The perfect beer for the slopes

If there is one type of beer that is inextricably linked with winter sports, it is Hefeweizen. No après-ski without well-filled glasses, with milky white beer and a head like a freshly fallen snow pile! Does that make Hefeweizen the perfect beer for the slopes? No! It is for after the piste, and we would be happy to explain that to you - as well as why white beer is just that little bit less "tasty" than Hefeweizen.

No alcohol on the slopes

This is rather obvious: as with, for example, driving a car and all other sports, it is unwise (and we strongly off!) to drink, or have drunk, alcohol with it. Fortunately there is a perfect alternative: alcohol-free Hefeweizen! This is how the world famous Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier even comes in two formats: Hefeweisbier Alkoholfrei 50 cl and Hefeweisbier Alkoholfrei 33 cl. For the sake of completeness: this beer contains a maximum of 0.5% alcohol, and that is good enough in Germany to be allowed to call it alcohol-free. For beer brewed in the Netherlands, that limit is 0.1% alcohol.

The difference between wheat beer and weizen

Everyone knows witbier and weizen - fresh, fruity and very thirst-quenching beer styles. Both styles are very similar but certainly not the same. Witbier comes from Belgium, weizen from Germany. Meanwhile numerous breweries around the world brew both types of beer, and we know of even a white beer brewed by Trappists.

Wheat plays the main role in both beers. Wheat is the second most commonly used grain by brewers. Unlike barley, which mainly a bread- or biscuit-like flavor, wheat gives a fresh-sour taste and a soft, creamy mouthfeel.

The differences are in two main things: Belgian white beer is flavored with bubbles of herbs, in German weizen this is not allowed - because of the Reinheitsgebot - absolutely not allowed. German brewers create the characteristic taste by means of specially cultivated yeast in the beer: aromas of green apple, banana and apricot can always be found. Belgians (and other white beer brewers) like to use anise, coriander and curaçao peel to add add to the fresh character of the beer.

Fun facts

One of the most famous Hefeweizen breweries is the Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, located just above Munich in Freising. The brewery is not only the oldest in the world - they started brewing there in 1040! brewing! - but also houses the campus of the brewing faculty of the Technical University of Munich. The brewery is owned by the Bavarian Ministry of Culture. That's how seriously they take beer, over there in Bavaria!

Bavaria also has many beautiful ski resorts, as in nearby Austria, South Tyrol and Switzerland. And nothing is better than, after a nice day on the long slats, with friends to enjoy a good après-ski, with a good glass of Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier should not be missing, of course.