"crystals" on top of fruit addition to secondary.

[day_trippr]

Everything went in the carboys, 10 days post pitch, along with a 1/2 cup of corn sugar in each. Within a few hours there was a 3" thick pink krausen happening.

Four days later I cold-crashed it for four days to try to compact the amazing mass of raspberry skins but I still left a good three quarts of "stuff" behind in each fermentor, so instead of 10 gallons in the kegs I ended up around 8-1/2 gallons. You can see the pre-crashed mass here:

It didn't compact much, probably because it's comprised of bazillions of tiny almost clear raspberry skins.
I'll go through my recipe to adjust for that loss as short of a centrifuge I don't think much goodness could be recovered from it...

Cheers!

 

[Johan Dingler]

Everything went in the carboys, 10 days post pitch, along with a 1/2 cup of corn sugar in each. Within a few hours there was a 3" thick pink krausen happening.

Four days later I cold-crashed it for four days to try to compact the amazing mass of raspberry skins but I still left a good three quarts of "stuff" behind in each fermentor, so instead of 10 gallons in the kegs I ended up around 8-1/2 gallons. You can see the pre-crashed mass here:

View attachment 670562


It didn't compact much, probably because it's comprised of bazillions of tiny almost clear raspberry skins.
I'll go through my recipe to adjust for that loss as short of a centrifuge I don't think much goodness could be recovered from it...

Cheers!

What do you think of everything going into a nylon mesh bag and then throwing the bag into the fermentor? Do you think that would work and also reduce the amount of lost beer?

 

[day_trippr]

Tough to do with a carboy, and in any case removing the bag to leave the beer behind would introduce mass quantities of O2.
It's much more important to me to maximize shelf life than yield.
Having an extra couple/few quarts of oxidized beer is no win...

Cheers!

 

[Johan Dingler]

Update, yall! Second try on this brew. This time it turned out amazing!!!

The only thing i would change is that it dried A LOT!!! (fg 1.009) Used Safale wb-06, and I was just reading that its diastatic, which explains the dryness... Any yeast suggestions to fix this?? I love the esters wb-06 left, and the yeast character overall. Any ideas for a yeast with similar character but that will leave more body in my beer??

Cheers!

 

[RPh_Guy]

Did you decide it's lacking body after you checked the FG? It's easy for the mind to play tricks on you if you believe FG equates body (which it doesn't).

 

[Johan Dingler]

Did you decide it's lacking body after you checked the FG? It's easy for the mind to play tricks on you if you believe FG equates body (which it doesn't).

No, it was the other way around. And some brewers have made the same comment without me having to tell them anything about the FG. However, I have to admit that in my mind body and residual sweetness go pretty much hand in hand, so maybe a more precise way to put it is that i'd like a tiny bit more residual sweetness? Still trying to master all this brewer vocabulary haha!

 

[RPh_Guy]

Gotcha.

Lallemand Munich Classic would be a good dry yeast alternative and it should have similar character to WB-06, though not quite the same. It won't attenuate so high.

If you're looking for more of a classic Weihenstephaner hefeweizen (weissbier) flavor, liquid yeast is the way to go: WLP300 or WY3068.

Water profile is another way to control perceived sweetness, and a bit of crystal malt like CaraHell can also add sweetness.

 

[Johan Dingler]

Gotcha.

Lallemand Munich Classic would be a good dry yeast alternative and it should have similar character to WB-06, though not quite the same. It won't attenuate so high.

If you're looking for more of a classic Weihenstephaner hefeweizen (weissbier) flavor, liquid yeast is the way to go: WLP300 or WY3068.

Water profile is another way to control perceived sweetness, and a bit of crystal malt like CaraHell can also add sweetness.

Thank you for your insights! I'm gonna read a bit into your suggestions and try to adjust my recipe!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I'm not trying to get off topic, but raspberry is a strong flavor. In other words, doesn't take much raspberry.

Kegging or bottling the finished brew?

 

[Johan Dingler]

I'm not trying to get off topic, but raspberry is a strong flavor. In other words, doesn't take much raspberry.

Kegging or bottling the finished brew?

Bottled it. And I agree, it is strong! I used about 2 pounds for a 5 gal batch, and I think that was just about the right amount. It's pure raspberry to the nose, with some estery notes subtly showing up. To the taste, it's the other way around, a weizen with hints of raspberry. I like it.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Bottled it. And I agree, it is strong! I used about 2 pounds for a 5 gal batch, and I think that was just about the right amount. It's pure raspberry to the nose, with some estery notes subtly showing up. To the taste, it's the other way around, a weizen with hints of raspberry. I like it.

