Wheat provides a milder, less malty aroma to beer compared to barley. It comes with more body and mouthfeel for an experience like no other barley malt beer. Grains such as oats, rye, and spelt can do the same, as can unmalted flaked barley. Some also have subtle flavors.
Unflavored wheat beers are light and refreshing, making them easy to pair with a variety of foods. Hefeweizen's slightly sweet, fruity and effervescent flavor profile makes it ideal for pairing with softer cheeses such as mozzarella, German sausages, egg dishes and fresh fruits and vegetables. Try combining hefeweizen with hearty frittatas and leafy green salads garnished with citrus wedges and nuts. American wheat beer is versatile and will cool you down when paired with spicy dishes.
Try it with spicy seafood pasta or a full variety of gameday snacks. A “wheat beer” actually refers to any beer in which a substantial part of the grain used in brewing beer is wheat. Many styles of wheat beer come from Bavaria, but the popularity of these easy-to-drink beers has spread around the world. Wheat beers are exceptionally difficult to make because the proteins and starches in the grain want to bind together, making it difficult to extract the sugars.
In fact, we wrote an entire blog dedicated to unraveling these three similar (but distinctly different) beer styles. As with wheat beers, flavor profiles can vary greatly depending on the style of the beer, but many lagers are more hop-like than wheat beers and lack the generous foam of a hefeweizen. The association between beer and the reduction in the risk of kidney stones is probably due in part to certain compounds found in hops and the general diuretic effect of beer. For best results, drink a pale beer that is the richest in silicon, while light lagers and non-alcoholic beers contain the least amount.
However, with around 170 calories for mass-produced wheat beers, the calories are relatively the same as those of a non-alcoholic beer. Wheat beers come in as many styles as you can imagine, but overall they're light, summery and refreshing. The hops in your favorite beer contain a chemical compound similar to dark chocolate, blueberries and other superfoods also known as “brain food”. If hypothetically a beer were prepared with 100% malted wheat, the wort would be stuck in a muddy mess.
Many of the craft beers on the market today contain a good amount of vitamin B to give you that extra “boost” after a hard day. So what's wrong with wheat beers and what about all the variation in style? Here's everything you need to know about wheat beers, but you were embarrassed to ask. Some of the beer styles that tend to use a lot of wheat are hefeweizens, American wheat beers, and witbiers. In addition, many farm or seasonal beers can also have a relatively high portion of wheat or other grains such as rye or spelt.