Redback - recipe help and directions please

[palealemale]

Hi all,
found this recipe on brewcraft for Redback:-

Beermakers Bavarian Wheat Beer Kit
Brewblend #10
Malt Extract n/a
Yeast - Safwheat
Other Stuff - 10g Saaz hop pellets. Simmer in a cup of water for 2 min then stand for 10 min before straining into beer mixture.

Can someone turn this recipe into english for me (wtf is Brewblend #10 and why have malt extract listed in the recipe if it's not applicable to the recipe ), plus write up a step by step guide for actually brewing it (improvements to recipe also welcome!).

Thanks.

[homebrewer79]

I don't know whats in th "brewblend" but I reckon ditch it and get some wheat malt.I have used the brewblend #10 before and it looks like it's mostly dextrose and maltodextrin, you can make your own brewblend using that

[scblack]

I have done the following a couple of times and seems pretty close to Redback, cheers to Aussie Claret for this recipe.

Morgans Golden Sheaf Wheat kit
Morgans Master Blend Beer Enhancer 1kg
Dextrose 500gm
Hallertau hops (12gm teabag style)

Very nice.

[scblack]

I have done the following a couple of times and seems pretty close to Redback, cheers to Aussie Claret for this recipe.

Morgans Golden Sheaf Wheat kit
Morgans Master Blend Beer Enhancer 1kg
Dextrose 500gm
Hallertau hops (12gm teabag style)

Very nice.

[palealemale]

Hi scblack,

thanks for the recipe - looks better than the one I dug up!

Just a few questions for you all:-
1/ is there better quality ingredients that could be used for this recipe? (given the sticky 'simple things that make your home brew better' suggests not using brew enhancers and dextrose and going for things like LDM/LME and and better quality ingredients).
2/ the same sticky recommends not using kit yeast - is this gonna make a substantial difference to the end product and, if so, what strain of yeast would be better for this brew?
3/ finally, whatever this recipe ends up being after everyone's contributed their input to alternate ingredients, can you please make sure you include a step be step of how to actually make the brew (boiling schedules, etc..... basically a when and where to add what and for how long)

Thanks!

[scblack]

Hi scblack,

thanks for the recipe - looks better than the one I dug up!

Just a few questions for you all:-
1/ is there better quality ingredients that could be used for this recipe? (given the sticky 'simple things that make your home brew better' suggests not using brew enhancers and dextrose and going for things like LDM/LME and and better quality ingredients).
2/ the same sticky recommends not using kit yeast - is this gonna make a substantial difference to the end product and, if so, what strain of yeast would be better for this brew?
3/ finally, whatever this recipe ends up being after everyone's contributed their input to alternate ingredients, can you please make sure you include a step be step of how to actually make the brew (boiling schedules, etc..... basically a when and where to add what and for how long)

Thanks!

Answers by number:

1. Possibly a wheat malt would be more true to wheat style than beer enhancer, but this was giving us a Redback clone, and it turns out pretty close to that, so I would not change unless you want to change clone character a bit.
2. I generally use non-kit yeasts too, but this recipe I have only used the kit one and came out fine. Try Ross @ CraftBrewer for his wheat yeasts which I have used with other recipes with good results.
3. I just dry-hopped the teabag in the fermenter when adding yeast.

Cheers,
scblack.

[rwh]

1/ is there better quality ingredients that could be used for this recipe? (given the sticky 'simple things that make your home brew better' suggests not using brew enhancers and dextrose and going for things like LDM/LME and and better quality ingredients).

Yes. In this case, wheat malt extract. Either 1kg dry or 1.5kg liquid.

2/ the same sticky recommends not using kit yeast - is this gonna make a substantial difference to the end product and, if so, what strain of yeast would be better for this brew?

Use the kit yeast. There aren't all that many dry wheat yeasts out there, and at this time of year you're not going to have wild temperatures. So yeah, not really worth it for a wheat unless you want to go to a liquid yeast.

3/ finally, whatever this recipe ends up being after everyone's contributed their input to alternate ingredients, can you please make sure you include a step be step of how to actually make the brew (boiling schedules, etc..... basically a when and where to add what and for how long)

So you're asking for step-by-step instructions? I'll give you some generic ones then. You can apply them to any kit recipe, and we won't have to keep typing redundant BS at the bottom of all our recipes.

1. (if the recipe calls for specialty grains) Bring 2L hot water to 60-70°C. Crack your specialty grains, and add them to a grain sock. Dip the grain sock in the hot water and steep for 20 minutes. Add the liquor to a big pot. Put the sock into some more hot water and then add that to the pot too.
2. Add some water to your pot to bring it up to a total of 4L.
3. Add your extra fermentables (usually 1kg LDME or something - just not the kit at this stage) and return to the boil.
4. Add the hops as scheduled (if any) So if it says Fuggles @ 20 mins, Goldings @ 10 mins, then you would add the Fuggles at the start of the boil, then wait 10 minutes, then add the Goldings, then wait 10 minutes, then stop the boil.
5. Add any remaining fermentables (usually the kit) and stir until dissolved.
6. Add 10L cold water to fermenter. Pour in the contents of your pot. Top up to 23L.
7. Pitch yeast.

Clearly I'm assuming you know how to clean and sanitise etc.