A light-colored highly effervescent beer made using wheat instead of barley, by the top-fermentation process. The word Weizenbier in German simply translates to "white beer" and is always thought of as simply a wheat beer, implying a pale brew made from wheat.

In northern Germany, a special recipe is very common, Berliner Weisse, a style in its own right. A different style of Weissbier is made in the southern bavaria area, with an alcohol content usually a little over 5 percent, at least 50 percent wheat, and a top fermenting yeast that produces a tart, fruity, and sometimes spicy beer.

A higher alcohol, darker version is called a Dunkel Weizen which is a semi-heavy, sort of sweet beer that is sometimes brewed for the holidays around Christmas time. Another similar , heavy weiss bier style is a Weizen Bock which is also brewed and served as a Christmas beer.