Fruit Beer Lemon-Lime Hefe Weizen

[teeWRX]

Bottles are finally Carb'd up and I must say Slim, great recipe!! I was a little worried it'd end up too much like a shandy with the juice, but this is a perfect hot weather beer. Noticeable lime flavor (I zested 3 med/lg limes for a total of 10g zest), but it's not overboard. The lemon-lime flavors seem much more "natural" than what you'd get out of a bud-light lime. I dig it, will definitely brew again.

 

[tellyho]

This is a very tasty recipe. I'll be rebrewing / modifying with different flavors. I like the grapefruit idea ....

 

[SD-SLIM]

Glad to see that this recipe is still being used and loved!

 

[balrog]

Glad to see that this recipe is still being used and loved!

Well... DUH! Of *COURSE* it is!

I've only made it 6 times, 5 per the recipe, last one I tried making it no wheat as my daughter is wheat allergic (not gluten but wheat ) and she loves this one. I'm still working on that as all-pils wasn't really the answer. Anyway, it is indeed awesome.

 

[The Arb One]

This is most def my next beer... thanks...

 

[fendersrule]

How do you guys feel about the 158F mash temp on this one?

Going to make this one again! Looking forward to it.

 

[balrog]

How do you guys feel about the 158F mash temp on this one?

Going to make this one again! Looking forward to it.

I follow the recipe and mash at 158. I believe it is for body, and I have no reason to not follow it. I am currently investigating making this wheatless, using more oats which would add body, so I may try next one lower mash temp. But my personal take is that @SD-SLIM did all that hundreds of test batches to arrive at this recipe, I like how it comes out, I will follow that recipe.

 

[501irishred]

My take is the high mash temp is to help balance the body while using all the simple sugars (in the juice). To me the body is perfect (still light) as is.

 

[cmac62]

Has anyone used .5 to 1 lb lactose in this? Might be a good addition. I thinks I'll brew this on Monday.

 

[fendersrule]

Made this again today. Exact to recipe, hitting all targets.

Except I somehow nailed 80% efficiency. The wheat malt must extract more than two row?

1.059 OG.

 

[fendersrule]

Looking forward to this. Fermentation is still active. Probably will pour the Lime-aid in tomorrow. Here's why this beer will improve over the last time. The last time I made this, it was peppery and the bottles were gushers, so there probably was an infection.

1) I used white wheat malt instead of white flaked wheat. Duh!

2) I used Moteuka hops (which required me to drive to another brew store) instead of Saaz. No more pepper!

3) I used WLP380 instead of Salfate Hefe yeast.

4) Hopefully I won't have an infection!

5) I used exactly 1/2 Oz of Lime Zest. I think last time I used a full ounce.

 

[fendersrule]

I was reading way back about how people were saying that LimeAid will add .5% ABV. The reasoning was if you add up all the sugar, you get 80 grams (I think this was the number).

The problem with this logic however is that you are not just adding sugar when you dump lime-aid in. You are adding water too.

Apple Juice has an OG of about 1.054ish. Apple Juice has 24G of sugar. LIme aid has 28G of sugars. My guess is that Limeaid should measure around 1.58 OG.

So if you're at 1.051 for the grain portion for 5-6 gallons, and you add a half gallon of 1.058 Lime-aid, there is no way you are adding .5% ABV. You're probably only going to boost your OG to 1.053ish is my best guess at the most.

My OG is 1.059, so Limeaid won't add any alcohol to my wort, it will only maintain the alcohol % and give me .5 gallons more beer.

 

[bolus14]

You're right about boosting the alcohol.
The Mad Fermentationist did "rant" on it.

https://www.themadfermentationist.com/2010/10/adding-fruit-to-beer-increases-alcohol.html?m=1

 

[fendersrule]

Yep! In most cases, fruit is probably not going to boost your alcohol content much, if at any, and if you have a strong beer with fruit juice, it may even lower your alcohol content! In most realistic cases, it's probably going to be about the same.

Cider making actually teaches you this really well, because you are directly manipulating your SG before fermination by using fruit concentrates, juices, etc. So you get really good at these exercises. "Hmm, what happens when I pour a quart of 1.058 juice into my 2 gallons of 1.050 juice?" "Wow, not much...I'm at 1.053 now and I'm targeting 1.065." This also works vice-versa too. Many, many, many of batches of ciders teaches you this!

BTW, this is my second time making this batch, and unlike the first, I FINALLY got a little blow-off the night after adding Limeiad! The first time, I got no visible activity!

