Summer Citra Wheat (lemon!!!)

[Salpino]

Brewed this exactly 3 weeks ago and drinking it tonight! And it’s ready!!
This has a KILLER lemon finish from the Sorachi Ace Hops and the cut lemon peel and orange @ flame out
This is for a 12 gallon batch All Grain
Mash Thin!

11# 2 row
11# wheat
1# C15L
1.5# rice hulls

Mash @ 152* for 60

I mashed in w/ 9.5 gallons (like I said thin) @ 164* to rest @ 152* for 60 Min

Citra .5 oz for 60
Sorachi Ace .5 oz for 15
Sorachi Ace 1.5 oz for 5

Add 1 oz cut dried lemon peel and 1 oz sweet orange peel @ flame out!

I used WLP029 German Ale/ Kölsch Yeast fermented @ 66 and I am LOVING IT!!!

I love this beer. Best I've brewed in a looong time..OK OK OK only I've brewed in a loooooooong time!
Cheers
Jay

Did you use whole or pellet hops? Your website only lists whole hops, and not Sorachi Ace.

Thanks

 

[Jaybird]

I used whole. Let me check on the site. they should be there.
Jay

 

[ParadiseBeer]

I just brewed this yesterday, starting to take off in the frem chamber. *** it seams like there are still lessons to learn with brewing.... this batch.... DON'T TALK TO THE PERSON WEIGHING AND CRUSHING YOUR GRAIN... after everything was set to mash in... WTF... the 11# of 2-row were not crushed. good thing i had some maris otter around. so, with a #26 grain bill, for 11 gal, my OG was 1.048... a little light for what i should of had with a correct crush.... Note to self... should have went to Redding and not Grass Valley....

Thanks for the recipe and can't wait to see what the lemon and hops do.

ParadiseBrewer

 

[Jaybird]

I just brewed this yesterday, starting to take off in the frem chamber. *** it seams like there are still lessons to learn with brewing.... this batch.... DON'T TALK TO THE PERSON WEIGHING AND CRUSHING YOUR GRAIN... after everything was set to mash in... WTF... the 11# of 2-row were not crushed. good thing i had some maris otter around. so, with a #26 grain bill, for 11 gal, my OG was 1.048... a little light for what i should of had with a correct crush.... Note to self... should have went to Redding and not Grass Valley....

Thanks for the recipe and can't wait to see what the lemon and hops do.

ParadiseBrewer

You know where we are brotha' Next time call me well work out some shipping details! It will be killer I am sure.
But yeah you should have gone to Redding!!

 

[NuclearRich]

My keg kicked this weekend during a party. It was a huge hit and I was pretty sad that it was gone. Nice job

 

[Salpino]

Finally brewed a 5.5 gallon batch yesterday--my OG was low at 1.46, but I don't mind if this comes out under 5% abv. I have some ideas about why my efficiency was so low.

My first time using Citra--couldn't believe how good it smells. Tasted the wort before heading into primary and the lemon profile is certainly there--can't wait to see how it turns out. I used Wyeast 2565 since my HBS doesn't sell White Labs, so it might turn out a little different that your original recipe.

Using a starter and fermentation took off in 3 hours or so. I wouldn't be surprised if fermentation is done in under a week. We'll see....

Thanks again for the recipe--sure seems like it'll be a great beer.

 

[Jaybird]

My keg kicked this weekend during a party. It was a huge hit and I was pretty sad that it was gone. Nice job

I almost cry when my kegs of this beer kick! Just kicked one last week myself!

Finally brewed a 5.5 gallon batch yesterday--my OG was low at 1.46, but I don't mind if this comes out under 5% abv. I have some ideas about why my efficiency was so low.

My first time using Citra--couldn't believe how good it smells. Tasted the wort before heading into primary and the lemon profile is certainly there--can't wait to see how it turns out. I used Wyeast 2565 since my HBS doesn't sell White Labs, so it might turn out a little different that your original recipe.

Using a starter and fermentation took off in 3 hours or so. I wouldn't be surprised if fermentation is done in under a week. We'll see....

Thanks again for the recipe--sure seems like it'll be a great beer.

Next time I brew this I am going to DBL the Lemon peel, just for kicks and see if its tooooo 2 much. I am also going to pitch an american yeast. Not sure what one yet. Any suggestions? I mean for the love of science and all! LOL
This beer kit has been a MONSTER seller in the store! I have people on their 4th and 5th batch!
Who would have thougt?

Cheers
Jay

 

[ekjohns]

im going to brew something similar with 0.25 oz of ace at 60 min and 0.5 oz ace at flame out. I then will add vodka soaked lemon peels to taste in the keg. I was thinking american hefe WLP320 yeast at its lower temp (66F).

 

[sadian24]

Thanks for the post dude, your recipe definitely influenced mine. For a five gallon batch, I used:
5# 2 row
5# wheat
.5# carapils
.5# carahell (crystal 10)
.5oz Simcoe (60 mins)
1oz Citra (5mins)
Wyeast 1272 (American ale ii)

Mashed at 152-153

Looks and smells great, fermenting away right now.

Just to clarify before I run with this recipe...Jaybird's original recipe had the Citra at 60min, and Simcoe at the end. Yours is reverse. Is that correct? Thanks!

