first time wheat brewing

[MartyMcFlyPA]

So I've been all-grain brewing for about 5 months and love it. Some friends and I are going to be brewing our first wheat beer with oranges and corriander but I've heard horror stories about the mashing process with wheat, like the mash becoming like concrete. Is there truth to this? And if so how do I avoid these pitfalls?

 

[thejudge]

I'm not a proficient AG brewer but I have been told to use rice hulls to improve the ability of the mashing of all wheat.

 

[sloanfamilydsm]

The wheat has no outer hull on it to help the sparge. When I make a beer with more than 30% wheat I will add about two handfuls of rice hulls. I never used to add rice hulls until I got my first stuck sparge and spent over 2 hours trying to get my mashtun to empty

 

[MartyMcFlyPA]

So for me doing a 5 gallon batch with 50% wheat do you think maybe 1/2 pound of rice hulls?

 

[GASoline71]

I used a half pound of rice hulls with 4 lb wheat, 5 lb 2-row, 1 lb of flaked wheat (5 gallon batch). It was more than enough. No stuck mash or sparge.

Gary

 

[sloanfamilydsm]

So for me doing a 5 gallon batch with 50% wheat do you think maybe 1/2 pound of rice hulls?

For me two handfuls is about 1/4 lb. Buy a pound of rice hulls with your next grain order and you will have plenty for future brews. It's amazing how fluffy rice hulls are, a lb is about 4 times the size of a lb of grain

 

[sloanfamilydsm]

So for me doing a 5 gallon batch with 50% wheat do you think maybe 1/2 pound of rice hulls?

Get a lb with your grain order. Rice hulls are really "fluffy". Two handfuls for me is only about a quarter lb

 

[MartyMcFlyPA]

Awesome thanks for the help. And since we're on the subject of orange wheat beers I'm thinking about adding in my oranges and corriander with about 10 min left in the boil. Sound right to you all?

 

[Xpertskir]

as said above use rice hulls.

Also, either double mill the wheat(what I do) or adjust your mill gap smaller for the wheat portion of the bill.

 

[GASoline71]

When brewing a Blue Moon clone for my wife... I add the corriander at 10 minutes left in boil. But add the orange and orange peel (zest) in the primary fermenter. I don't secondary wheat beers.

Gary

 

[stevehardt]

I do a lot of wheat beers. Always use a couple of handful of rice hulls. Stuck sparges are a nightmare

Add the corriander during the last 10 minutes. I've had pretty good luck adding the orange zest to the last 10 minutes, but could see where it might be better to add it to the fermenter.

You will love this beer. One of my favorites