1809 Berliner Weisse vs West Sixth Berliner: Which Should You Drink?

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1809 Berliner Weisse

Dr. Fritz Briem

Germany · Berliner Weisse

hopIQ rank #2084

85%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

West Sixth Berliner

West Sixth Brewing

United States · Berliner Weisse

HOPIQ TAKE

1809 Berliner Weisse if you want a fuller, more substantial sour experience, West Sixth Berliner if you want a lighter, more delicate one. Both clock in at the same 10 IBU, so bitterness isn't the differentiator—it's the alcohol weight and malt backbone. That 1.2% ABV gap sounds small until you're holding the glass: the 1809 feels rounder, almost creamy despite the tartness, while West Sixth drinks like a whisper. Neither will blow your head off, but they're solving different moods.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick 1809 Berliner Weisse when…

→It's late afternoon and you need a beer that rewards attention, not just thirst
→You prefer Berliners with actual malt presence, not just acid and air
→You're in the mood for something that tastes 'real' and purposeful

Pick West Sixth Berliner when…

→You're thirsty and want pure refreshment without overthinking it
→It's hot outside or you're standing at a crowded bar nursing slowly
→You want to try a Berliner Weisse but aren't ready for full tartness intensity

SIDE BY SIDE

	1809 Berliner Weisse	West Sixth Berliner
ABV	5%	3.8%
Bitterness	Mild	Mild
Colour	Pale gold	Pale gold
Style	Berliner Weisse	Berliner Weisse
Origin	Germany	United States

WHAT IT TASTES OF

10 shared · 3 distinct

Both beers

tartsourwheatdrycrisprefreshinglightmineralcleanyeasty

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

1809 Berliner WeisseWest Sixth Berliner

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

1809 Berliner Weisse

TartSourDry

The 1809 hits with immediate lactic tartness, but there's a wheat-forward sweetness underneath that keeps it from feeling like you're drinking juice. The carbonation is soft and inviting rather than aggressive, and there's this subtle creaminess that suggests proper fermentation work. At 5%, you actually feel it coat your mouth—not heavy, but present. It's the kind of Berliner that makes you slow down and think about it.

West Sixth Berliner

WheatSourDry

West Sixth's version is leaner and more spritely—crisp acidity up front that dissipates quickly, leaving you wanting another sip. It's drier on the finish, almost mineral-like, with just enough wheat character to remind you this isn't a fruit sour masquerading as a Berliner. At 3.8%, it practically evaporates on your palate. This is refreshment first, complexity second.

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