Weissbier "Kick you in the face Banana Hefeweizen

[rjayb83]

I am a total noob and have only brewed pre made kits. But I am interested in this one. How do I account for the bananas and chocolate in beersmith?

 

[MardyBum]

Did anyone try the AG with good results? Interested in doing this. Just don't know how to convert it to AG!

 

[Shagnasty]

I just wanted to stop by and say that I tried my hand at this recipe not too long ago, and had my second tasting last night, 3 weeks after bottling. It's quite nice, although the carb did get a bit cold during fermentation as the temperature here dropped in early October.

In my case, the banana almost entirely resides in the aroma. If I hold my nose and take a drink I can't taste it whatsoever. I get a whiff of it as I take a swig, and then again after the swallow. The taste profile actually has the slightest bitterness to it followed by some citrus-y notes, almost a banana peel type flavor. The mouthfeel was very nice and smooth.

What I think contributed to this a bit is that the bananas that went into the primary were fairly ripe before they were boiled and pitched, but the secondary bananas barely had any ripening spots on the outside of the peels when they went into their boil. Likewise, the ones that went into the primary were almost entirely metabolized by the time I racked, and in the secondary much less so.

I also took a note from KeeptheDrive, and added 3 vanilla beans to the secondary carb hoping to get a bit of secondary or tersiary flavor from them which did not end up coming through. I split the beans lengthwise and then cut them into thirds before pitching into the secondary during the rack.

I know this is a fairly old thread, but any tips would be appreciated on how to get the banana flavor to come through more. It didn't come out quite as I had expected, but it was still delicious and I plan to make another attempt at this sometime in the future when the weather turns warm again. As it is, It's definitely a beer I could see myself sitting and drinking all night during the summer, but I feel it would be a tad more enjoyable if the banana flavor was a bit more present.

 

[SewerRanger]

That high fermentation temp is what gives you a lot of the banana flavors. Try and keep it around 73F for the entire ferment. If that doesn't work, add more to the fermenter; that's where you get the flavor from. It sounds like the banana nose is dead on for you already do I don't think you need any more in the secondary.
I also think the bitterness is probably from the vanilla beans - they're a bitter plant after all. Maybe use less? I've not tried it with vanilla beans yet so I can't say.

 

[Shagnasty]

Ah, cool. Thanks for taking the time man.

I had my stout running in my other carb at the time and the temp setting was already a compromise since it had a lower ferm temp. I think the lowest it got at one point was 67-68 which freaked me out a bit, but I tried to keep it around 70. Regardless, that makes a lot of sense.

I don't think I'll do the vanilla again next time...it's possible a bit of the bitterness came from them, but I tend to think that if it had I would have gotten some other taste notes from it as well which simply aren't there (unless that's also a product of low ferm temps).

 

[Texconsinite]

Would like to chime in. I just started my latest batch of my 3068 Hefe with Honey Malt, and set aside 2 Gallons brewed with the intention to put bananas (or something) into it. Have a bunch of frozen bananas ready to use. My plan is to peel them and throw in the food processor, then add to the 2 gallon experimental bucket after 7 days fermenting. Would welcome any comments, suggestions before i chuck them in.

Should i save for Secondary? I usually dont secondary with my hefeweisens, bottling after 2 weeks of primary for max yeasty goodness, but am open to other ideas.

I love banana esters and tend to ferment on the high side of temp range to maximize, hoping the bananas further add to the flavor.

It seems like its been a mixed bag adding bananas, both by themselves and with spices. Those who have added bananas with cinnamon or vanilla, did you like the results, or does the banana come through on its own?

I will post results of what I end up doing, but brewed the batch on saturday, so the wheels are in motion

 

[TheSmithsEra]

Hello guys, just wanted to add me two cents to this and relate my experience. I've done two batches of Chocolate Banana Heffe after a desert that people eat in El Salvador.

I've kept it pretty simple and achieved a Choco-Banana flavor

Basic Extract:

8# Wheat Extract
4 oz American choclate
3 oz Black malt

Warmer ferm temp with Heff yeast

 

[Derap]

I am very new to brewing having done some malt kits from supermarkets, but I badly want to make this since I love Wells Banana bread beer.

Would this work?
2x BRIESS WHEAT DME 3LB
1x CARAPILS 1 LB
1x WLP300 HEFEWEIZEN ALE YEAST
2x CZECH SAAZ 1 OZ


Why was the hops seperated into two 1oz portions boiled at different durations?
How do I brew this can anyone give me a rough outline?
Is WLP300 the top yeast to get a strong banana taste?
Can I add some banana extract to boost the banana taste even further?

Sorry for being such a noob and asking so many questions but I want to learn to brew this to perfection.

 

[SewerRanger]

The reason I separated the hops is because the longer you boil hops the more bitters you get but the less flavors. Splitting the hips will give you more flavor and more bitters (though I'm bit using the hips for much of each in this recipe).
The yeast, and more importantly the temperature, I chose for the banana flavors.
You can add flavors. I've never used them so I can't speak too much about that.
I would suggest you buy/read How to Brew by John Palmer. It's a fantastic read and will answer most if not all of your brewing questions: www.howtobrew.com


:::: edit :::::
Just wanted to mention that Wells Banana Bread beer is a flavors ale and this is a banana hefeweizen. Both are banana flavored beers, but they're different styles and this will nut result in a bee that taste like that

 

[gymrat987654321]

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster. Actually first time brewer too.

I love hefewizens, especially the ones with the banana flavor. I recently ordered the one gallon home brew starter kit from northern brewer as well as this hefewizen kit http://www.northernbrewer.com/bavarian-hefeweizen-1-gallon-recipe-kit?gclid=Cj0KEQiA6vS2BRDH8dq06YDHz_IBEiQAzNdBmdVfDb32tFGlZ5KQpBB9lC_DISIFrvvNzuS4F6DBIucaAqh18P8HAQ. I'd really like to get as much banana flavor in this one as I could. Would I be able to follow the banana part of the recipe on the first page of this thread along with this kit and make it work? I also wouldn't be able to do a secondary fermentation. How would that differ? Anything you could tell me would really help me out. I'd love to be able to get a nice banana hefe as my first brew. As much details as you can give me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

 

[WestMichBrewer]

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster. Actually first time brewer too.

I love hefewizens, especially the ones with the banana flavor. I recently ordered the one gallon home brew starter kit from northern brewer as well as this hefewizen kit http://www.northernbrewer.com/bavarian-hefeweizen-1-gallon-recipe-kit?gclid=Cj0KEQiA6vS2BRDH8dq06YDHz_IBEiQAzNdBmdVfDb32tFGlZ5KQpBB9lC_DISIFrvvNzuS4F6DBIucaAqh18P8HAQ. I'd really like to get as much banana flavor in this one as I could. Would I be able to follow the banana part of the recipe on the first page of this thread along with this kit and make it work? I also wouldn't be able to do a secondary fermentation. How would that differ? Anything you could tell me would really help me out. I'd love to be able to get a nice banana hefe as my first brew. As much details as you can give me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

You could do a "secondary" fermentation in your primary fermentation vessel, just add your bananas after about a week or so of fermentation.
You may be short on room though to add bananas to a one-gallon jug if that is what you are using.