Brewed using a large proportion of wheat, relative to the amount of malted barley in the brew mix, wheat beer is steadily growing in popularity.
There are two more commonly known varieties of wheat beer or ‘white beer’: weissbier, based on the German tradition; witbier, following the Belgian tradition.
The German variety combines at least half wheat to barley malt – to produce a light-coloured ‘top-fermenting’ beer, while the Belgian version traditionally uses flavourings, including orange peel and coriander, and is often made with raw, unmalted wheat.
We offer three bottled wheat beers at Wetherspoon: Blue Moon (5.4% ABV) 330ml; Sadler’s 1861 (5.3% ABV) 500ml; Thornbridge Versa (5.0% ABV) 330ml.
They are all made using traditional brewing methods to create the authentic wheat beer style, either German or Belgian, yet are all produced right here in the UK.
Thornbridge - Versa Weisse Beer
This fresh, fruity weissbier pours a hazy, burnt orange – and, true to its style, has well-balanced flavours of clove spiciness, banana and bubblegum.
Made with Tettnanger hops, together with Bavarian wheat, pale ale, Cara and pale crystal malts, this German hefeweizen-style beer is brewed at the Thornbridge Brewery, in Bakewell, Derbyshire.
Founded in 2005 by Jim Harrison and Simon Webster, in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall, the brewery moved to the new state-of-the-art facility in 2009, with subsequent site expansions to meet demand.
With more than 350 industry-recognised awards, Thornbridge is proud to be part of such an exciting craft beer scene.
Blue Moon - Belgian-Style Wheat Ale
This refreshing, medium-bodied, unfiltered Belgian-style wheat ale is spiced with fresh coriander and brewed with orange peel, for a subtle sweetness and bright, citrus aroma, as well as a uniquely complex taste and an uncommonly smooth finish.
This ale was born in Denver’s baseball stadium, Coors Field, in 1995.
For more than 20 years, the Sandlot Brewery provided its team of brewers with an opportunity to create and share new beers from Denver with fans around the world.
In the summer of 2016, Blue Moon moved to a new state-of-the-art brewery in Denver’s RiNo District, where they have been brewing ever since, as well as at breweries throughout the world – including in England, at Burton upon Trent.
Sadler’s - 1861 White Beer
Brewed with all British ingredients, in the heart of the Black Country, this is a quality British interpretation of a German classic.
It is a weissbier-style beer… with a British twist. Its subtle earthy notes, from the classic British hop varieties, create characteristics which are rare in a wheat beer.
Light caramel in colour, the beer has a smooth mouthfeel from the high wheat content; this also makes it naturally hazy.
This natural haze allows more of the yeast profile to shine through, to create a full-bodied, well-balanced fruity beer, with definite undertones of peach, banana and clove.
Founded in 1861 by Nathaniel Sadler, Sadler’s Brewing Co has been brewing hand-crafted beers for more than 150 years.