How much lemongrass in a wheat beer?

bigears · 02-27-2008, 07:56 PM

Inevitably someone is going to say ANY lemongrass is too much

But anyway...

I brewed a wheat beer last year which was something akin to a witbier although a little darker, and included no unmalted wheat. I included coriander, orange peel and a little ginger, pitched T-58 yeast and it worked out quite well. I have a notion that lemongrass might work well in this beer but I'm unsure of how much to add, when to include it in the boil and whether I'll need to add more in secondary. I'm looking for a noticeable taste/aroma but I don't want it to overpower the beer.

The recipe will be more or less 50/50 pale malt/wheat malt or could well be Wheat DME and a little CaraPils if time is a factor. I'll probably hop with Amarillo & Styrian Goldings to get a little citrus hint from the hops, I reckon it will be in the region of 15 to 20 IBUs.

Any thoughts, tips, experiences to share?

mr x · 02-27-2008, 08:28 PM

The only reference I can remember for lemongrass is from Brew Like a Monk. In the recipe formulation section, Ron Jerffries makes up a Blond Ale with lemongrass in it. He says one short stock in 117 litres.

**EdWort** · 02-27-2008, 08:31 PM

ANY lemongrass is TOO much. There, I said it.

Wheat Malt, Pils Malt, Hallertau hops. That is all that is allows.

Alles anderes ist VERBOTEN! (for a Bavarian Hefeweizen of course)

mr x · 02-27-2008, 08:41 PM

Another reference:

http://www.probrewer.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=4082&highlight=lemongrass

bigears · 02-27-2008, 09:03 PM

Thanks for the tips guys, even you EdWort - the brewing world sure would be boring if everyone complied with the Reinheitsgebot

Reading the ProBrewer thread it seems steeping it at flameout would be the thing to do - would you worry about infection? Granted I didn't worry about the spices in my last wit but the lemongrass is a bit more 'veggie' so I wonder if I should soak it in vodka (or spray it with Starsan?

)

**EdWort** · 02-27-2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigears

Thanks for the tips guys, even you EdWort - the brewing world sure would be boring if everyone complied with the Reinheitsgebot

Vee Have Vays to make you do zis, ja?

Glad to help of course.

I love lemongrass in my Tom Yung Goong soup!

mr x · 02-27-2008, 09:16 PM

I wouldn't worry about infection if you use it at flameout - the heat should kill anything bad.

bigears · 02-27-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

I wouldn't worry about infection if you use it at flameout - the heat should kill anything bad.

Sounds good. I'll report back!

Quote:

Vee Have Vays to make you do zis, ja?

I spent a summer in Munich and quickly learnt the most important phrase: Ich can nicht arbeit Samstag (excuse the spelling, grammar etc.....)

**EdWort** · 02-27-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigears

I spent a summer in Munich and quickly learnt the most important phrase: Ich can nicht arbeit Samstag (excuse the spelling, grammar etc.....)

Good phrase to know. Most would understand it. Verb goes a the end.

Ich kann nicht am Samstag arbeiten...(then add catchy adjective like dumkopf)

A summer in Munich. Man, that sould be fun...

bigears · 02-28-2008, 05:46 PM

It had its moments