Wheat Beer Recipe

[Smabb]

I am really keen on making a wheat beer- something like the Redbacks I enjoyed in the late 80s whilst living in that beer drinker mecca, Darwin (at least thats the plan!). Does anyone have a recipe (bearing in mind that I did my first recipe brew on Sunday, so am not exactly a veteran).

Cheers

[beermeister]

Here's one I made recently, still in the fermenter I'm afraid:

3 kg liquid wheat malt extract (Coopers make 1.5kg cans)
15 grams of Hallertauer hops (the variety I had were from NZ, 7.7% alpha acid - check with your homebrew shop, they will probably stock the same variety).
Any variety of good wheat beer yeast.

Chuck the malt and hops into 6 litres of water, bring to the boil and boil for an hour. Strain into the fermenter and top up to 19 litres. When temp is right, chuck in the yeast.

[Tony]

bm, did you cool before straining into the fermenter?

[Oliver]

BM,

That doesn't sound like a lot of hops, even taking into account that a wheat beer isn't that well hopped.

I'll be interested to see what your thoughts are if you taste when bottling.

Oliver

[beermeister]

Tony,

No, I didn't cool the wort before straining into the fermenter

Oliver, according to beersmith that recipe should come out at 15.1 IBU.

BM

PS Should have added that recipe comes from Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian.

[Polar]

G,day
tried this recipe today after 3 weeks in the bottle -very pleased

1x Morgans Golden sheaf wheat kit
1x Morgans MB wheat malt
12g saaz hops - dry method
POR teabag
Saf K-97

no OG - Fg 1013

[Daron]

I made a ripper a couple of months ago and it's all gone now... just too hard to save.

I used Coopers Wheat Beer:

Get a yeast starter going two days before brewing - refer how on this site.

Boil 4litres of water and add:
500g LME
250g DME
250g honey
250g dextrose
and crush 25g Coriander seeds (not the plant!!!)
Boild for about an hour then add the coopers Wheat Beer and turn off heat. Stir then strain into fermenter.

Get 10g Hallertau hops and boil for 15mins then add 10g and steep for 2mins, strain into fermenter.

Fill with water to 21litres and then add your yeast starter when the temp is 24-25C. Should have about 23 litres.

Prime it with dextrose when ready to bottle and sit back and wait excitedly.

As an experiment, because i couldn't fnid any dried orange peel to add, I dosed 2 bottles with 4 drops of orange essence I got at the supermarket. I just had the first today and it's delicious. I'll do this again next time and add more.

This was my first wheat beer and from all feedback it's been a beauty.
I reckon I might stockpile a few batches for Summer. A very fresh drop.

Enjoy.

[Smabb]

Thanks fellas - thats given me a few ideas to go on with.

Cheers

[Bob the Brewer]

I just put down my first wheat beer on the week end:

Morgan's Golden Sheaf Wheat Beer kit
400g light malt
600g dex
200 dried corn syrup
25gm Splater hops - boiled 5 minutes, infused 8 minutes, then strained into the wort.

now here is were I need some help

I want to use cloves, did a search on the forum, but still uncertain.
I've got about 30 cloves soaking in vodka to kill the potential harshness.
I am planing on racking in about a week and adding some cloves then.
Do you just through them in or do you boil them
How many cloves should be used

Thanks for any help guys

[tyrone]

Brewiser wheat beer from coles with 1/2 a kilo coopers masterbrew(for wheat beer from the next shelf down)and 10g saazs simmered for 10 min and then added water;hops; and all to the fermenter gave me a almost perfect clone.

[Oliver]

I want to use cloves, did a search on the forum, but still uncertain.
I've got about 30 cloves soaking in vodka to kill the potential harshness.
I am planing on racking in about a week and adding some cloves then.
Do you just through them in or do you boil them
How many cloves should be used

I'd go easy on the cloves if I were you. They're pretty powerful little buggers. In most (food) recipes you'd never use more than 10, and often just one or two.

Maybe start with six or eight and see how you go?

If they've been soaking in vodka, you should be right to just chuck 'em straight in.

Cheers,

Oliver

[beermeister]

Oliver

I bottled the wheat beer last night, as it turns out I actually chucked in 30 g of hops. Gave it a sample and it already tastes like a winner. Forgot to mention I chucked in 0.5 kg of honey as well.

I put one cardomom pod in 3 of the bottles as an experiment, should be interesting.

BM

[Oliver]

I put one cardomom pod in 3 of the bottles as an experiment, should be interesting.

BM,

Not a bad idea. Should be very interesting. Let us know how it turns out.

Oliver

[Bob the Brewer]

Thanks Oliver!

If i had gone with all 30 odd, probably would have ruined the whole batch.

Quick update - was really worried about how dark the wheat beer looked when i first put it on. Been fermenting a few days down and the colour is lookin great!

That cardomom pod idea sounds like it could be good

Cheers,
Bob

[Aussie Claret]

G'day,
Got this one in the fermenter as we speak.
Morgan's Golden Wheat sheaf 1.7kgs
Morgans Liquid Beer enhancer 1kg
500g Dextrose
12g Hallertau hops (boil in the bag job).

Followed usual method leaving hops for 10min to steep in boiling water then added to wort. Checked OG and was 1050.

Haven't bottled yet but can't wait to try the sucker!
Noticed alot of Krausen build up at start of fermentation.

Cheers
AC

[beermeister]

Oliver,

I tried the wheat beer with the cardomom pod in the bottle last night.

Its worth mentioning that at first I didn't know I was drinking the bottle with the cardomom in it. My Weihanstephan glass only holds about 600 ml and I brew in 750 bottles, so the pod was still in the bottle (unseen) after the first pour.

Anyway, started drinking the beer and after a few sips I couldn't work out what was different. It tasted gingery, with a touch of eucalyptus lingering on the palate. But the biggest difference was on the nose - it was really "floral." At first I put it down to the hops, but it was only Hallertau, and they were only used at the boiling stage.

So I continued drinking wondering what it was. Then when I poured the rest of the beer in the glass and noticed something rather solid plop into the glass I was a bit worried. Closer inspection revealed it was the cardomom.

It was amazing how much one little pod flaoured the beer. The pod was quite squidgy, so the beer had really got into it.

I'd say its worth a try with your next wheat beer, but only drop them into a few bottles in case you don't like it.

Beer was 8 weeks old in the bottle.

BM

[Oliver]

BM,

Thanks for the update.

The eucalyptus taste was definitely the cardamom. Have you ever split one of the pods and smelt the sticky seeds inside? They've got a very menthol-like smell and taste.

Oliver

[NTRabbit]

Anyone have an opinion on using a Cascade Spicy Ghost Draught as the base hopped malt for a belgian wit? Saw them on sale at the local Bi-Lo and thought i might save myself $10 if possible.

[Oliver]

Anyone have an opinion on using a Cascade Spicy Ghost Draught as the base hopped malt for a belgian wit? Saw them on sale at the local Bi-Lo and thought i might save myself $10 if possible.

NTR,

Having read pretty ordinary reports about the Cascade range in general, I'd be thinking that saving $10 for 30 bottles (33c a bottle), is a false economy. But at the end of the day, it's up to you.

Oliver

[Antsvb]

Have been disappointed, like most around here, with the Cascade kits.

However, have used the Spicy Ghost as a base for a Wit as you ask NT.

Was a beaut beer, although can't really comment on the qualtiy of the kit as this brew was modified alot. Didn't really turn out true to a Belgian Wit as this was a BIG, malty brew but beautiful all the same.

Can post the recipie latter (don't have it here at work with me ).