Pints Brewing Company's Amerikaner in Berliner Weisse Is the Perfect Summer Ale

It tastes like sourdough bread topped with marshmallow candy.

By Parker Hall

Despite the abundance of local summer session beers labeled Berliner Weisse, it's nearly impossible to find the real deal in Portland.

Related: Our Bar of the Year is an Authentic German Bier Bar

Fact is, most breweries opt to make a faster, less-tart version of the classic style for summer consumption—kettle-soured brews that often include fruit. Pints' Amerikaner in Berliner Weisse is the genuine article.

Related: We Recommend Oakshire's Sun Made Berliner Weisse

Named for head brewer Alan Taylor's time in Germany's capital, it's traditionally fermented and aged for more than 10 months with three strains of yeast from Berlin's Schultheiss brand, imported by Taylor himself. The biting tartness of this pale, 2.8 percent ABV brew is perfectly cut with a splash of sticky green woodruff syrup. The result is a full-bodied beer that tastes like sourdough bread topped with marshmallow candy, a perfect summer ale that will have you wondering why others bother making the fake stuff at all. Recommended.

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