Dunkelweizen Grain Bill - das ist gut?

[KidIcarus]

Hi everyone. New member here looking to get feedback on the grain bill that I put together for my second beer, a dunkelweizen (dark wheat beer).

First off, huge thanks to this forum. I have learned SO much here.

Here is the ingredient list I put together for this all grain brew:

Here's how I came up with these ingredients:

1) Found a style guide for Dunkelweizen that shows the recommended grains by percentage. Here's the recommendation I found: (link)

Malt Bill for Dunkelweizen and Weizenbock
- 60% Dark Wheat malt
- 25% Pils malt
- 10% Munich malt
- 5% Caramunich, Carawheat or Chocolate Wheat malt; vary depending on desired color, flavors, and aroma.

2) The "German Dark Wheat Malt" is not available at my LHBS, so I substituted "White Wheat Malt".

3) The American "White Wheat Malt" is lighter in color than the "German Dark Wheat Malt". I read that I can use a small amount of "Carafa I" to get to my target beer color. I decided on 10oz of "Carafa I" to get to my target dark color.​

Question: Does this ingredient list look good for a Dunkelweizen? What should I add/remove/change?

 

[sfgoat]

I would maybe up the pilsner a bit and just do a half pound of special B instead of all the carafa and caramunich. Just seems like too much caramel malts to me. Just my opinion though.

 

[KidIcarus]

I would maybe up the pilsner a bit and just do a half pound of special B instead of all the carafa and caramunich. Just seems like too much caramel malts to me. Just my opinion though.

@sfgoat: Thanks for the feedback. Based on your feedback, I upped the Pilsner to 25% of the grain bill, and reduced the white wheat to 50%.

I had the "Weyermann Carafa Special® TYPE I" at 5% of the grain bill based on information here that mentions that Carafa:

"...Reduces astringency and bitterness, while adding coffee-brown color, a coffee-like bouquet, dark- beer aroma, as well as body and mouthfeel to finished beer⎯but without introducing harsh flavors. Even small amounts of CARAFA SPECIAL® malts in the grain bill produce dark beers of unusual smoothness and mildness with a firm, creamy, white head. Recommended Quantities: Up to 5% of total grain bill Suitability (beer styles): Lagers: Dunkel, Doppelbock Ales: Dark, Stout, Altbier"

Do you think I'll find that the Carafa at 5% of the grain will actually add flavors that will overpower others, or will otherwise negatively impact the balance of flavors for this style?

 

[W0rthog]

Looks close to first attempt at a Schneider Weiss clone.

The Carafa may be a little much, but worth a shot. I found using crystal malts to darken works really good. Doesn't impart a chocolate note.

I found using caravienne and a little British dark crystal produces a really good Dunkel for me.

I say brew your recipe and see how you like it. Then tweak it from there.

Das ist Sehr gut! Prost


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[KidIcarus]

Looks close to first attempt at a Schneider Weiss clone.

The Carafa may be a little much, but worth a shot. I found using crystal malts to darken works really good. Doesn't impart a chocolate note.

I found using caravienne and a little British dark crystal produces a really good Dunkel for me.

I say brew your recipe and see how you like it. Then tweak it from there.

Das ist Sehr gut! Prost


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

@W0rthog: Good advice man. The hardest part of "brewing it the way I like it" is me being too new at this to have a sense for how it will taste. To offset my inexperience, it's very helpful to get everyone's feedback on this.

I do like your recommendation to use caravienne and British dark crystal. The amount of Carafa that I came up with is mainly to overcome limitations of what is in stock at my LHBS (ie Dark German Wheat, British dark crysta, etc) while still hitting the dark color I am looking for. Lesson learned that in the future, I should order the less ubiquitous stuff online in advance of my brew day.