How To Make Wheat Beer
- By Steven Hooch
- Published 11/18/2011
- Food and Drink
- Unrated
Wheat beer can be considered a speciality since its major ingredient is wheat instead of the usual barley. Aside from wheat, it also contains a substantial proportion of malted barley, 60 to 70 percent in many instances. Take note that all German wheat beers regardless of the wheat-barley proportion are top-fermented, a requirement under German law.
Why wheat instead of other grains? Wheat beer is an excellent summer drink, thanks to its clean, clear and refreshing taste. This is because wheat has a lighter colour and milder flavour than barley.
Types of Wheat Beer:
Before brewing a batch of wheat beer, it is important to determine the specific kind. Yes, there are many types of this beer to choose from, such as the following examples:
German Hefeweizens have clove flavours coupled with undertones of fun flavours like bubble gum, banana and vanilla flavours. Hops are used but only lightly while pale malt or pilsner malt is combined with wheat malt.
Belgian Witbiers have a crisp finish with a bit of tartness at the end. Coriander and orange peel add more flavours to the brew while aroma hops add the enticing smell of these white beers.
American wheat beers do not always have the exotic flavours of the Hefewiziens and the Witbiers but instead often have honey and various fruit flavours added.
The choice between all of these types of wheat beer depends on personal preferences. The best way to choose a favourite is to brew one batch of each type and then decide. Better yet, always have one batch ready to quench your thirst!
Basic Steps for Making Wheat Beer:
Keep
in mind that this speciality beer is neither harder nor easier to brew than any other beer style. The basic steps are similar, with the ingredients differing from one type to the next. The steps can be summarised as follows:
Steeping the grains in water
Removing and discarding the grains
Stirring in the malt extracts
Putting the mixture to a boil
Adding the bittering hops and continue boiling
Adding the aroma hops and continue on a rolling boil
Cooling the wort and then pitching the yeast
Fermenting the mixture
Bottling
The only major difference in making this speciality beer comes in the form of the liquid wheat yeasts. These are relatively aggressive yeasts so watching that the airlock does not become clogged is critical to making a great batch of wheat beer.
Since the German Hefeweizen is the most popular type, let's start with its recipe:
5 pounds of wheat dry malt extract or 6 pounds wheat liquid malt extract
Half a pound of flaked wheat and half a pound of flaked oats
1 ounce of Hallertau Hop Pellets for bittering
White Labs 300 Hefeweizen, Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan
Place the grains in a muslin bag. Heat 2 gallons of water in a large pot until it reaches 160 degrees F. Steep the grains for 20 minutes in hot water and then remove the bag. Stir in the malt extracts and then put the mixture to a rolling boil. Add the hops and continue boiling for one hour. Put 3 gallons of ice-cold water into the fermenter and then pour in the hot wort. Cool below 80 degrees F, pitch the yeast and then attach the cover and airlock. Ferment the brew and then bottle.
With practice, you can improve on the abovementioned recipe and steps for making a wonderful specialty beer.
Why wheat instead of other grains? Wheat beer is an excellent summer drink, thanks to its clean, clear and refreshing taste. This is because wheat has a lighter colour and milder flavour than barley.
Types of Wheat Beer:
Before brewing a batch of wheat beer, it is important to determine the specific kind. Yes, there are many types of this beer to choose from, such as the following examples:
German Hefeweizens have clove flavours coupled with undertones of fun flavours like bubble gum, banana and vanilla flavours. Hops are used but only lightly while pale malt or pilsner malt is combined with wheat malt.
Belgian Witbiers have a crisp finish with a bit of tartness at the end. Coriander and orange peel add more flavours to the brew while aroma hops add the enticing smell of these white beers.
American wheat beers do not always have the exotic flavours of the Hefewiziens and the Witbiers but instead often have honey and various fruit flavours added.
The choice between all of these types of wheat beer depends on personal preferences. The best way to choose a favourite is to brew one batch of each type and then decide. Better yet, always have one batch ready to quench your thirst!
Basic Steps for Making Wheat Beer:
Keep
Steeping the grains in water
Removing and discarding the grains
Stirring in the malt extracts
Putting the mixture to a boil
Adding the bittering hops and continue boiling
Adding the aroma hops and continue on a rolling boil
Cooling the wort and then pitching the yeast
Fermenting the mixture
Bottling
The only major difference in making this speciality beer comes in the form of the liquid wheat yeasts. These are relatively aggressive yeasts so watching that the airlock does not become clogged is critical to making a great batch of wheat beer.
Since the German Hefeweizen is the most popular type, let's start with its recipe:
5 pounds of wheat dry malt extract or 6 pounds wheat liquid malt extract
Half a pound of flaked wheat and half a pound of flaked oats
1 ounce of Hallertau Hop Pellets for bittering
White Labs 300 Hefeweizen, Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan
Place the grains in a muslin bag. Heat 2 gallons of water in a large pot until it reaches 160 degrees F. Steep the grains for 20 minutes in hot water and then remove the bag. Stir in the malt extracts and then put the mixture to a rolling boil. Add the hops and continue boiling for one hour. Put 3 gallons of ice-cold water into the fermenter and then pour in the hot wort. Cool below 80 degrees F, pitch the yeast and then attach the cover and airlock. Ferment the brew and then bottle.
With practice, you can improve on the abovementioned recipe and steps for making a wonderful specialty beer.
Steven Hooch
Steven Hooch is a leading connoisseur for a variety of fine wines and ales. He has been sharing his insights and reviews for over 11 years striving to provide expert advice and information on a wide range of alcoholic beverages including wheat beer.
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