die Weisse (Hefe)
47. Stiegl Weizengold (Hefe, Dunkel)
48. St Georgs (Hefe)
49. Mühlviertler by ThorBräu (Hefe, Dunkel); there are unconfirmed reports that Brauerei Hofstetten (Austria's oldest brewery) was the first to make a Mühlviertler Weißbier, and some evidence that there was also a Bavarian Mühlviertler...
50. Theresien (Hefe)
51. Trumer a.k.a. Sigl; (Hefe, Dunkel, Kristall); used to make Weizengold Hefe/Dunkel/Champagner (Kristall) but the name passed to Stiegl
52. Vitzthum (Hefe, Dunkel)
53. Die Weisse Another wheat beer-only brewery; good website, includes their own basic recipe for making Weizen (Hefe, Dunkel, Bock, seasonal Lent beer, etc.)
54. Wieden (Hefe)
55. Wolfsbräu (Hefe)
56. Zum Alfons

Hungary: Ilzer (Hefe, Kristall, Dunkel) -- very similar to the Bavarian style; from Monor

Poland:

Only one traditional brand, now extinct, and one new microbrewery? Considering that "the most common drink in mediaeval Poland was wheat beer", that's rather sad...

1. But now, we find Browar w Grodzisku, from Grodzisk near Poznan, saying "Grodziskie is the only beer style that originated in Poland. It is the country’s contribution to the history and development of the art of brewing [...] the original Grodzisk beer is brewed only [...] using local [...] wheat malt smoked with oak wood". See also this newspaper...
2. Spiż Brewery

Czech Republic:

1. Gambrinus Bílé
2. Herold Psenicné (Hefe)

Ukraine:

1. Pshenychne Etalon -- Brewed in Kiev with Munich technology, and available worldwide in beautiful presentation packs. In 2004 it won the gold medal for "South German-Style Hefe-Weissbier" at the World Beer Cup, and "Best Wheat Beer" at the Brewing Industry International Awards (see also BIIA 2004).

Lithuania:

1. Gubernija Kvietinis Baltas Alus
2. Švyturys Baltas Kvietinis Alus

Croatia:

1. Medvedgrad Dva Klasa (pšenièno pivo)

Russia:

1. Bochkarev Wheat Special (Бочкарев Пшеничное Специальное) (Hefe) [old English site] - yet another brewery now bought out by Heineken
2. Baltika (Hefe)

Italy:

1. Birrificio Italiano B.I. Weizen (draught)
2. Cittavecchia Weizen
3. La Baladin Isaac
4. L'Officina della Birra "La Weizen dell'Officina" and "La Speciale dell'Officina", both "from Monaco" (?)
5. Panil Blanche According to MaxBeer, Weizen seems to be readily available in Italy (possibly due to large numbers of German tourists?).

Corsica:

1. Pietra Colomba (with strawberry tree, myrtle, cistus, and juniper).

Greece:

1. Craft (Hefe); in Athens

Israel:

1. Asif Blonda Prua

Mexico:

1. Bohemia Weizen
2. Casta Triguera by Especialidades Cerveceras S.A. de C.V. (later bought by CCM (Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Brewery) then Heineken

America:

