Christmas spicing in primary? (wheat beer)

[beanstalk]

I'm making a standard hefewiess (50% wheat, 50% pilsner) but I want to split the batch into two primaries and then add spices to the second one. Maybe in a hop bag. Would this work ok?

I'm thinking orange peel, cinnamon and cardamon. I'm just a little wary cus I won't be boiling it and not sure if much of the flavour will come out. Open to suggestions/ideas!

[darren996]

Not sure if it will add much to the flavour. You can use whole oranges and steep them in vodka to sterilise.

Have a read of this

http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/05/homebrewing-how-to-brew-with-spices.html

[beanstalk]

Thanks! I was thinking cinnamon, cloves, cardamon and orange peel.

[darren996]

Sounds nice, very festive! Might be nice in a dunkelweizen? Bit of crystal or caramunich might be nice with those spice additions. What yeast are you planning on? I would go for something like wb06 if using orange at 18 or 19 degrees, not much banana to distract from the orange and spices

[beanstalk]

Aye well its half wheat half pilsner (2.5kg each) with 200g of crystal 40ebc and mangrove jacks m20. My heater doesn't really move much beyond 20c anyway so I'm hoping that yeast will manage ok with it!

[darren996]

Used m20 a few times, found it works best with a single infusion mash at 66 degrees, ferment at 18 19 degrees, best of luck with it , let us know how it goes

[davebhoy1975]

I currently have a Christmas ale with blackberries which I boiled and orange peel, cinnamon, cardomon and star anise. I dry hopped it first with some Nelson Sauvins and then again with cascade. I'll prime with brown sugar and hopefully have a merry Christmas. Lol

I tried a batch with just a single cinnamon stick to get an idea of how much flavour comes through and I could really taste the cinnamon. Not too much but I could definitely taste it.

[darren996]

Did u put the cinnamon in the boil or primary or secondary?

[davebhoy1975]

I boiled the orange cinnamon cardomon and star aniE for a couple of mins in a sauce pan and let it cool then poured everything through a hop sock and then added them.