Weisse, a wheat beer with a touch of apple juice, is the fourth offering in the Semper Ardens range of hand-brewed beers from Carlsberg.
The light-golden 5.5% abv wheat beer follows the Semper Ardens theme of offering traditional beers brewed to the highest standards, but with a contemporary twist.
Wheat beers are a common and popular beer type in Germany, where they are known as Weisse or Weizen. The traditional recipe calls for 50% of wheat malt, but Carlsberg brewmaster Christian Luxhøj's interpretation of wheat beer also has added apple juice from Danish Bramley and Belle de Boskoop varieties.
The beer has been fermented using a top-fermenting yeast which helps develop the beer's characteristic clove aroma. Along with the wheat malt, three types of barley malt have been added - Pilsner, Munich and Caramel malts. The beer is an unfiltered, so-called, 'Hefewiesse'
The apple juice is added late in the brewing process. The juice comes from organic apples that have been cored and pressed by hand by Denmark's Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University's "bank" for old apple varieties.
"Wheat beers have an aroma of cloves and a freshness from the high carbon dioxide content that makes it ideal for a spring drink," says brewmaster Christian Luxhøj.
The apple varieties used have a high acidity that underlines the fresh taste of wheat beer. The clove smell is supported by hints of corn and apple that match the fine citrus aroma from the Saaz and Hersbrücker hops.
Semper Ardens, or Always Burning, was one of the mottoes of Carl Jacobsen, the son of Carlsberg's founder J.C. Jacobsen.
The motto reflects his philosophy that a brewer should always strive to improve both himself and the quality of his beer.
Brewing takes place at Carlsberg's small-scale pilot brewery in Valby, Copenhagen. Only 3,000 bottles of each brew have been produced, which is the maximum capacity of the pilot brewery. These beers have only been available in 30 specially-selected restaurants in Denmark.
Rare yeast types, unusual cereals, and completely new brewing strategies form the basis of the brews. Many different types of hops with very different aroma characteristics have been used.
For further information contact:
Andrew Arnold
Public Relations Consultant
Tel: + 45 33 27 14 36
Torsten Steenholt Christensen
Group Development Manager
Tel: + 45 33 27 20 43
Founded over 150 years ago in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Carlsberg Group is a major international brewer. Its Carlsberg and Tuborg brands are among the most widely-sold beers in the world. Besides Denmark, local production takes place at 73 sites in 40 countries. Carlsberg sells more than 88% of its beer outside Denmark. The parent company includes the Carlsberg and Tuborg Breweries, together with 100 subsidiaries and associated companies distributed around the world.