Witbier Blue Balls Belgian Wit (Blue Moon Clone)

[ParabolicDestination]

Just having a pint of this as of writing. Hey don't judge me it's afternoon. Just..
I brewed 10 gallons all grain which is my second 10 gallon batch ever! Brewing on my newly built Keggle system.
Was brewed to have a light beer for a family reunion weekend and boy was it a hit! Popped the first keg on the first day! I ended up using the zest of two lemons and two oranges. I didn't dry the zest before throwing in to the BK but still came out very flavorful and aromatic but threw it in around 10 minutes before flame out to give it a little extra. Have had nothing but compliments and that it's not the typical "Homebrew" they've tasted. Great Job BierMuncher! Going to try your Centennial Blonde next!

 

[leftcontact]

Brewed it last Sunday, took a hydrometer sample today (O.G.1.034, currently 1.010) and this is tasting really good. Much much better than the first time I tried it. This may be going to the rotation. Used fresh tangerine peel instead of the dried bitter orange peel and it's still coming through. It may not be a perfect blue moon clone, but it's definitely drinkableand I'm looking forward to having more of it. And, yeah, the rice hulls made all the difference.

 

[leftcontact]

Brewed it last Sunday, took a hydrometer sample today (O.G.1.034, currently 1.010) and this is tasting really good. Much much better than the first time I tried it. This may be going to the rotation. Used fresh tangerine peel instead of the dried bitter orange peel and it's still coming through. It may not be a perfect blue moon clone, but it's definitely drinkableand I'm looking forward to having more of it. And, yeah, the rice hulls made all the difference.

Took another sample last night. Down to 1.008, hops have dropped out, and the tangerine just ... works. Has an amazing nose. Yum.

Realized I forgot to crush the coriander, trying to decide if I should add some now or just RDWAHAH.. likely the latter.

Thanks again, BierMuncher!

 

[wyowolf]

Brewed this a couple weeks ago, for some reason mine came out with a bitter aftertaste... not sure if its the coriander or the orange peel... the color is also way different...

mine is right, BM left...

10 lbs 2row UK
10 lbs flaked wheat
2oz EkG 60 min
152 for 60 min
corriander/OP at flameout... fresh orange peel, no white parts.
3944 yeast 12 days at 68 degrees.. kegged. OG 1.047 FG 1.010
I am hoping the bitter aftertaste goes away in time...

any thoughts?
I

 

[bolus14]

As far as color, did you check to see what SRM the 2 Row you used was? I've seen the SRM range from 1.7 - 3.5 so if yours was on the low end of that that might explain the color difference.

As for bitterness you used 2oz of EKG at 60min. Assuming 5 AA which is average for EKG that gives you around 38 IBUs which is double what the recipe calls for. In such a light grain bill the bitterness is going to stand out since it has nothing to hide behind.

Will it fade, eventually yes, bitterness in all beers fades over time. But, in this it will likely take a few months, or longer.

 

[wyowolf]

Beersmith gave an ibu of 17 with the numbers I put in...its not a hop bitterness...i think it's the Orange peel...

here is the beersmith profile...the srm was listed as 2.5 to 3

View attachment BlueMoonClone.bsmx

 

[rtstrider]

Just brewed this all grain recipe last night. Smelled great, I ended up using Canadian 2 row pale malt and up'd the orange peel and coriander. My local brew shop only had WB-06, has anyone used this yeast for a belgian wit before. They assured me it would work well but id like to hear from someone on here who has used it. I currently have it fermenting at 68 degrees in my basement.

Thanks all.
Look forward to trying this.

Hey Meyer how'd that turn out with the wb-06? I was going to brew this recipe with that yeast. Last batch is used it on (first ever brew) it tasted like rotten egg farts. Learned quite a bit since then and bottled WAY too soon (5 days)

 

[Meyer1980]

Yeah it didn't go so well. I think I should have let it sit a while longer before rushing to bottle. Can't really blame it on the yeast, more so my impatience and inexperience. Next time I'll know better.

 

[rtstrider]

How long did you let it sit before bottling?

 

[Meyer1980]

Just over 2 weeks

 

[wyowolf]

Well this will be the first beer I had to dump Not really sure where that weird flavor is coming from. time hasnt really helped it like i was hoping for...

I will brew again but I think I will either put very small amounts of the coriander /OP or just leave it out entirely...

