wheat beer questions

[davesgang]

Hello, I'm getting ready to brew a double batch of my first made up recipe, and am suddenly thinking I should ask for second opinions...


5 gallon summer wheat beer.

2 cans (6.6) Thomas Coopers Wheat Malt

1/2 lb Gambrinus Honey Malt
1/2 lb Muntons Caramalt
1 oz Magnum Pellet Hops
1 oz Glacier Pellet Hops
.5 oz homegrown (fuggels?) hops for ?
Safbrew Ale Yeast T-58

So I was planning on steeping the grains. Then pull them at boil and add the wheat malt 60 minute boil.

Hops:
magnum in right away, and glacier at 15. Maybe finish or dry hop with .5oz of homegrown hops.

Wondering what the og/fg might be?
Should I alter that hop plan? Grains?
What about a addition of honey at flame out?

Thanks for reading and cheers!

 

[flars]

Remove your steeping grains before the temperature of you liquor reaches 170° to avoid extracting tannins.

 

[rodwha]

I would save one of those cans for flameout.

I love using honey, and I typically add it at flameout, though I've also added it to the fermentor after a week of fermentation, as well as for priming.

I've also used a small portion of honey malts with honey.

Be careful with the amount of honey you use as it will thin the beer out.

 

[davesgang]

Thanks flars and rodwha!

I bag mashed the grains @ 150'F for 45 minutes.
Skipped the homegrown hops.
Passed on adding honey for now... thinking the honey grain will do enough.
Why save one for flameout?

Everything smelled great and looked right...
So when I took OG readings I read 1.025 and 1.028. A lot less then what I was expecting 40-50. Anyone have a theory?

 

[rodwha]

The earlier you add the extract the darker the boil makes it. By adding them all in the beginning it may be a few shades darker than it otherwise would have been.

If you used any top off water you can get a low OG reading due to it not being well mixed.

Having you used the bulk of your ingredients as extract you can be fairly certain you hit the numbers close enough.

I'm curious whether or not you've used T-58 yeast before. I have a packet that I intend on brewing a Belgian blond or golden strong with. I greatly dislike bubblegum and banana so when I saw peppery I was intrigued.

 

[davesgang]

Thanks for the reply. Darker

I haven't used T58 before. Just thought it might be a good balance to the honey wheat. This yeast seemed to take off right after pitching. Will update with fg and taste results in a month or so.

We did use about 2 gallons top off water with each batch. I bet your right, I didn't mix much this time. Thanks for taking the time. Glad I didn't completely panic and add a bunch of dme.

 

[davesgang]

Very active airlocks today.

 

[rodwha]

 

[davesgang]

Very happy with this beer. Perfect after mowing or working outside.
Nice honey wheat with a slight spice & hop balance. I might add a floral or citrus aroma hop next time.

Really surprised at how well the honey malt flavored this.

 

[rodwha]

Sure wish i could try one to see what T-58 offers.

I used WB-06 for the first time in mine and notice a bit of the clove, though it took a while. It doesn't necessarily clash, but they aren't the best of friends either. Not bad, but I liked the WLP-320 better as far as the flavor.

 

[davesgang]

I'd recommend trying it. I got a bit of yeast or bread hints in early tastings, but now it's adding a mello spice complexity to the honey and wheat beer. Thanks again for the help!

 

[rodwha]