Wheat's it to ya?
Since wheat was the most common grain in Sumeria, we can safely assume the first beers made were probably wheat beers. However it wasn't until the 16th century in Bavaria that wheat beers came into their own. Today, over 90% of all wheat beer on the market continues to come from Bavaria with wheat beer gaining in popularity everywhere in the world over the past decade.
Identity Crisis
Wheat beer is very similar to ale in production. It uses a top-fermenting yeast and requires warmer temperatures. However, wheat beer's low hop content and high carbonation produces very refreshing beers associated with summertime. With the advent of air conditioning, wheat beer has begun to be viewed as a beverage to be enjoyed throughout the year.
So its made from wheat, right...right?
Very few wheat beers rely solely on wheat malt. Most are a combination of wheat and barley. Germany has very explicit laws brewers use to classify how much wheat can be used in certain types of beer. The most famous German wheat is the Hefeweizen. The Hefeweizen is known for its banana and clove taste and its refreshing nature similar to American lagers. American wheat beer typically loses the banana and clove sweetness and adds a clear, distinct end to the beer, meaning a smaller aftertaste and a less creamy feel.
Nobody beats our wheat!
Wheat beer is probably the beer we at Stabbing Goat agree on the most. We feel it is the best of both worlds, the complexities of an ale and the refreshing quality of a lager. It is suitable for drinking when knocking out paperwork in an outdoor cafe, or consumed in large quantities at a baseball game. Wheat beer is the ultimate do-it-all jack-of-all-trades beer and we are its adoring subjects.