 

[balrog]

Well this will be the first beer I had to dump Not really sure where that weird flavor is coming from. time hasnt really helped it like i was hoping for...

I will brew again but I think I will either put very small amounts of the coriander /OP or just leave it out entirely...

FWIW I use only WY1007 or S05 as I dislike clove in my beer; don't know what the 3447 may do to flavor.

 

[wyowolf]

FWIW I use only WY1007 or S05 as I dislike clove in my beer; don't know what the 3447 may do to flavor.

I used 3944. Though I thought about using 05.. i might do that. i dont think its a yeast issue, or sanitation issue, 2 batches after that were just fine...

 

[balrog]

I used 3944. Though I thought about using 05.. i might do that. i dont think its a yeast issue, or sanitation issue, 2 batches after that were just fine...

3447, 3944, apparently my short term memory is not up to the task. Sorry. I did look up 3944 and read "spicey phenolics" and that makes me think "clove", hence my comment.

But your off flavor description doesn't mention clove as being the flavor you dislike in this batch.

Wish I could help more.

 

[wyowolf]

3447, 3944, apparently my short term memory is not up to the task. Sorry. I did look up 3944 and read "spicey phenolics" and that makes me think "clove", hence my comment.

But your off flavor description doesn't mention clove as being the flavor you dislike in this batch.

Wish I could help more.

I really dont know how to describe it , but its a very bitter after taste, i just feel its one of those two cor/OP...

also, last time I used flaked wheat... should i have used raw white wheat instead? or is there a difference?

 

[balrog]

Use malted grains to have enzymes to convert starches to sugar. Barley or wheat. If raw (means un-malted), then no enzymes. But base malts can have enough diastatic power to convert both themselves and other starches in the mash.

Raw wheat to me means unmalted. There is white wheat malt, which is malted. There is raw wheat berries which you have to do a cereal mash first to even gelatinize their starches to make them even available for the enzymatic conversion to fermentable sugars. That's what torrified and flaked wheats are - prepared for simply adding to the mash, starches prepared for enzymes from other malts in the mash to convert.

 

[wyowolf]

Use malted grains to have enzymes to convert starches to sugar. Barley or wheat. If raw (means un-malted), then no enzymes. But base malts can have enough diastatic power to convert both themselves and other starches in the mash.

Raw wheat to me means unmalted. There is white wheat malt, which is malted. There is raw wheat berries which you have to do a cereal mash first to even gelatinize their starches to make them even available for the enzymatic conversion to fermentable sugars. That's what torrified and flaked wheats are - prepared for simply adding to the mash, starches prepared for enzymes from other malts in the mash to convert.

https://www.morebeer.com/products/briess-raw-white-wheat-malt.html

https://www.morebeer.com/products/great-western-white-wheat-malt.html

both say for use in Wheat Beers? just wondering what if any difference there is...

 

[balrog]

Someone more knowledgeable than I will have to answer that one. I don’t know the differences between malster’s in terms of taste, or usage. Sorry

 

[leftcontact]

https://www.morebeer.com/products/briess-raw-white-wheat-malt.html

https://www.morebeer.com/products/great-western-white-wheat-malt.html

both say for use in Wheat Beers? just wondering what if any difference there is...

The product listings show the Breiss as 2 Lovibond, and the great western as 3.1, so the great western is going to be a tiny amount darker. And, I’m guessing here, but the great western would then also have a tiny amount more toastiness. By tiny I’m saying “I’m not sure you’d notice unless you went looking for it.” At the end of the day, the best way to tell the difference is try them both in iterations of the same recipe, and see what you like better.

 

[wyowolf]

The product listings show the Breiss as 2 Lovibond, and the great western as 3.1, so the great western is going to be a tiny amount darker. And, I’m guessing here, but the great western would then also have a tiny amount more toastiness. By tiny I’m saying “I’m not sure you’d notice unless you went looking for it.” At the end of the day, the best way to tell the difference is try them both in iterations of the same recipe, and see what you like better.

So the briess is what I ordered this time, I will see how it goes...thank you

 

[wyowolf]

Someone more knowledgeable than I will have to answer that one. I don’t know the differences between malster’s in terms of taste, or usage. Sorry

thats fine, you have been more than helpful, thank you

I bought the Briess so will give it a try this time.. though I doubt the wheat was the reason for the bad taste...

 

[leftcontact]

For the record, swapping tangerine peel in for the bitter orange peel smells and tastes amazing. It is probably easier to get a hold of at the grocery store.