I'm using WLP380. I hope it's OK, because my fermentation temp has been on the cool side, and I've not been able to get it up to the middle of the range. I started at 60F (first pitch). The next day it was 62F (while still in lag phase) and for the vast majority of fermentation it hasn't gone over 64F. The noted "optimal range" is 65-70F.

Once I am able to put a "burper" on it, I plan to move it somewhere where ambient is 68F and let it sit for a couple weeks...

Anyone else use WLP380 on the cool side?

 

[NitrogenWidget]

i'll make this again but i think i'll double the lime peel also.
first time I made this it was awesome.
then the lime flavor faded.

Edit: can't find simply lime-aid at walmart this time of yr. guess nobody drinks it in the winter.
Wanted to make a test batch, guess i'll just make my own lime-aid which is basically lime juice and simple sugar.

 

[fendersrule]

What a successful beer. My first batch was infected (didn't know it at the time). This second batch was RIGHT on the money. Holy hell, just look at it.

1) Perfect balance of Banana/Clove at a 64F fermentation.
2) Great "bubblegum" finish
3) The body is surprisingly "healthy" and full. I was really expecting a "thin" beer with the Lime-aid, but this has the best body of any hefe I've had. This ain't no "summer-only" beer.
4) It's surprisingly sweet. I'm not sure why. Probably the 158F mash temp. Don't deviate from this mash temp!

Definitely a competition beer and a new benchmark for my home-brews. Professional-quality.

 

[BongoYodeler]

What a successful beer. My first batch was infected (didn't know it at the time). This second batch was RIGHT on the money. Holy hell, just look at it.

1) Perfect balance of Banana/Clove at a 64F fermentation.
2) Great "bubblegum" finish
3) The body is surprisingly "healthy" and full. I was really expecting a "thin" beer with the Lime-aid, but this has the best body of any hefe I've had. This ain't no "summer-only" beer.
4) It's surprisingly sweet. I'm not sure why. Probably the 158F mash temp. Don't deviate from this mash temp!

Definitely a competition beer and a new benchmark for my home-brews. Professional-quality.

View attachment 669825
View attachment 669826

This one's still on my to-brew list. One of these days.....

 

[luizartur]

What a successful beer. My first batch was infected (didn't know it at the time). This second batch was RIGHT on the money. Holy hell, just look at it.

1) Perfect balance of Banana/Clove at a 64F fermentation.
2) Great "bubblegum" finish
3) The body is surprisingly "healthy" and full. I was really expecting a "thin" beer with the Lime-aid, but this has the best body of any hefe I've had. This ain't no "summer-only" beer.
4) It's surprisingly sweet. I'm not sure why. Probably the 158F mash temp. Don't deviate from this mash temp!

Definitely a competition beer and a new benchmark for my home-brews. Professional-quality.

View attachment 669825
View attachment 669826

Congrats for the beautiful and (looks like) tasteful beer!!! By the way would you have your recipe in BeerSmith format to share?

 

[fendersrule]

I use BrewGR. Not sure if this is helpful for you:

https://brewgr.com/recipe/69278/lemon-lime-hefe-weizen-recipe?public=true

 

[501irishred]

Congrats for the beautiful and (looks like) tasteful beer!!! By the way would you have your recipe in BeerSmith format to share?

 

[luizartur]

I use BrewGR. Not sure if this is helpful for you:

https://brewgr.com/recipe/69278/lemon-lime-hefe-weizen-recipe?public=true

Thanks! It will sure be helpful!!!

 

[luizartur]

Thanks 501irishred for sharing!!!!

 

[501irishred]

You bet! Be sure to update with your equipment profile.

 

[Blackhawkmech06]

Planning a variant of this, and doing it with mango instead of lime or lemons. Has anyone kegged this? If so, what psi is recommended?

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Planning a variant of this, and doing it with mango instead of lime or lemons. Has anyone kegged this? If so, what psi is recommended?

2.8 to 4.8 volumes. You can fine calculators online that will give psi per degrees fahrenheit. I prefer 3 volumes.

 

[Transamguy77]

I made this beer several years ago and it’s back on the list again, but like @NitrogenWidget said I couldn’t find limeade but I did find margarita mix at Costco! So I’m going to try that, I’ll post my results after it’s brewed.

 

[balrog]

Found a bottle from last August.

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Found a bottle from last August.
View attachment 683021

How was it, over the hill?

 

[balrog]

How was it, over the hill?

Still tangy, still lemony, definitely a bit overcarbed, but it weathered sitting in the basement very well.

 

[cmac62]

I have the grain for this one, but may need to stop by the HBS to see if they have the hops on hand. I want to get this on for the summer.