1. 19th Hole Ale by Custom BrewCrafters
2. 3 Sisters Golden Wheat by Krogh's Restaurant and Brewpub
3. Abita Wheat (Hefe) and Purple Haze (raspberry)
4. Ale Smith (Weizenbock)
5. Alexander Keith's Light Ale by Keith's Brewery
6. Allagash White (Wit) by Allagash Brewing
7. Anacortes American Wheat by Anacortes Brewery and Rockfish Grill
8. Anchor Summer Beer by Anchor Brewing
9. Autumn Harvest (Dunkel) by Chelsea Brewing
10. Baltika #8 Wheat by Baltika Brewery
11. Barley's Boulder Gold (Hefe); Henderson, NV
12. Belgian Wheat by Beartooth Brewing
13. Berghoff Hefeweizen and Solstice Wit (a Bavarian-style Wit?!) by Huber (later sold off)
14. Big Hole Mythical White Grand Cru
15. Big Wind (Hefe, Dunkel); Hartford, CT
16. Blitz-Weinhard
17. Blueberry Wheat (and Honey Wheat?) by Brimstone Brewing; Baltimore, Maryland
18. Blue Moon (Wit) by Coors
19. Blue Ridge by Frederick Brewing (now defunct); Frederick, Maryland
20. Blue Star Great American Wheat Beer by North Coast Brewing
21. Brooklyn Brewery (Hefe, Dunkel, Doppelbock, Blanche; all draught/keg only)
22. Buffalo Butt (Dunkel) by Yellow Rose Brewing
23. Calistoga Wheat by Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery
24. Calypso by Avery Brewing
25. Carmacks Gold by Skagway Brewing
26. Celis White (Witbier; also draught); Austin, TX
27. Chasing Tail Ale by Buckhead Brewery and Grill
28. Chuck Wheat Ale by Smuttynose Brewing
29. Climax Wheat by Beer Works
30. Clipper City (Honey); Baltimore, Maryland
31. Clipper Gold (Hefe) by Maritime Pacific Brewing
32. Cranberry Wheat (Dunkel / Wit?) by Valley Forge Brewing
33. Curim Gold Celtic Wheat Beer by Carlow Brewing
34. Dark Horse Sapient Summer Wheat
35. DeGroen's (Bock); Baltimore, MD
36. Desert Wheat; Moreno Valley, CA
37. Eat a Peach ; Mount Airy, MD (not sure if I should recommend this, based on the reviews here
38. El Dorado Brewing, Stockton, CA: pale wheat, Black & Tan "brown ale" (60% wheat, 40% stout)
39. Fireweed (Honey) by Midnight Sun Brewing
40. Foggy Bottom by Olde Heurich Brewing
41. Fredericksburg Edelweiss Wheat Ale (draught)
42. Grace House (Honey) by Wagner Valley Brewery
43. Granite Creek (Kristall) by Prescott Brewing
44. Grant's Weis Beer
45. Grassfire Wheat by Hook & Ladder Brewing
46. Grasshopper by Big Rock Brewery
47. Gritty McDuff's Summer Wheat by Gritty McDuff's Brewing
48. Gudenteit (Hefe) by Mickey Finn's Brewery
49. Half Ton (Hefe) by Thomas Kemper Brewing
50. Happy Valley (Hefe) by Desert Edge Brewery
51. Harley (Honey) by Charlie & Jake's Brewery & Grille
52. Harvest Wheat by Flying Goose Brewpub & Four Corners Grill
53. Harvester Wheat Ale by Coach's Restaurant And Brewery
54. Heartland Brewery Harvest Wheat by Heartland Brewery Union Square
55. Heavenly (Hefe) by Heavenly Daze Brewery & Grill
56. Hefeweizen by Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria
57. Henry Weinhard's Hefeweizen by Miller
58. High Desert (Hefe) by Bend Brewing
59. High Rollers, Anderson Valley, CA
60. Hocus Pocus by Magic Hat Brewing
61. Honey Wheat by Mill Bakery, Eatery & Brewery
62. Honeymoon Wheat by Coeur d'Alene Brewing, Idaho
63. Huckleberry Wheat by Pend Oreille, Idaho
64. Independence Wheat by Maplewood Farms Brewery & Restaurant
