imperial american wheat

rexbanner · 01-05-2011, 03:05 AM

How's this sound for a recipe? The goal is to make a smooth, delicious big American wheat that has a lot of alcohol.

8 lbs 2 row
6 lbs wheat

1 oz horizon @ 60 mins
1 oz citra @ 15 mins
1 oz cascade @ flameout

us-05

OG of 1.074, 42 IBUs

Oldsock · 01-05-2011, 12:49 PM

Looks like a solid beer to me, nice simple grist, touch of citrusy hops, clean fermentation etc... hope it turns out well.

**AnOldUR** · 01-05-2011, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexbanner

How's this sound for a recipe?

Big American Wheat’s are among my favorites. Brewed one last weekend. Mine was hopped a little more, but your recipe looks tasty. Brew it!

rexbanner · 01-05-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

Big American Wheat’s are among my favorites. Brewed one last weekend. Mine was hopped a little more, but your recipe looks tasty. Brew it!

Any tips? Mind posting your recipe?

All I can think of is pitch enough yeast and keep temps on the cool side (same plan for every beer I brew) so there's no hot alcohol taste. I've had some "imperial" beers that tasted like you just took a shot with every sip.

kanzimonson · 01-05-2011, 02:48 PM

You should check out the Can You Brew It episode for Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin... It's something like 50% two row, 35% wheat malt, 14% torrified wheat, and 1% toasted wheat malt. They went with the three types of wheat for "extra wheatishness."

It has some insane hopping.

rexbanner · 04-13-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanzimonson

You should check out the Can You Brew It episode for Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin... It's something like 50% two row, 35% wheat malt, 14% torrified wheat, and 1% toasted wheat malt. They went with the three types of wheat for "extra wheatishness."

It has some insane hopping.

I made the beer. I just tasted it after 3 weeks primary. It does resemble little sumpin sumpin. I ended up using this hop schedule:

1 oz warrior @60
1 oz cascade + 1 oz citra added as hop tea to the keg.

I was going to add the citra and cascade at 5 mins but I forgot. I'm glad. I plan on aging this beer for a while, but I want a super-fresh, fruity hop taste. Any aroma additions during the end of the boil would fade over the period I will age this. Hop tea will ensure plenty of hop flavor.

At 3 weeks I noticed:

1. Very bitter, even though it is only around 45 IBU. First time using warrior, I think this hop can use some time to mellow.
2. Yeast is still suspended and active, and I used US-05 which is normally pretty quick. Airlock activity stopped over a week ago, but the beer is still far from clear.
3. Tiniest bit of fusel alcohol. I mashed at 152, fermented cold with ambient of 60. Fermentation was pretty active but no danger of blowoff.
4. Deceptively light, with a delicious wheat flavor.

I think this beer will do well with a bit of aging. I am thinking a month and a half from now, it will be perfect. This beer is gonna knock people on their butts. I will post results when it is done. This might be a staple spring/summer beer for me, it has a lot of potential.

kanzimonson · 04-13-2011, 01:26 AM

I made a 1.091 IIPA with 2oz Warrior and it's not bitter enough. That's partly because I used 1968 for my yeast and I've found that beers seem less bitter with this strain, even apart from the fact that this strain leaves a higher FG.

Patirck · 04-13-2011, 03:56 AM

You've already made it but I would try it again with a half a pound of melanoiden - it gives it that big round malty taste. I would also add a little acid malt - I like wheats a little sour.

kanzimonson · 04-13-2011, 12:05 PM

Any other suggestions on how to turn his beer into your beer?

Oldsock · 04-13-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanzimonson

I made a 1.091 IIPA with 2oz Warrior and it's not bitter enough.

Warrior is very smooth, if you want to use it to bitter something like an IIPA I would add some Chinook (or another cohumulone heavy hop) as well. Columbus is my favorite bittering hop for beers where I want some roughness to the bitterness.