Bad Moon

[Anubis]

Reposting in the right place.

I saw Blue Balls Blue Moon Clone and wanted to try it. But, I only have a 3gal carboy free for the next couple weeks. So... I got the idea to just use half the water and call it a "double". Is that ok though?

RECIPE:

BATCH : 2.5 gal
OG : 1.089
FG : 1.022
SRM : 5
IBU : 41.7
ABV : 8.9%

3# Light DME
1# Wheat DME
2# Flaked Wheat

1.5oz East Kent Goldings 60min
.25oz Corriander Seed (cracked) 10min
.50oz Orange Peel Bitter 10min
.50oz Orange Peel Sweet 5 min

Wyeast #3944 Witbier

Mash Flaked Wheat @155f 75min (bag style)

QUESTIONS:

Will this be good?
Should I change orange peel, hops, or seed amounts and/or times?
Should I use a starter or will one smackpack be enough for 2.5gal @ 1.089?
Can I leave it in the carboy for four weeks?
"Dry peel" (adding peel for 7 days)?
Am I crazy?

I figured, I like witbier, I like bluemoon, I've wanted to make a simple "Imperial" Wit and it might be nice to have a strong yet fruity kinda beer. So yeah, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[JLem]

I'm not a Blue Moon or Wit fan in general, but a few of things jump out at me:

1) You'll need some malt to mash with the flaked wheat - the flaked wheat cannot self-convert

2) Plugging things into BeerSmith gives me 60+ IBUs depending on your boil volume and whether you add some extract late (with the Rager formula). I went with the default AA% of 5%. I would potentially knock the hops down some.

3) I would still use a starter for a beer with that high an OG - according to the Mr. Malty pitch rate calculator you need 1.6 vials or packs or a 1L starter

4) Leaving it in the carboy for 4 weeks is not a problem. I do this somewhat routinely with my beers.

5) Not sure that dry peeling will get you much - though I have no experience with it.

 

[Justibone]

2) Plugging things into BeerSmith gives me 60+ IBUs depending on your boil volume and whether you add some extract late (with the Rager formula). I went with the default AA% of 5%. I would potentially knock the hops down some.

+1. Check that bitterness. Been there, done that, T-shirt's in the mail.

 

[bmckee56]

I just tapped a Belgian Wit (5 gallon batch) in which I added 1oz Bitter and 1oz Sweet Orange peel, so I think you can use that amount, but it will be noticable. I have done 5 of these Belgian Wit brews using the exact same recipe with the exception of the sweet and bitter amounts. This last batch just tapped was kicked up by 1/4oz each.

As for the rest of your ingredients, I am not at home to review my previous grain bill so I can not comment.

Salute!

 

[Anubis]

Would a pound of 2 row be enough to convert?

Double checked and yep, IBU's were wrong.

 

[JLem]

Would a pound of 2 row be enough to convert?

I think so. As I understand it 2-row has a diastatic power of ~120L and you only need ~35L to self-convert. This leaves you plenty left over to convert the flaked wheat