You won’t find any woodruff syrup for
sale in Portland. That’s a shame, because it’s just what we need to take
Full Sail’s excellent Berliner Weiss to the next level. In Germany, the
slightly sour wheat beer is sweetened with a splash of bottled
raspberry or woodruff syrup, taking on a pink or light green color.
Woodruff, which tastes like an herby marshmallow, makes my perfect
summer drink, but there’s apparently some supply crisis in Europe.
Happily, you don’t really need it to enjoy this 22-ounce bottle, as Full
Sail brewer Chris Haveman’s interpretation of the traditional style
strikes its own balance between tart and sweet. This unfiltered wheat
beer gets that flavor from hersbrucker hops, a hardier cousin of the
Hallertau noble variety, and a kiss of tart lactic acid. This style was
once the most popular drink in Berlin, though its popularity has
declined over the last century. Full Sail’s version is good enough to
spark a renaissance in these parts. Recommended.
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