Temperature and pitch rate for WLP300? Max ABV?

[kiwipen]

I'm planning on brewing a german wheat beer with WLP300 yeast.

How much alcohol is too much in a german wheat beer?

I don't want to make anything extreme, just a well balanced beer within the style.
What temperature and pitch rate can you recommend?

 

[dmtaylor]

It's your beer. Make the alcohol as high as you want. I've made an imperial hefe before (with a different yeast) that was >10% ABV. It was very good.

Read and follow guidance here for a perfect hefe:

https://braumagazin.de/article/brewing-bavarian-weissbier-all-you-ever-wanted-to-know/

 

[kiwipen]

10% sounds a bit hefty, I want it to be easy to drink.

Does WLP300 require 1/3 headspace like Wyeast 3068?

 

[dmtaylor]

Prolly.

 

[Nate R]

I'm planning on brewing a german wheat beer with WLP300 yeast.

How much alcohol is too much in a german wheat beer?

I don't want to make anything extreme, just a well balanced beer within the style.
What temperature and pitch rate can you recommend?

I love me a good hefe. My current batch is a little to thin for my likes. About 5%. My last batch was closer to 7%. (I was shooting for a Vitus (from Weisthaphen- spelling) clone as that is the one my wifey likes. That was my BEST batch of beer i ever made.
I used White Labs wlp300. Because it was an older pack (say 60 days since it was made) i pitched two. Was perfect- good balance of banna and clove but not too much of either. Darn that was good. Drank it way too fast!!
My latest batch i also pitched 2 wlp300. Too much!! I now know what it means to "under pitch" this style! That beer finished in like 3 days. No kidding. Clean- too clean. Wish i would have would have done 1 pack.

So- i say under pitch. If it is a fresh pack or dry just do one. Older liquid than do maybe a small starter if your OG is high. Otherwise just go for it!

Headpsace- YES! These babies go all out! Plan for more than you think you will need! Blow off tube is probabbly a must!

 

[kiwipen]

What temperatures are you fermenting at?

 

[cactusgarrett]

Shouldn't be too earthshaking to go that high ABV, but keep the temp lower to avoid the fusel alcohol warmth. There's a catch, though, in that if you're wanting bigger banana esters, you'll need to ferment on the warmer side. Want more clove, less banana? Pitch cool (~14°C), and don't let it climb higher than 18°C.