65. Independence Wheat Ale by Berkshire Brewing
66. Ironman Wheat by Southend Brewery & Smokehouse
67. Kelly's Southern Clipper by Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery
68. Leatherneck Wheat Beer by Shenandoah Brewing
69. Legend Brewing (Hefe; seasonal)
70. Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss, Honey Weiss and Sunset Wheat
71. Lemongrass Wheat by Outer Banks Brewing Station; Kill Devil Hills, NC
72. Light Lager by Main Street Brewery / Turoni's Pizza
73. Lilikoi Wheat Ale by Kona Brewing
74. Liquid Sunshine by Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
75. Live Oak Brewing, Austin, TX: Hefe Weizen
76. Lost Coast Great White Beer
77. Macfarlane Brewing, Phoenix, AZ: (Hefe)
78. Market Street Wheat by Bohannon Brewery / Market Street Brewery
79. Mason Jar Marzen by Thomas Kemper Brewing
80. Michelob (Hefeweizen, Bavarian Style Wheat) pic
81. Monte Carlo Winner's Wheat by Monte Carlo Casino and Brewpub
82. Mt St Helena (Honey), Middletown, CA
83. Naked Aspen (Honey) by Aspen Beer
84. New Glarus Solstice, Belgian Red and Raspberry Tart (Wisconsin; widely recommended; first US brewery founded by a woman)
85. New World Wheat by Redwood Coast Brewing / Tied House Cafe & Brewery
86. Nitro Wheat by Shipyard Brewing
87. Nor'wester (Hefe) by Saxer Brewing / Nor'wester Beer
88. Northwest Wheat by Bear Creek Brewing / Northwest Brewhouse and Grill
89. Oaken Barrel Razz Wheat (raspberry), King Rudi (Hefe); Indiana
90. Oberon Ale by Kalamazoo Brewing / Eccentric Cafe
91. Odell Easy Street Wheat by Odell Brewing
92. Oregon (Hefe)
93. Overland (Wit) by Overland Stage Stop Brewery
94. Oxford Raspberry Wheat (also draught), White Ox; Linthicum, Maryland; now brewed by Clipper City
95. Ozark Brewing, Fayetteville, AK: "Horseshoe Hefe-weizen"
96. Penn (Hefe); Pittsburgh, PA
97. Pete's Honey Wheat / Pete's Wicked Summer Brew (Hefe) -- defunct? Website (archive) used to be slow and Flash-heavy.
98. Pike Weisse by Pike Pub and Brewery
99. Pub Draught by Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
100. Pyramid (Hefe / Bock / Apricot / Amber); by Pyramid Breweries, Seattle, WA (formerly Hart Brewing, Kalama); served on tap in some airline lounges
101. Ramstein (Hefe / Kristall / Dunkel) by High Point Wheat Beer (the only wheat beer-only brewery in North America) Butler, NJ
102. Raspberry Wheat by Colorado Brewing
103. Raspberry Wheat by Oldenberg Brewery
104. Raw Wheat; Topeka, KS
105. Red Ass (Honey), Fort Collins, CO
106. Red Brick Summer Brew by Atlanta Brewing
107. Redhook (Hefe) by Redhook Ale Brewery
108. Red Rock (Wit)
109. Rogue 'n' Berry (marionberry); also "Mom Hefeweizen" (but it's a Witbier!)Newport, Oregon
110. Ruby Raspberry Wheat Ale by Mad Anthony Brewing
111. St Arnold (Kristall) by Saint Arnold Brewing
112. St Stan's Brewing, Modesto, CA: Graffiti Wheat (seasonal)
113. Samuel Adams ("Summer Ale" = Wit / "Winter Lager" = Bock, Weiss Bier)
114. Saranac Pilsener by the Matt Brewing
115. Saxer Three Finger Hefedunkel
116. Schlafly (Hefe)
117. Shawano Gold by Slab City Brewing
118. Shiner (Hefe / Honey / "Winter Ale" = Dunkel) by Spoetzl Brewery; in Shiner, near San Antonio, TX
119. Shipyard Winter Ale (Special Brew) by Shipyard Brewing
