National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => The Beer Board => Topic started by: Donny on February 23, 2016, 09:31:13 PM

Title: First wheat
Post by: Donny on February 23, 2016, 09:31:13 PM
Hey guys,

My sister is getting married in September and Id like to make a nice wheat beer for them for their after party. Id like to make a wheat beer thats not too complicated as its my first but Im having trouble finding anything suitable. I messed around with a recipe on beer smith but Im still learning how to use it.

I would like to make with an orange tang to it and a hint of honey. Can any of you gents recommend a recipe that i could try or any tips on the wheat beer process. So far Ive only made ales and stouts.

http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/1058305/horange (http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/1058305/horange) this is what i was messing with. Not sure if getting honey malt is easy in Ireland.

Cheers in advance

Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Pheeel on February 23, 2016, 09:45:39 PM
There was a thread about honey malt a couple of weeks back. AFAIK its a bugger to get here
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Leann ull on February 23, 2016, 11:17:11 PM
its worse than a bugger...
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Donny on February 24, 2016, 08:17:34 AM
I have a buddie living near New York. Was going to attempt to get him to post some Gambrinus to me but I'm not sure if the states allow you to post grain outside of the states
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: LordEoin on February 24, 2016, 08:45:11 AM
it's easy to get if you're willing to pay for the shipping
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Leann ull on February 24, 2016, 09:05:47 AM
All of the US HB shops have it but it will cost you $20-30 to get it here thats assuming customs will allow you import grain :(
I'd probably just use melanoidin. Don't go mad with it though!
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Bubbles on February 24, 2016, 09:16:15 AM
I've often wondered whether these proprietary malts from US are all they're cracked up to be. Honey malt, special roast etc.

I know the US is supposed to be "the new frontier" of brewing and all that, but I find it hard to believe that English and German maltsters, with their long traditions, don't have comparable products.

OP, if you want a honey flavour, why not just use honey in the fermenter?
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: LordEoin on February 24, 2016, 09:31:32 AM
feckin hipsters
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: nigel_c on February 24, 2016, 09:40:07 AM
Honey will ferment out completely and you will get here little from it.
For a wheat beer recipe go back in the best brews section and find the winning recipe from partridge9.
Simple enough recipe that is a great starting point for you to tinker around with. If you are kegging it could be as simple as adding some dissolved honey to your keg when carbing. It will have to be kept cold as fermentation will kick off again. If you time it right it's doable this way.
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Leann ull on February 24, 2016, 09:42:46 AM
Practice and do one in advance and also have an alternative, I'm not a fan of wheat beers!
Enough stress around everything else that day for your Sis without you presenting something that's not what you expected or folks want to drink.
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Donny on February 24, 2016, 12:50:11 PM
Quote from: Bubbles on February 24, 2016, 09:16:15 AM
OP, if you want a honey flavour, why not just use honey in the fermenter?

Don't want to increase the ABV too much.  Wanted it too be an easy going drink that won't blow the head off you.

Quote from: CH on February 24, 2016, 09:05:47 AM
I'd probably just use melanoidin. Don't go mad with it though!

Any experience in using melandoidin?
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Leann ull on February 24, 2016, 01:04:02 PM
Yep medal winning Lagers and Helles ;)
There is a story I want to tell but it can only come out once nationals have finished :D
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: LordEoin on February 24, 2016, 01:09:57 PM
about 5% melanoidin is a good level.
It will darken the beer slightly.
It will not taste like honey.

For a wheat beer though I presume you mean a hefeweizen?  It's all about the choice of yeast.
Don't fuss too much over grain, keep it simple.
Don't fuss too much over hops, get your IBU and leave it at that.
Don't fuss too much over the fermentation, get the temp right and leave it alone. no cold crash or lagering etc. cloudy is ok.

If you're looking for a refreshing easy drinker maybe add some orange peel and ground coriander
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Leann ull on February 24, 2016, 01:29:49 PM
Weyermann® Melanoidin is a kilned specialty malt with an intense malt aroma and unique brewing characteristics. It has a high degree of modification of both proteins and starches, excellent friability, low β-glucan values, and high acidity. These attributes help promote flavor stability, add body, and produce a smooth mouthfeel. Weyermann® Melanoidin malt adds a deep amber to red-brown color to finished beer. The rich malt flavor has notes of honey and biscuit. Melanoidin malt is best used in dark or red-colored beers such as amber ales, scottish ales, Irish red ales, bocks, and Kellerbier.

Be very careful on the %'s for lighter beers only 2% on a helles can have a marked effect
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Donny on February 24, 2016, 03:25:30 PM
Tempting, maybe il add it to the 2.0 version. I think il stick to a basic the first time round. Can anyone suggest a yeast yo use that holds back a big on the traditional banana notes? Was thinking one of the Mangrove jacks strains
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: LordEoin on February 24, 2016, 03:28:00 PM
name a commercial wheat beer you'd like to aim for
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Donny on February 24, 2016, 03:33:20 PM
Franziskaner is a favourite. Lovely clean taste. Can imagine adding a little of an orange zest and it would be perfect.
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: LordEoin on February 24, 2016, 04:00:23 PM
try wb3068 https://www.wyeastlab.com/com_b_yeaststrain_detail.cfm?ID=135 (https://www.wyeastlab.com/com_b_yeaststrain_detail.cfm?ID=135)
or wb3638 https://www.wyeastlab.com/rw_yeaststrain_detail.cfm?ID=59 (https://www.wyeastlab.com/rw_yeaststrain_detail.cfm?ID=59)
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Will_D on February 24, 2016, 10:05:07 PM
I love Franziskaner, rather than risking adding orange zest (Sweet or Bitter? How much?) just do what Blue Moon suggest: Option of fresh orange slices in the glass. Would look class and people can set their own orange threshold.
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: BrewDorg on February 25, 2016, 10:18:18 AM
Banana flavour would have a lot to do with fermentation temps too. In general with wheat yeasts, higher fermentation temps lead to banana notes, lower will bring out some clove.
Title: Re: First wheat
Post by: Donny on February 25, 2016, 02:21:36 PM
Quote from: LordEoin on February 24, 2016, 04:00:23 PM
try wb3068

I think this may be the one

Quote from: Will_D on February 24, 2016, 10:05:07 PM
Option of fresh orange slices in the glass. Would look class and people can set their own orange threshold.

Much better plan. Less mess in the boil too.

Going to try to keep it around 18-20 degrees for the ferment. Have an immersion heater that I got off the home brew company. with a little tweating I can keep it at a constant for the primary.

One more question is how long to bottle condition? Ive read a lot of conflicting stuff about how long to keep in primary and when to bottle etc.