Wheat beer

[Polar]

The saleman at my local brew shop advised me not to make a wheat beer now for summer drinking as wheat beer is better drunk young. Could you good folk clarify this and also any good wheat beer recipes out there .

thanks all

[Evo]

I concur.

As for a good recipe -

1.7kg Beermakers Wheat
1 kg Morgans Wheat Malt
12g Hallertau Hops
Wyeast Bavarian Wheat yeast

As I've said a bullion times, a real wheat yeast is the key.

[Dogger Dan]

Why not make it for the winter?

Dogger

[Hrundi V Bakshi]

Because the interesting flavours of the wheat yeast are created by fermenting warm : 23°C or so.

[Dogger Dan]

Ok, so why not make it for the winter?

Dogger

[Hrundi V Bakshi]

Because for one thing, It would involve warming your fermenter.

Secondly, in terms of consumption, weizen is best served very carbonated, almost effervecsent. Beers this fizzy are best enjoyed cold, below 4°C. Beer this cold is contrary to the term "winter warmer". One could well brew such a batch simply for the Vitamin B and perhaps carbonate lower, but one is much better off brewing a lager for Spring while the weather is cool and enjoying a weizen two weeks old brewed at ambient temperature in summer.

So, there is no reason not to brew it, but good reasons to brew other things and drink other things. Dogger, realise that many of your readers are experiencing the opposite seasons to your hemispere.

[Evo]

On a similar vein, I was thinking of brewing a spiced "winter warmer" (for winter) using a dunkelweizen. Any suggestions for the base and/or the spices ? I thought the dunkelweizen would be a good base as I can get some nice "wheat beer" characteristics from the yeast that would go well with the spices. ie the banana, clove. fruit flavours from the yeast and whatever spices I add.

Was thinking of kicking it up a notch as far as the alcohol goes too (to make it a true winter warmer). What do dunkelweizens normally weigh in at ?

PS I'll be able to maintain a 23 degree brewing temp pretty easily.

[Hrundi V Bakshi]

Evo, cloves would go well

[Dogger Dan]

Hyrundi,

I realize that. Just many seem to go to great lengths to brew lagers at cold temps in the middle of summer so I find it hard to believe that a 24.99 investment of a heater would stop anyone from brewing a wheat beer.

Thare are a couple of ways to do it.

1. Brew Belt
2. Aquarium heater and make a bath for the fermentor.

I mean if you want a wheat beer, a lagar just won't do.

Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing? Things the big boys can't?

Oh, and yes, I realize it is getting to be winter there , my igloo is melting here so that means it must be getting cold somehere else.

Dogger

[Evo]

Just quietly, I think it's a bit of a b!tch the way the brewing seasons and the actual seasons are misaligned.

I mean, hot weather, what are you after ? A big beefy stout that you have to chew on ? No, you want a nice refreshing "canoe" lager. Something lighter that you can nail down.

Likewise cold weather, you're after something with a bit of body and a bit of oomph.

So surely those scientist folk, rather than curing diseases and the like, can invent ale yeast that ferments at 12 degrees and a lager yeast that will ferment at say 27 (for Sydney anyhoo). Maybe different for other cities.

C'mon Dogger, how hard could it be ?

[Dogger Dan]

Evo,

wait for global warming.

there won't be a lager in sight

oh by the way, as long as I have to shovel snow, I will tell you what I think of Global Warming

Dogger