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AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:18 pm
by BrewerBen
Yesterday was my 3rd All grain.
This time it was a Wit based on Adm's 'Wits end' recipe. I reduced the grain bill a little as i wanted a lowish gravity beer, unfortuneately this back fired as the efficiency was lower than expected. I also did not have any of the Oat Husks.

2.00 kg Lager Malt
2.00 kgWheat Malt, Bel
0.60 kgWheat flakes, Torrified

25.00 gm Perle [6.90 %] (boil 90 min)
15.00 gm Coriander Seed (Boil 5.0 min)
20.00 gm Orange Peel, Bitter (Boil 5.0 min)

Wyeast #3944 Belgian Witbier

Target OG 1.044

My first go at a liquid yest. It added an extra 3 days to the brew day to get the pack to swell and then ferment out.
Smack pack pics
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Made up 2 litres of wort with 200g's of light spray malt as per the pack's instructions
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Starter fermenting.
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Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:29 pm
by BrewerBen
Grain bill
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Hops, smallest qty ive used for a brew yet.
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The bitter orange peel and cracked coriander seeds
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The Mash, the thermometer is attached to some cotton this time after losing it in the last one.
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Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:32 pm
by adm
Nice one Ben! I'll follow this with interest to see how it tastes for you. I really enjoyed it when I did it

You can probably drink this one young too :D

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:43 pm
by BrewerBen
Batch Sparging with a spare fermentor and grain bag as ive not yet fitted an tap and manifold to the cool box.
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Hops in at the beginning of the 90 min boil
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Grain and coriander in for the last 10 min's. I did soak them in some wort before putting them in.
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Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:59 pm
by BrewerBen
Colling the wort, i made the cooler to fit the 14 litre stockpot i used for extract brews, still works a treat for the big boiler
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Draining
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There was a fair bit of wort left so i ended up pouring the last bit through the sieve. I'll get some hose that fits the tap next time for a bit more of a siphon effect
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OG. Lower than expected. I did add 200g's of sugar to get it up a bit as once i put the 2 litre starter in it would drop some more
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Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:04 pm
by BrewerBen
The next morning the yeast was trying to make a break for it.
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Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:05 pm
by Alcopup
Looking forward to updates on this one - it looks very interesting!

Alco

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:46 pm
by kevthebootboy
nice pictures mate, looks like your fermenters being sick! :lol:

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:52 pm
by Alcopup
Any news on this one BB?

Alco

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:01 pm
by BrewerBen
I just bottled it today and is tasting pretty good its not very bitter but has a kind of dry tartness to it, i guess that would be the orange peel. It has a fruity smell to it, it did have a very distinct banana aroma but that seems to have now gone now.I'm certainly looking forward to tasting it once it has conditioned for a while and been chilled a little.

The FG is 1.006 - it just kept on fermenting and kept a head on the beer throughout.

I bet i give in and try a bottle in a week.

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:11 pm
by adm
BrewerBen wrote:I just bottled it today and is tasting pretty good its not very bitter but has a kind of dry tartness to it.
Well....for a Belgian Wit, that sounds just about right!

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:29 am
by BrewerBen
Thats good to hear, its been a while since i had a hoegaarden and i've not tried any other wheat beers. I'll buy a couple of bottles and do some comparisons when its ready. It's certainly going to be a refreshing pint and i may have to brew some more for the summer.

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:33 am
by adm
Don't keep it too long - it's best drunk fresh.

I don't know how you primed, but in my book, it's also really good if it's cold and heavily carbonated too.

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:20 am
by yashicamat
adm wrote:Don't keep it too long - it's best drunk fresh.

I don't know how you primed, but in my book, it's also really good if it's cold and heavily carbonated too.
Yep I always like wheat beers to be heavily carbonated so they almost "melt" in your mouth.

Re: AG #3 - Belgian Wit

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:37 am
by MartialAnt
BrewerBen - Did you put that full smack pack of yeast in that 1 brew?