 

[sadian24]

Oops.. nevermind.. different hop =)

 

[paraordnance]

Do you guys think Wyeast Munich lager will work with this recipe? I always wanted to brew wheat lager. I'm eager to experiment

 

[chainsawpancake]

i want to try that

 

[ParadiseBeer]

i would go with Citra at the end. I did one batch like J's and another last year with sweat orange peal and lemon peal with just citra hops. i have to say it was gone faster then it fermented! everyone that had it kept comparing it to something like a bluemoon but with no need to add anything. To me if you need to add fruit to your brew (especially a home brew) then you have some work to do. this beer needed nothing, prefect for anytime and kick ass for the summer. came in between 5.5 - 6%, with real flavor not bluemoon subpar-E-ness.... this year i will be using a LOT more citra in my beers!

 

[xeerohour]

Yes, I used Citra at the end of mine. Turned out to be a very pleasant beer.

 

[DannPM]

I just racked a cascade sorachi wheat to a keg last night.

 

[HellBentBrewCo]

If you replace the cut lemon and orange with zest, how much would you use? Still an ounce?

 

[Jaybird]

If you replace the cut lemon and orange with zest, how much would you use? Still an ounce?

I think that really depends on how much lemon and orange kick you want. But I think I would. Its a good place to start.
Cheers
Jay

 

[cdelap]

I see that you added the lemon and Orange at flame out, do you normally fillter out all your hops and the peel or should I let all of this go into primary as well?

 

[NuclearRich]

Noob question--in general, does "wheat" in most recipes on HBT refer to "white wheat malt" in beersmith?

Building my recipe list before diving in.

Thanks, and looks like a great beer!

I assume that most recipes that call for "wheat" mean malted wheat, which is usually of the white variety.

Is this correct in your recipe J?

 

[ColumbusAmongus]

Oh man that sounds really good. I might have to try your recipe out!

 

[Jaybird]

I see that you added the lemon and Orange at flame out, do you normally fillter out all your hops and the peel or should I let all of this go into primary as well?

Nah I use a 15" hinged false bottom http://www.norcalbrewingsolutions.com/store/product136.html in my boil kettle and it filters out all that stuff for me.

I assume that most recipes that call for "wheat" mean malted wheat, which is usually of the white variety.

Is this correct in your recipe J?

Yep, I use malted white wheat
Cheers
Jay

 

[cdelap]

Ok great, I do the same thing, I just wasn't sure if I needed to let the peel go into primary to pick up more flavors

 

[zandrsn]

Hi Jay, thanks for the awesome recipe. I am thinking about scaling this down to either a 5.5 or an 8 gallon batch. Any thoughts on the amount of dried lemon peel and sweet orange? Should they stay the same perhaps? I am also wondering about the hops. I have BrewSmith, but am not sure I trust its scaling capabilities. Thanks!

 

[Jaybird]

Hi Jay, thanks for the awesome recipe. I am thinking about scaling this down to either a 5.5 or an 8 gallon batch. Any thoughts on the amount of dried lemon peel and sweet orange? Should they stay the same perhaps? I am also wondering about the hops. I have BrewSmith, but am not sure I trust its scaling capabilities. Thanks!

If your going to do 5.5 I think I would just cut it in half. @ 8 gallon I might just leave it as is, if you want a little more kick from the peels. I have customers that brew this over and over and over and they have been slowly kicking up the peel additions. I think the last batch I put together was a 10 gallon batch and used 1.5 oz of each and they are hitting it at 5 min. Now I didn't get to try that one as they drank it all one night at a family picnic
Cheers
Jay

 

[zandrsn]

If your going to do 5.5 I think I would just cut it in half. @ 8 gallon I might just leave it as is, if you want a little more kick from the peels. I have customers that brew this over and over and over and they have been slowly kicking up the peel additions. I think the last batch I put together was a 10 gallon batch and used 1.5 oz of each and they are hitting it at 5 min. Now I didn't get to try that one as they drank it all one night at a family picnic
Cheers
Jay

Great, thanks a lot! That's pretty much what I was thinking as well. BrewSmith tells me that for a 5.5 gallon batch I should use .22oz Citra @ 60mins, .22oz Sorachi @15mins, and .67oz Sorachi @ 5mins. Obviously I will round those numbers a bit, but I was wondering what you thought about that amount of hops.

As an aside, I am thinking of making two batches of this, one normal and one with the addition of 2oz of either Chamomile or Earl Grey tea at flame out and maybe a pound of honey to make a Lemon Tea Summer Ale. Thoughts?

 

[laxsoccerguy]

Did you leave the lemon peel in the fermenter too or take it out after the boil?

 

[theveganbrewer]

This sounds tasty. I've got some Sorachi and Citra waiting for homes.

 

[TarheelBrew13]

Why would anyone use Citra for a 60 min addition. Why, God?! Why?!

 

[theveganbrewer]

Why would anyone use Citra for a 60 min addition. Why, God?! Why?!

I used Citra as a FWH in a Zombie Dust clone and it turned out fantastic. Not sure the difference in Citra as FWH and a 60 minute addition is cause I've never used it outside of Zombie clones.

 

[skeezerpleezer]

I used Citra as a FWH in a Zombie Dust clone and it turned out fantastic. Not sure the difference in Citra as FWH and a 60 minute addition is cause I've never used it outside of Zombie clones.

Must be a good recipe

I use Citra as FWH for the same reason I use Simcoe the same.....it is a great hop and I have a lot of it. FWH does provide more of the flavor/aroma that a 60 min addition does not though.

As far as this thread goes, I did a wheat/rye ipa last summer that used Citra/sorachi and I think those 2 with Amarillo for dryhop. I like the combo. May have to do something like this.... soon. I imagine it would go over well, especially with the non hopheads. What were your ibus? I may do around 25 or so. Would you keep the mash temp the same, or try to dry it out some more?