Church Street Belltower 4Pk

Church Street Belltower 4Pk is a Berliner Weisse-style sour beer brewed by Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca, Illinois, sold as a four-pack. What distinguishes the Belltower from many sour beers is that its tartness comes entirely from lactic acid bacteria introduced during brewing rather than from citrus fruit additions, resulting in a clean, authentic sour character.

Quick Facts: Style: Berliner Weisse (Sour)  |  Origin: Itasca, Illinois, USA  |  Brewery: Church Street Brewing Company  |  Format: 4-Pack

Production & Heritage

Church Street Brewing Company operates out of Itasca, a suburb in the western Chicago metropolitan area known for a growing craft beer scene. The Belltower uses a combination of traditional brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), wild yeast (Brettanomyces), and lactic acid bacteria to achieve its sour profile. This mixed-culture fermentation approach creates lactic acid naturally during the brewing process, yielding a more nuanced tartness than the simple addition of fruit acids. The Berliner Weisse style itself traces back to northern Germany, where low-alcohol wheat beers were soured intentionally to produce a refreshing, tart drinking experience.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Light wheat grain leads the nose, followed by a gentle lactic tang. There is a subtle breadiness underneath, with little to no hop presence — consistent with traditional Berliner Weisse expectations.

Taste: The entry is bright and tart, driven by clean lactic sourness that registers immediately on the tongue. At mid-palate, a soft, grainy wheat character emerges to balance the acidity. The sourness is moderate rather than aggressive, leaning approachable rather than puckering.

Finish: The finish is short to medium, with the grainy wheat note lingering just long enough to round out the tartness. It closes dry and refreshing, inviting another sip.

How to Drink Belltower

Belltower is best enjoyed chilled, poured into a wide-mouthed glass or wheat beer glass that allows its delicate aromas to open up. Its light body and clean sourness also make it a strong base for beer cocktails. A Berliner Weisse mit Schuss — the classic German serve with a shot of raspberry or woodruff syrup — amplifies the tartness with contrasting sweetness. A Shandy variation using Belltower and fresh lemonade works well in warm weather, as the existing sourness harmonizes naturally with citrus. A Radler made with grapefruit soda highlights the beer's tart backbone while adding effervescence and bitterness.

Best For

• Introducing a friend to sour beer styles without overwhelming acidity
• Warm-weather cookouts where a light, refreshing beer is essential
• Pairing alongside brunch dishes that benefit from a tart counterpoint
• Building a tasting flight exploring different sour beer sub-styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Belltower taste like? Belltower delivers a delicate lactic sour character up front, balanced by a soft, grainy wheat finish that keeps the tartness from becoming overwhelming. It is moderate in sourness and light in body.

How does Belltower compare to a traditional Gose? While both are German-origin sour wheat beers, a Gose incorporates coriander and salt, giving it a savory, slightly briny quality. Belltower focuses on pure lactic sourness without those additions, producing a cleaner, more straightforward tart profile.

Is Belltower good for sour beer beginners? Yes — its moderate tartness and light body make it a welcoming entry point for drinkers curious about sour styles without the intense acidity found in lambics or American wild ales.

Where is Belltower made? Belltower is brewed by Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca, Illinois, located in the western suburbs of Chicago. The brewery produces a range of styles and is rooted in the Illinois craft beer community.

What foods pair well with Belltower? Fresh goat cheese or chèvre salads complement the lactic tang. Grilled shrimp or lighter seafood dishes benefit from the beer's acidity acting as a palate cleanser. Fruit tarts or lemon desserts echo the tartness harmoniously. Eggs Benedict or other rich brunch items are cut through neatly by the beer's sourness. Mild soft-ripened cheeses like Brie also pair naturally with Berliner Weisse styles.

What sizes does Belltower come in? The Belltower is available as a four-pack. Individual can or bottle size has not been independently verified beyond the four-pack format.

Is Belltower worth the price? Belltower positions as a craft sour beer at an accessible price tier, typical of regional Berliner Weisse offerings. Its mixed-culture fermentation using both Brettanomyces and lactic acid bacteria reflects a more involved brewing process than many entry-level sours, adding genuine production value.

Why Belltower?

The Belltower's defining characteristic is its authenticity of process — the sourness comes from live bacterial cultures rather than post-fermentation fruit acid additions, a distinction that experienced sour beer drinkers recognize immediately. Church Street Brewing Company's use of a mixed-culture approach involving both Brettanomyces and lactic acid bacteria creates layers of tart complexity that simpler kettle-soured Berliner Weisse beers often lack. With a 3.5 out of 5 rating across 775 reviews on Untappd, the Belltower has earned a solid reputation among the craft sour community. For drinkers seeking a genuinely bacteria-soured wheat beer from an Illinois craft brewery, this four-pack delivers an honest interpretation of the Berliner Weisse tradition.