120. Sierra Nevada (Hefe) pic
121. Smuttynose Belgian Style White Ale
122. Snipes (Hefe) by Snipes Mountain Microbrewery & Restaurant
123. Snoweizen by Snowshoe Brewing
124. Southport Hefe Weizen by Southport Brewing
125. Spartan Wheat by Harper's Restaurant & Brewpub
126. Spring Street (Witbier), New York
127. Squatters (Hefe) by Utah Brewers Cooperative
128. Station Master Wheat Ale by Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
129. Steamworks Dunkelweizen
130. Stoddard's (Kristall)
131. Summer Breeze Wheat Ale by Wachusett Brewing
132. Summer Brew by Mill City Brewing
133. Summer Wheat by Old Nutfield Brewing
134. Summer Wheat Ale by Otter Creek Brewing
135. Sundance (Hefe), Palmer Lake, CO
136. Sunshine Wheat (Wit) by New Belgium Brewing
137. Sweetwater Blue by Sweetwater Brewing
138. Tabernash (Hefe / Dunkel); Denver, CO: brewmaster Eric Warner wrote book German Wheat Beer (see above) + sponsored Wheat Beer category in US National Homebrew Competition
139. Telenn Du (Dunkel) by Brasserie Lancelot
140. Teton Huckleberry Wheat by Grand Teton Brewing
141. Thor's Wild Wheat by Valhalla Microbrewery & Restaurant
142. Typhoon Winter Wheat by Typhoon Restaurant & Brewery
143. UFO (Hefe) by Harpoon Brewery
144. Upland Wheat Ale; Bloomington, IN
145. Viking Fest Summer Ale by Thomas Kemper Brewing; Seattle, WA
146. Wall Street Wheat by Mishawaka Brewing
147. Watergap Wheat by Appalachian Brewing
148. Wedding Wheat by Maplewood Farms Brewery & Restaurant
149. Weimaraner Wheat by Basil T's Brew Pub and Italian Grill
150. Weiss Guy; by Alcatraz Brewing, Indianapolis, IN
151. Weizen by Sonora Brewing
152. Weizen Crème Stout by Table Rock, Boise, Idaho
153. Weizenheimer by Portsmouth Brewery
154. Whale Of A Wheat by North Rock Brewing
155. Wheat by Amsterdam Brewing
156. Wheat Beer by Durango Brewing
157. White Mountain Weasel Wheat by Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery
158. White River Wheat by Hubcap Brewery & Steakhouse
159. Whitewater Wheat Ale by Great Divide Brewing / Trout River Brewing
160. Wickham Wheat by Charlie & Jake's Brewery & Grille
161. Widmer (Hefe; most popular wheat ale in USA?)
162. Widow Maker Wheat by Rockslide Brewery & Pub
163. Widow White's Brew by Old Saddleback Brewing
164. Wheatland Wheat Beer, Michigan
165. Wildcat Wheat by Little Apple Brewing
166. Wild Goose Spring Wheat Ale by Frederick Brewing (now defunct)
167. Wild Pitch (Weizenbock), Denver, CO
168. Wild River Brewing's Oregon Blackberry Porter, Raspberry Wheat, Hefeweizen, Weizenbock, etc.
169. Willow Wheat by Prescott Brewing
170. Windy Gap Wheat by Smoky Mountain Brewery
171. Wit Amber / Black / White Ale
172. Wixa Weiss by Wynkoop Brewing
173. Wollochet Bay Wheat by Harmon Restaurant & Brewery
174. Wood Duck Wheat by Pioneer Brewing
175. Woody's American Wheat by Watson Bros. Bistro & Brewery
176. Workingman's Wheat by Amherst Brewing
177. Victory (Philadephia): Sunrise (Hefe), Moonglow (Weizenbock) and Whirlwind (Witbier)
178. Vino's, Little Rock, AK: "Rainbow Wheat"
179. Yardbird Wheat by Big Time Brewery & Alehouse
180. Ybor Calusa Wheat by Ybor City Brewing
181. ZÔN (Wit) and Unfiltered Wheat by Boulevard Brewing