Blood Orange Hefeweizen

[TheWeeb]

I just opened a bottle last night, five days since bottling and it was really nice. Not fully carbonated, but very bright banana and orange flavor. Will try another this weekend and post a picture.

 

[BaltimoreBrau]

This was a little over a week after kegging. I pretty much followed the original recipe so it's a light on the orange flavor. Still very good, I think one of my best.

 

[TheWeeb]

Here is mine, one week in the bottle, more carbonation time needed, and I would like it to clear a bit (I know cloudy is true to style but I have preferences) but the ruby-red color is really nice. The flavor is fantastic, good citrus/orange/banana nose followed by much of the same on the palate. It is a bit more bitter on the finish than I like, which is probably some of the pith getting through during zesting.

 

[OCHawgy]

About 5% abv... Just over two weeks in the bottle. Bloody delicious! Carbonation is sufficient though I suspect its not fully carbed to the 3.9 volume I went for. Glad I already have another 6 gallons fermenting because this isn't going to last. It's got a hint more bitterness than I think it should; probably from the hops that were left in the wort. My current batch in the fermenter only has the fruit in it... strained the hops out of the pot during the transfer. Abv of this batch should be around 6-6.5%. Excited to keg it.

 

[TheWeeb]

About 5% abv... Just over two weeks in the bottle. Bloody delicious!


View attachment 112571

Our brews are nearly identical! Nice!

 

[Kolesy1829]

So this is a phenomenal beer! I followed the recipe for the most part but I added four of the blood oranges, zested and steeped, to the primary and then I added four more to the secondary. I did not make the "orange tea" for the secondary though. I just zested and cut up the oranges into small cubes, getting rid of as much white pulp as I could from the fruit, and placed all the fruit and zest directly into the secondary. This beer turned out fantastic and was enjoyed and talked about by the dozen people I had over for Easter dinner. Definitely will make this one again! Probably going to be one of my house beers on tap all the time! Has a nice orangey/bananay nose with a nice hint of clove on the tongue. Super smooth mouthfeel and just a great easy drinking beer!

 

[4JBrew]

I am wondering how my hop substitution sounds, as I don't have any Hallertau. I do have Saaz, however and Amarillo though. I definitely prefer beers that aren't too hoppy. You think 1/2 oz Amarillo at 60 minutes and 1/2 oz Saaz at 15 sounds good? Will that Amarillo be too bitter?

 

[TMannion87]

TheWeeb, I'm brewing your variation this weekend. Did you use the meat and zest of 10 oranges or just the meat? Also, how small were your oranges? I'm looking for a solid orange flavor to come through. Thanks!

 

[TheWeeb]

TheWeeb, I'm brewing your variation this weekend. Did you use the meat and zest of 10 oranges or just the meat? Also, how small were your oranges? I'm looking for a solid orange flavor to come through. Thanks!

Mine were small, almost tangerine sized but not quite. I carefully zested using a high quality veggie peeler, then skinned the fruit just like you would do when you eat them, then took the orange segments and pulled off as much remaining white pith as possible, then cut the segments into smaller pieces and put it all into the primary using the tea method. I used a 5 gallon paint strainer bag to give plenty of room for the liquid to circulate and yet hold it all in at bottling.

I wish I knew more about hops and hop substitutions... I'd stick to the hops that are common to the German wheat styles (ref previous post).

 

[TMannion87]

Thanks Weeb, that's very helpful. Any tips for zesting the oranges? I've never zested anything before...Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[TheWeeb]

This is what I used, very sharp, wide blade, very light pressure to keep only the zest separating, dont dig in to the white pith..
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00152159/

I just started a batch of Limocello and had to zest a dozen large lemons, this baby worked really well.

 

[badducky]

Lacking blood oranges, I used texas ruby red grapefruits. Came out fantastic. Pick your favorite or best available citrus and it will be very good.

 

[Jsmith82]

I'm brewing a form of this tonight, but I'm using fresh homegrown wet hops instead of dried / purchased, and instead of blood oranges I'm using peaches that I picked last Sunday locally.

Should be tasty Franken-Wheat!

 

[Jsmith82]

I'm brewing a form of this tonight, but I'm using fresh homegrown wet hops instead of dried / purchased, and instead of blood oranges I'm using peaches that I picked last Sunday locally.

Should be tasty Franken-Wheat!

Kegged it Thursday

 

[surfer54321]

I'm going to brew this up this week. It's weird that there aren't any steeping grains. Should I use some? Carapils for head retention? Or should I just go with the recipe, as stated?

 

[OCHawgy]

I'm going to brew this up this week. It's weird that there aren't any steeping grains. Should I use some? Carapils for head retention? Or should I just go with the recipe, as stated?

My very first batch I followed the recipe. It was my first non-kit beer and it turned out great. Future batches turned out good, but didn't have as good head retention for some reason. The last batch I brewed up was my first created recipe (AG) which has a little carawheat... starts off with a thick head on the pour and has great head retention to the last sip! Very delicious. Glad I found this recipe to begin with... now I need to find some Blood Oranges since they are in season.


By the way, my avatar picture is of my first glass of my first batch.

 

[OCHawgy]

Kegged it Thursday

How did the peach hef turn out?

 

[TheWeeb]

Yea in season! Going to brew this with the club in a couple of weeks, have simplified my iteration a bit:

15 gallon all grain

30lbs wheat malt
10lbs pale malt
3lbs Caramunich 60L

3oz Saaz @ 60
2oz Hallertauer @30
2oz Hallertauer @10

30 small or 20 large blood oranges, zested, fruit cut up to small pieces, pitched with yeast once wort has cooled.

OG est: 1.082
FG est: 1.020
ABV est: 7.8
IBU est: 21

Can't wait!

 

[gfinockio]

Just opened my first couple of bottles of this - great recipe and great beer! Added a regular orange for some flair too...

 

[ahariton]

Any thoughts on adding the oranges to the primary after fermentation is complete, or alternatively adding them to the keg in as bag and racking the finished beer on top?

 

[CaptBrew8386]

I'm actually going to make a 7gal batch, keg 5gal and bottle 2gal. I'm doing 7gal bc I have a 6gal carboy and a 2gal fermentation vessel.

For most of the ingredients I should be able to just add 40% more and get the same result in a larger batch. But a bit lost on the yeast. I plan on using WLP320. For the carboy, one vial should be fine. What about the 2gal ferm. vessel? Should I use a whole vial or a portion of it?

Really excited to brew this!

 

[Brewin_Sparty]

Hey guys. Noob question here. If I am going to use DME, it comes in 6lb packs but this recipe only calls for something like 5.28lbs. What would happen if I added all 6lbs of the DME? It will raise the gravity, but will it make any other difference? (taste/mouthfeel)?

Sorry that I am dumb haha

 

[davidg410]

Hey guys. Noob question here. If I am going to use DME, it comes in 6lb packs but this recipe only calls for something like 5.28lbs. What would happen if I added all 6lbs of the DME? It will raise the gravity, but will it make any other difference? (taste/mouthfeel)?

Sorry that I am dumb haha

Use all 6lbs. You'll be fine. IBU's will be slightly slower, but won't make a huge difference. You'll have a slightly stronger beer by ~.5%