Wheat Malt and Head Retention

[maxashton]

Hi Folks.

How much of a percentage of wheat malt is needed to provide head retention in a brew?

I'm making a best bitter with all whitbread, and am currently thinking of having 2% of the grist made up of wheat malt.

Will 2% be enough in a 6kg grist? Will it significantly affect clarity without finings?

Your thoughts, please.

Max

[steve_flack]

How much of a percentage of wheat malt is needed to provide head retention in a brew?

It varies.

I'm making a best bitter with all whitbread,

Huh?

and am currently thinking of having 2% of the grist made up of wheat malt.

Will 2% be enough in a 6kg grist? Will it significantly affect clarity without finings?

Your thoughts, please.

You shouldn't have any problems with 2% - I've used 5% with no problems.

[maxashton]

Huh?

Sorry, was thinking of a name for it. WGV hops. Never tried them before, so thought i'd do a single hop brew.

You shouldn't have any problems with 2% - I've used 5% with no problems.

Thanks Steve. Do you think it will be sufficient for head retention then?
Well. It varies, you say. Does that vary with the type/quality/brand of wheat malt, or are we getting into more arcane territory here?

[mysterio]

5% will normally provide some good retention.

Carapils is one to try too. It gives quite a thick, dense head when i've used it and usually leaves the beer covered with a thin white coating of froth until the end of the glass.

[alefric]

Do Wheat malt or Carapils have much effect on the flavour or are they just for head retention?

Andrew

[Gurgeh]

wheat malt can give a very mild creamy flavour when used in this way, whilst carapils is kind of crystal malt for use in lagers - i.e. it gives a malty/caramel flavour without the depth of colour you get from crystal.

[Stonechat]

Only my take on it, but I find that wheat malt alters the mouth feel of the beer, making it seem a bit creamier. I might have the phrasing wrong,but it's how can best describe it.
The Carapils makes the beer taste a lot sweeter.

[alefric]

Thanks chaps......now forgive me if i'm being stupid but does Torrified wheat do same or similar thing and which of the three would you recommend.

Andrew

[Stonechat]

I think torrified wheat aids head retention ( a malt boffin will probably assist soon) but I find it imparts a slightly nutty taste to the beer.

As to which to use I think the best way is to brew beers that are identical, apart from the 5% of torrified wheat, wheat malt or carapils. It might take a bit of time, but it will teach you 110% more than someone telling you what something tastes like.

[alefric]

Thanks Stonechat.......i've based my next brew on the last one so i can try that.

[Bru4u]

Now this is probably more of a stupid question, but is raw wheat ever used in brewing, I have about 10 Kg of it, I got it from a friend to set up the mill, if I can't use it the horse gets it (not in a mafia type way), I have a sack of malted wheat on the way so do I ditch this or wha.

Also I can get flaked maize and flaked wheat for pence from the local farmers co-op, should I risk it for brewing or could I.

It's all a big learning curve for me at the moment.
Bru

[Stonechat]

Now this is probably more of a stupid question, but is raw wheat ever used in brewing, I have about 10 Kg of it, I got it from a friend to set up the mill, if I can't use it the horse gets it (not in a mafia type way), I have a sack of malted wheat on the way so do I ditch this or wha.

Also I can get flaked maize and flaked wheat for pence from the local farmers co-op, should I risk it for brewing or could I.

It's all a big learning curve for me at the moment.
Bru

I would say if you get get flaked maize and wheat from your co-op, then go for it, but trial them in smaller brewlengths, say 25litres. If all is OK your quids, sorry euros in. If it doesn't taste OK your horse can have the flakes in the nose-bag