Cilantro Lime Wheat Beer

[DoctorDuvel]

I think I will try this with at least part of the batch of this recipe that my friend and I just made - I'll share my results afterwards.

looking forward to hearing about it!

 

[bwomp313]

I'm brewing this for the third time with a few tweaks. I'll post em here.

 

[Fauxsho]

Not only do I LOVE cilantro, but what an awesome idea to pair this with thai food, my absolute favorite. This whole idea really intrigues me. I am really new here, and have 0 batches under my belt, so forgive me as I probably don't even belong in this thread, but have you considered muddling the cilantro and serving the beer over it similar to how we use mint leaves in a mojito?

My love of cilantro made me post a reply in this topic, sorry if it seems silly.

Cheers.

 

[bwomp313]

Not only do I LOVE cilantro, but what an awesome idea to pair this with thai food, my absolute favorite. This whole idea really intrigues me. I am really new here, and have 0 batches under my belt, so forgive me as I probably don't even belong in this thread, but have you considered muddling the cilantro and serving the beer over it similar to how we use mint leaves in a mojito?

My love of cilantro made me post a reply in this topic, sorry if it seems silly.

Cheers.

Nothing to be sorry about. That'd definitely be something to try out.

 

[bwomp313]

Pitched the yeast at about 2:30am. Not sure what happened but I way undershot the gravity so I added half a pound of corn sugar which brought her to an OG of 1.044. For this batch I went with 4 oz cilantro, .4 oz lime peel and I put the juice of 3 limes in there for the heck of it (4oz). Threw all that in at the 5 minute mark. Also, I adjusted the hops. Put .5 oz cascade as a FWH (90 min boil), .5 oz at 20 min and 1 oz at 5 min. I also used german pilsner malt instead of american.

 

[robcj]

As mentioned earlier, my friend and I brewed 10 gallons of this beer. We subbed two-row for the pilsner in the original recipe. (And added 3% worth of acidulated malt as we always do for mash pH.) We mashed low, extracted 1.045 and attenuated down to a nice, crisp 1.08 after a 3-week primary. At about 4.9% ABV it might be a little boozier than your original recipe intended. I bottled this on Sunday, shooting for 2.7 volumes. I decided against adding cilantro-infused vodka to this batch in the end. The hydro sample was pristine - clean wheat with a hint of lime.

I'm curious what everyone else has been targeting for carbonation. 2.7 seemed a nice balance between your typical American ale and a German wheat beer.

On a side note, I totally cheated and cracked one of these tonight after just a couple of days... and it's already awesome. Obviously it should be too early to sample but I knew a light wheat beer like this would be well on its way already and I was right. It's packed with lime flavour - I suspect that will mellow quickly. No cilantro - the fermentation seems to have blown that off.

 

[bwomp313]

The lime definitely mellows pretty quick which is why I think this beer is best drank fresh. And 2.7 volumes sounds about right for carbonation. I'm wondering what the difference in flavor is with this between using 2 row and pilsner malt. I like the pilsner personally because of the crisp bready quality.

 

[robcj]

I'm wondering what the difference in flavor is with this between using 2 row and pilsner malt. I like the pilsner personally because of the crisp bready quality.

I suspect you would find our version a little plain. We used two row out of necessity - I'll probably try this recipe again with pilsner.

 

[Spartan1979]

I'm brewing this this weekend. Has anyone tried "dry hopping" the cilantro?

 

[bwomp313]

I'm brewing this this weekend. Has anyone tried "dry hopping" the cilantro?

i don't think so but you should definitely try it. that was what i originally planned to do. maybe I'll do that this time around

 

[Spartan1979]

I brewed mine yesterday. I didn't pay attention and added the lime juice with 5 minutes to go instead of at knockout. I hope this doesn't affect the flavor much. I can always add more after fermentation. I'm going to try "dry hopping" the cilantro also.

 

[bwomp313]

I'm not sure what the recipe says but I usually add the stuff at the 5 min mark. no worries.

 

[Spartan1979]

I'm not sure what the recipe says but I usually add the stuff at the 5 min mark. no worries.

BYO says 0 min.

