Wheat beer is a beer that is brewed with a significant proportion of wheat. Wheat beers often also contain a significant proportion of malted barley. Wheat beers are usually top-fermented (in Germany they have to be by law).
The flavour of wheat beers varies considerably, depending upon the specific style. Two common varieties of wheat beer are witbieren ("white beers") based on the Belgian tradition of using flavourings such as coriander and orange peel, and Weißbiere (German - "white beers") based on the German tradition of mixing at least 50% wheat to barley malt to make a light coloured ale. Both the Belgian witbier and the German Weißbier were termed "white beers" because historically they were paler than other beers at the time.
Belgian white beers often have spices such as coriander or bitter orange peel added, giving them a slightly fruity flavour. They are also often made with raw unmalted wheat, as opposed to the malted wheat used in other varieties.