Beer of the week: Festina Peche

Type Berliner Weiss flavored with peaches

Maker Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.

Alcohol 4.5 percent

Cost $2.29 a bottle at Grape & Gourmet, Virginia Beach.

As the weather warms, I like a beer that's refreshing. That's why I love Festina Peche. It just may be the perfect summer beer. It comes from the brewing mavericks at Dogfish Head. The light, refreshing drink with modest alcohol works well as a cooldown after a long afternoon in the sun.

Festina Peche is an American interpretation, the Berliner Weissbier. This light wheat beer was traditionally made in northern Germany. During fermentation, it's exposed to lactic acid bacteria that give it a moderately sour taste and bright, spritzy carbonation. Dubbed "champagne of the north" by Napoleon, Berliner Weiss is now making a bit of a resurgence, thanks in part to Dogfish Head. The beer pours a hazy pale yellow with a small head that disappears quickly. It's loaded with carbonation and has a strong aroma of tart lemonade-like citrus and fresh peaches. The flavor backs up the smell with a slap of tart sourness and sweet peach, which slips away quickly and settles into pleasant malt smoothness.

- Bill Manley, Link