 

[bwomp313]

BYO says 0 min.

another discrepancy I did not notice

 

[Brewenc]

Im looking at brewing this beer this weekend. Planning on following the recipe as stated in BYO and DH extra Cilantro after tasting primary sample. Any recommendations before brew day?

 

[bwomp313]

Im looking at brewing this beer this weekend. Planning on following the recipe as stated in BYO and DH extra Cilantro after tasting primary sample. Any recommendations before brew day?

personally I do all the prep during mash (zesting lime, weighing hops, cutting up cilantro, etc.) also, I think it's pretty important to ferment this in the low 60's. definitely let us know how the dry cilantroing goes. I've been meaning to try it as I have found that the cilantro in the boil is fairly subtle.

 

[bwomp313]

just kegged up my 3rd version of this. I had hit a little low on the OG (1.044). FG is at 1.009 making her 4.6% ABV. Sat in primary for about six weeks in the low 60's. I'll post some pictures and such when she's ready.

 

[Brewenc]

Ive mashed in and always try to do all prep work during this time. Using fresh homegrown cilantro. Ill definitly let ya know how it goes.

 

[Spartan1979]

I tasted mine last night. It had a subtle lime flavor and no real cilantro flavor. But it did have an interesting green tinge to it!

When I got home tonight I added 1/2 oz chopped cilantro and about 1fl oz of fresh lime juice. We'll see how it comes out. I'll cold crash it Sunday night.

 

[bwomp313]

 

[bwomp313]

Is it weird that every time ive made this that the taste reminds me of a powdered lemon filled donut?

 

[Spartan1979]

I brewed this beer and four days before the festival we were informed that we wouldn't be allowed to serve any homebrew.

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/dining/bars-and-clubs-other/hip-hops/homebrew-barred-from-st-louis-beer-festival/article_110a5560-b4ab-11e1-a55f-001a4bcf6878.html

At least the Cilantro Lime Wheat got used as an example of the beers we had prepared for this festival! I've seen reports that between the various clubs we had over 1000 gallons, but I believe the number was closer to 800. Hopefully we can get this worked out for next year.

I was happy with how the beer came out. Even with "dryhopping" the cilantro, not a lot of cilantro flavor. If I brew this again, I think I'd put more lime zest in.

 

[bwomp313]

I brewed this beer and four days before the festival we were informed that we wouldn't be allowed to serve any homebrew.

http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/dining/bars-and-clubs-other/hip-hops/homebrew-barred-from-st-louis-beer-festival/article_110a5560-b4ab-11e1-a55f-001a4bcf6878.html

At least the Cilantro Lime Wheat got used as an example of the beers we had prepared for this festival! I've seen reports that between the various clubs we had over 1000 gallons, but I believe the number was closer to 800. Hopefully we can get this worked out for next year.

I was happy with how the beer came out. Even with "dryhopping" the cilantro, not a lot of cilantro flavor. If I brew this again, I think I'd put more lime zest in.

that sucks they barred you from serving. I'm glad you like it. Definitely tinker with it, it's always a work in progress. I think I personally prefer a subtle cilantro flavor but that's all preference.

 

[Spartan1979]

I finally got to serve this this past Saturday. One of the local breweries held a free, private event for the homebrewers and their guests, and guests of the brewery. Less than 300 people. With it being free, there were no concerns about the law.

The Cilantro Lime Wheat went over well, but probably more so with the non-homebrewers than with the homebrewers. I'll have to make this again for another festival if we can get the law changed.

Interestingly, we also had a cilantro lime jalapeno saison!

 

[Spartan1979]

I brewed this again. I should have taken better notes. I think the lime flavor is fine, but there doesn't seem to be much point of adding the cilantro to the boil. I'm going to try "dryhopping" with 3/4 ounce of cilantro this time.

 

[hotbeer]

Well let us know how that comes out @Spartan1979 .

I've briefly wondered about such a combo for beer, but not long enough to actually have tried to come up with anything.

I'd agree that adding the cilantro to the fermenter is probably the way to go. And would be interested if you find a hop combination to help bring out any lime flavor.

Might be better in your own thread so the other replies to earlier stuff don't become "noise" to this specific contribution of yours.