1st time experimenting with Rye malt

[adkryan]

I'm brewing an all grain American Rye Wheat Ale tonight. It's my first time experimenting with Rye so I want to make sure I'm not overdoing it:

4 lbs - Rye Malt
4 lbs - White Wheat Malt
1 lb - Flaked Rye
8 oz - C-10

1 oz - Cascade @ 60
.50 oz - Amarillo @ 5
.50 oz - Amarillo @ 2

Safale US-05 Dry Ale yeast

I was thinking I could supplement some of the Rye with 2-row if it is determined that the current level is excessive. Also I'm thinking about adding bitter orange and coriander. 2 staples for a wheat beer that I think would complement both the rye flavor and the hop schedule. I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks guys.

 

[ianw58]

What size batch?

Is this BIAB? If not, how are you going to manage to drain the liquid out if that mash? Rye us a gummy grain and trying to drain the would be just about impossible.

What's the purpose of this brew? Trying to see what a rye beer tastes like? If so, skip the spices.

 

[adkryan]

It's an all grain 5 gallon batch (not BIAB). I was going to use rice hulls to filter the rye, but I'm thinking 4lbs is too much (5 including the flaked). The purpose of the brew is to experiment with rye. I'm kind of flying super blind on this one. Any advice would be great. Here's my new thought on the grain bill. The last thing I want is a stuck sparge tonight:

7 lbs - 2 Row
1 lb - Rye Malt
1 lb - Flaked Rye
8 oz - C-10

 

[sammy33]

I would cut the Rye down to about 15% of the total grain bill. Maybe 20% would be plenty to push the Rye taste and the grain bed. Definitely add some 2 Row in there.

 

[adkryan]

Thanks! I went with my original plan of supplementing some of that Rye with 2-row. That way I can still use the white wheat and maybe throw in a little coriander.

4 lbs - White Wheat Malt (44.4%)
3 lbs - Pale Malt - 2 Row (33.3%)
1 lb - Rye Malt (11.1%)
8 oz - Flaked Rye (5.6%)
8 oz - C-10 (5.6%)

Total Rye is now 16.7%. Looks like I'm the ballpark for a halfway decent sparge (using plenty of rice hulls of course). Really glad I asked. This could have been a disaster.

 

[ianw58]

If you're using rice hulls, I'd try this:

3 lbs - White Wheat Malt (44.4%)
4 lbs - Pale Malt - 2 Row (33.3%)
2 lbs - Rye Malt (11.1%)
8 oz - Flaked Rye (5.6%)
8 oz - C-10 (5.6%)

Mash @ 152°F

Hops:
1oz Cascade @ 60 min
1oz Amarillo @ 5 min

That'll give you about 36 IBU. There is no difference between adding .5oz at 5 min and .5 @ 2 min. Why complicate the brew?

Projected OG: 1.053
Projected FG: 1.015
Projected ABV: 5.02%

 

[DoWBrewer]

I would recommend taking an existing recipe that you know works and try adding rye. I would start with 10% of your grist and see how you like it.

 

[Beernik]

If you're using rice hulls, I'd try this:

3 lbs - White Wheat Malt (44.4%)
4 lbs - Pale Malt - 2 Row (33.3%)
2 lbs - Rye Malt (11.1%)
8 oz - Flaked Rye (5.6%)
8 oz - C-10 (5.6%)

This is pretty close to the rye-weizen I'm planning:

3.5lb wheat malt (28%)
3.5lb rye malt (28%)
3.5lb Pilsen (28%)
1.5lb Munich - Light (12%)
0.5lb Rice hulls (4%)

I may up the rice hulls depending upon my level of paranoia at the time.