Brewing my first Hefeweizen

[elgee]

Finally, after 6 years of brewing am making my first Hefeweizen and I am excited. I got an AG kit on sale at Austin homebrew. I'm thinking I'll make a starter and use some oxygen before pitching. I've read here both may not be desirable for this style though? I'm using WLP300 and plan to ferment at 67. Thinking of 2 maybe 3 weeks to ferment, then cold crash for a day. Looking for a good mix of clove and banana, hopefully I'll get it on the first try! Anyone with any advise contrary to what I posted here, please let me know if I'm going about t wrong...

 

[laredo7mm]

I usually use WY3068, but i think it is the same as WLP300. I have tried numerous methods to try and get some fruity flavors but I haven't succeeded yet. I have tried high temps (69°), low temps (62°), no aeration (I don't have an oxygen set up so I just splash the worth to oxygenate) with an under pitch and low temps. Next time I am going to try and under pitch with no oxygenation, and high temps.

Anyway, if WLP003 is the same as WY3068, then using a starter, with oxygen, and at 67°, then it will probably be done fermenting in a couple of days. Be sure to use a blow off tube, the yeast is crazy.

 

[elgee]

I think it is the same strain. I got the oxygen setup cheap on one of the online homebrew shops, not very expensive, works great.

 

[thedon986]

Second that this yeast goes nuts. It's a top-cropping beast. I have a hefe finishing primary right now. Tasted a sample at about 1.013 and taste was straight banana, no clove but I kind of like it. It will probably fade but was very interested. I usually ferment them at 68-69 but this one was done around 64-65. Also, no starter just the smack pack of 3068. Very pleased with this yeast. I used a starter the first time and found it lacking in esters.

 

[JayInAmes]

I underpitched with 3068 (just the packet) and did not control temps, and got great banana flavor. Did everything wrong, got the result I was looking for.

 

[Erik_Mog]

I have a Hefeweizen fermenting now using wlp300. Have not seen the crazy fermentation though. Started at 68f and bumped it to 70f yesterday. Only about 1" of krausen (about the same as every other beer I have done). Last Hefeweizen I did was wb06. Got a good banana flavor from it. Decided to change it up a bit with a different yeast this time. I plan on checking the gravity Saturday morning and then probably racking on to 3# of blood orange puree and letting it sir another week. Yeast was packaged 5/16/16. Pitched two packages with no started an no aeration. Fermentation started in about 9 hours.

 

[brewshki]

I've made starters and oxygenated and have still gotten good flavors. I ferment at 68. He best part is that you are already on experimental mode so just give one of them a shot.

 

[bbohanon]

Some advice I can give on brewing this one as I LOVE hefes and its one of my most requested beers all season long:

I am not sure what your equipment setup is like but I usually do my mash rest lower than most with my hefes (and pretty much any of my german beers)..around 148-149F and then bring it up to 168 for mash out after an hour. Gets the hefe more dry on the finish so its not cloyingly sweet.

Use a true hefe strain yeast..WLP300 as others have mentioned is a friggin beast so use a blow off tube for sure with this one..

Make a nice big starter with WLP300 and pitch it active (you want to pitch enough yeast and when its humming for it to do its thing).

Pitch at the proper temp..Please dont pitch high..Get the wort chilled to your fermentation temp, then pitch..your beer will thank you for it!

I usually ferment my hefe as others here mentioned between 65-68F. Control your temps so it does not get to high when it goes nuts (and it will with WLP300).

Let it sit in the fermenter for 2 weeks min (I usually let it sit for 3 just for good measure) and check your gravity before racking so you know its done. It will still have some yeasty floaties when you rack it to the keg or bottle it, but its a Hefe so it should be cloudy with yeast!

Once carbed, serve it fresh! Hefes should be served young.

Be ready for a flood of beer drinkers to descend on your house as when others find out you have this beer it will get gone QUICK.

:fro:

Brew on brother!

 

[elgee]

I brew with a grainfather and ferment with the Cronical by Ss Brewtech along with the ftss temp controller so I should be able to hit all the numbers you all recommend.