That Slice of Lemon
I don’t have any problem with a slice of lemon or lime when drinking a Corona, but please save me from the bartenders who automatically slap a slice of lemon on the rim of my glass of wheat beer.
The world beer and whiskey authority, Michael Jackson, says that the custom of having a slice of lemon with a wheat beer started in Germany some years ago (1960s). So we Americans (and I do mean Americans from Mexico to Canada) have embraced the slice of lemon as if it were gospel or something written into the beer ten commandments. But if you don’t like that slice of lemon that’s okay, you aren’t being uncouth to ask the waiter or bartender to skip the slice of lemon that almost always comes with a wheat beer.
To be perfectly honest, I don’t really mind the lemon with a Hefeweizen because I like the refreshing addition of lemon zest to the already complex aroma.
However, I usually just remove the lemon and set it aside. I never squeeze the lemon juice into the beer or (worse) toss the whole slice into the glass. I don’t really want that much lemon. Even though I don’t mind the slice of lemon, if I remember, I instruct the waiter or bartender to hold the lemon slice. Especially if its a version of Hefeweizen that I’ve never tried before.
I hope some waiters and bartenders will read this because I would like to tell you that it would be polite to ask a beer drinker if they would like a slice of lemon with their wheat beer. Don’t assume that the beer drinker wants the lemon. The reason for this is that some beer drinkers (not me) are snooty and will judge the quality of your establishment by beer faux pas such as slapping a slice of lemon on the rim of a glass of wheat beer. You’ll lose points with these snooty beer drinkers if you force the slice of lemon on them. Omitting the slice of lemon is almost always the safest thing to do.
Another reason to skip the lemon is that unless you are certain that the lemon on the rim of your glass is certified “organic” then you run the risk of exposing yourself and your beer to the pesticides embedded in the rind. Of course, the amount of pesticide is small and it won’t kill you on the spot, but the fewer pesticides you ingest the better.
Now I’m going to make an absolute statement. Never, and I mean never, put a slice of lemon on the edge of a glass of Belgian White beer (Belgian Witbier) such a Hoegaarden. This is a sin and you will burn in beer hell forever if you do this (just kidding, but the beer gods will be angry). Belgian Whites are wheat beers (up to fifty percent of their grains are wheat), but they should not be polluted with a lemon slice. Of course, if you do like your Hoegaarden (or some other Belgian White) with a lemon you should go with what you like, just don’t tell me about it.
You might think it’s funny that I’m okay with lemon with the Hefeweizen, but become unreasonable when the question of lemon with Belgian Whites is broached. My defense is that there is no tradition (that I know of) of having a lemon slice with a Belgian White. But tradition isn’t the only thing I go by. I really like Belgian Whites. I like their subtle flavors. To appreciate the bitter orange peal and coriander that are present in many Belgian Whites I don’t need the help of a lemon slice.
Totally agree on the Belgian white, but I will say that I really like getting the lemon with the Hefeweizen. At this point I am sad if I don’t get it, but all the local brewers (Widmer, McMennamin’s and so on) do it so now I expect it.