 

[bolus14]

Ok, looking for my next couple of beers for end of summer/early fall drinking and after my last year of venturing into too many IPAs this is looking good.

What do others think of bumping the orangzle zest up to a few ounces and dry hopping? The one complaint I generally.have with most Wits, and American Wheats clamming to be Wits, is the orange is very muted. At least to my palate I have to be looking to get any subtle orange taste, in this I want the orange to be more prominant. I'm somewhat looking for a base to use for a cranberry(maybe hibiscus)/orange beer for holiday time and if I can get the orange flavor to come through I think a Wit will be good.

Just food for thought if I do make the holiday brew, I'll likell raise the ABV a little and add some victory or biscuit malt to give some bready flavor!!

 

[rtstrider]

Try bumping up the bitter orange peel to 1 oz. That's what I did and it shines through real nice in the samples. I just brewed the recipe but subbed the pale 2 row for Pilsen malt, bumped corriander and bitter orange peel up to 1oz. Was going to get wlp400 straight up from whitelabs in Asheville but they were out so ended up using wyeast 3944 with a .5l starter. Pitched at 72f and let free rise to 70f with a 2 degree differential...meaning fermentation fridge kicks on when it hits 72f. It's only been a week in primary so far but the sample (minus the sulfur) had a nice strong orange tone to it. Not much yeast flavor yet but figure that may take some time. Like they say...RDWHAHB!

Edit forgot to add I added a lb of oats

 

[Shenanigans]

If you more of an orangey flavour use fresh orange zest or sweet orange peel instead of dried bitter orange peel. Up the coriander a bit too in a normal wit it's actually the Indian coriander seeds that add the orangey flavour more than the bitter orange peel. I heard good quality orange marmalade is also an option.

 

[stefan646]

Hello guys,
I brew this beer 6 days ago, and today I took a gravity reading and it went from 1056(I used a little more grains) to 1012 with US-05. The problem is that it has only a slight smell of coriander, but it doesn't taste at all of coriander or orange peels, I get only the bitter from the hops.
I have used:
- 1 oz hallertau on 40 min (I use the no chill method)
- 1 oz sweet orange peels from my LHBS, put it them whole (their are ~1cm pieces) in the boil at 5 minutes
- 0.75 oz coriander that I milled it in the blender - in the boil at 5 min
What could be the problem?
-That I no chill and the spices stayed to long in the hot wort? Next time I should add them at flameout or I should I add the coriander at 10min instead of 5?
-The spices are not so fresh?
-The beer is still fermenting so the coriander and orange aroma should appear after bottling and conditioning?

Should I try to make a "dry hop" with another 1 oz of coriander and 1 oz of orange peels ? Maybe this time I will mill the orange as well. How do I sanitize the spices?
Thank you !

 

[Jelmi]

Hey guys, I'm planning to make this one for my next batch. I do have a question about the flaked wheat, as I've never used it before. My HBS sells unmalted flaked wheat and recommends to boil them for 30 minutes before using them in the mash. This way the starch would become accessible in the mash. Is boiling the unmalted flakes required or recommended for this recipe?

 

[NitrogenWidget]

Hey guys, I'm planning to make this one for my next batch. I do have a question about the flaked wheat, as I've never used it before. My HBS sells unmalted flaked wheat and recommends to boil them for 30 minutes before using them in the mash. This way the starch would become accessible in the mash. Is boiling the unmalted flakes required or recommended for this recipe?

Brewed this yesterday.
I bought torrified wheat because it was cheaper than flaked and similar.
I just ground it up in my mill and mashed an hr like normal.
I cracked the coriander seeds with a rolling pin.
In past orange beers I ground them up in a coffee grinder and the flavor was too strong.
I also used a full oz of the orange peel.
because I BIAB and get higher efficiency I just went with 4lbs of both and came in at 1.036. next time i'll just go with the 4.5lbs of each grain.

its fermenting now.

 

[NitrogenWidget]

Yeast took a while to drop.
finished out at 1.007 so 3.8%
Cold crashing now and kegging tomorrow.
sample tastes pretty darn good and smooth.

Might use this as a base for a grapefruit flavored beer.

 

[ChihuahuaTN]

Enjoying this as my "gardening" summer beer; please excuse the dirt....
https://i223.photobucket.com/albums...7-3402-454F-9425-4C0903F0C08D_zpsq9kcjo4d.jpg