Sound very, very good. Wish we lived closer to each other and we could exchange some homebrew.

Years ago we vacation in Ocean City, MD. Of course, we had to go to the OC Brewery. I had one of their Raspberry Wheat. The owner came over to say hello and ask about their beers. Since he asked, I told him, "Raspberry is a powerful flavor, might want to considrer backing off on the raspberry a bit.". He wasn't offended and we talked beer for a while.

Each visit to Ocean City, MD required at least 1 stop at OC Brewing.

Now I see "No new Ocean City brewery? OC Brewing files for bankruptcy, auctioning equipment". What a shame!
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/ne...-brewing-company-files-bankruptcy/2731335002/

Geez, we were at OC Brewery in September 2017.

 

[Johan Dingler]

Sound very, very good. Wish we lived closer to each other and we could exchange some homebrew.

Years ago we vacation in Ocean City, MD. Of course, we had to go to the OC Brewery. I had one of their Raspberry Wheat. The owner came over to say hello and ask about their beers. Since he asked, I told him, "Raspberry is a powerful flavor, might want to considrer backing off on the raspberry a bit.". He wasn't offended and we talked beer for a while.

Each visit to Ocean City, MD required at least 1 stop at OC Brewing.

Now I see "No new Ocean City brewery? OC Brewing files for bankruptcy, auctioning equipment". What a shame!
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/ne...-brewing-company-files-bankruptcy/2731335002/

Geez, we were at OC Brewery in September 2017.

What a shame... And I also wish I lived closer to people in this forum. Where I live, the homebrewing community is really small, northern Mexico, so people to share bottles with and supplies even are very limited.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Saludos amigo

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

How long ago was the wedding? (Profile picture)

 

[Johan Dingler]

How long ago was the wedding? (Profile picture)

Almost a year ago. The raspberry weizen was done by request of my wife, by the way, but as it turns out i might end up drinking most of it ... In my top three of the beers i've brewed since I started with this hobby.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Kudos to you and your bride

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

How are homebrewing supplies in Northern Mexico? It's my understanding most Mexico brews are lagers.

 

[Johan Dingler]

How are homebrewing supplies in Northern Mexico? It's my understanding most Mexico brews are lagers.

Most big mexican beer are lagers, yes. Even tho they have acquired a couple of craft breweries in the last couple years. The craft beer scene has lots of good stuff tho, really good! Specially breweries from north western Mx as they have a strong influence from San Diego. If you come across some mexican craft beers do try them out. I think cervecería colima does a good deal of exports to the US, to name an example. As of homebrewing supplies the biggest problem is yeast, I think. We get mainly fermentis and that's about it. Malt and hops varieties are okay, we get most of the stuff, but still lacking. I'm a two hour drive away from Texas so sometimes I do supply runs when I want "rare" yeasts or cheaper equipment.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Thanks, amigo, for the input!. Do wish we lived closer to trade/exchange/give some homebrew.

When writing about "As of homebrewing supplies the biggest problem is yeast" is this dried yeast or liquid yeast?

 

[Johan Dingler]

Thanks, amigo, for the input!. Do wish we lived closer to trade/exchange/give some homebrew.

When writing about "As of homebrewing supplies the biggest problem is yeast" is this dried yeast or liquid yeast?

Dried yeast, that's all you can find and mostly fermentis. A few other brands now and then, but 90% of the time suppliers only carry fermentis yeast. I've really never used liquid yeast!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

OK. Dry yeast are good, just trying to get all info/understand.

Man, I do wish we lived closer to each other and I could easily help you out.

 

[Johan Dingler]

OK. Dry yeast are good, just trying to get all info/understand.

Man, I do wish we lived closer to each other and I could easily help you out.

Maybe next time I go to the US I can mail you a couple of beers and get your feedback! Lets keep in touch! Well, idk if mailing homebrew is legal in the US LOL. But if it is, we could do that!!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Sounds good to me. Or, if ever in the Washington DC are, plan a visit!

 

[Johan Dingler]

Sounds good to me. Or, if ever in the Washington DC are, plan a visit!

I was there in summer 2018 for a conference at george mason university. If I go back i'll let you know!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I was there in summer 2018 for a conference at george mason university. If I go back i'll let you know!

D'oh. I fondly recall drinking cheap brews at the student union in the late 1970s/early 1980s (I know, I know, dating myself).

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

We have a George Mason campus in Mansasas. Isn't too far... near 2 Silos Brewery in Manassas..

 

[Johan Dingler]

We have a George Mason campus in Mansasas. Isn't too far... near 2 Silos Brewery in Manassas..

I've only been to the ones in Fairfax and... Arlington? If I remember correctly.