Weyermann malt extracts

[dean_wales]

Hi guys,

Been looking at the Weyermann malt extract on sale at the malt miller. They have the following:

Weyermann Pilsner
Weyermann BAVARIAN HEFEWEIZEN
Weyermann BAVARIAN DUNKEL
Weyermann BAVARIAN MAIBOCK
Weyermann BAMBERG RAUCH
Weyermann MUNICH OCTOBER BEER

Has anyone used them? How much beer would 4kg make? Im an AG chap and so dont understand extracts really.

Anyone reccomend any of the above? What types of hops/yeast/recipes would I need?

Thanks,

Dean.

[EoinMag]

I've used the pilsener and the dunkel when I was still doing kits. I used the pils along with a coopers apa kit and some flavapaks and that went down a storm at a party. I also used the dunkel at the same party for making up a chocolate stout from a Coopers stout kit and some cocoa nibs in secondary. The beers were a hit. I think you're looking at using about 1.8kg instead of a kg of DME, but I'm not sure anymore, but that would fit with the amounts that are in kit cans....

[mysterio]

Each one will do a 20L batch, more or less. If you download one of the free brewing calculators then you can punch in the numbers and get specific gravity.

Being from Weyermann, the extracts should be of exceptional quality and comparable to making an all grain batch. I think some are made with a decoction process too, so should taste quite interesting.

[dean_wales]

I dont know if I would use them in a regular ale recipe due to the higher cost compared to british grain. I would be keen on doing something traditionally continentally!

So it seems one tub should do a 5 gallon batch at least?

What kind of hops and yeast would be used typically with their range of malts?

Bit of a change from the british ales I am used to making thats all.

Dean.

[mysterio]

Do you have a style of beer or something you're trying to emulate in mind ?

Hops would be Hallertau, Tettnanger, Spalt, Saaz, Magnum. Lager yeast (for example W 34/70 Saflager) although I think Fermentis have put the kibosh on repackaging yeast so you better be quick. There are liquid yeast too but you will need to make a decent sized starter which I wouldn't recommend if it's your first lager. If you're using the hefeweizen extract then the Safbrew WB-06. If you like Hefeweizen then I would suggest this would be the easiest and cheapest beer to make.

[dean_wales]

Ironically I was strangely drawn to that Hefeweizen! I didnt fancy the complicated grist on some wheat beer recipes.

I like Hoeegarden, Erdinger etc is that the kind of pale heady beer that this extract would be expected to produce? If so I may give it a bash and get it ready for summer drinking!

What yeast and hops would be suited specifically to the Hefeweizen? I would prefer to stick with dried to keep the cost down and likewise keep the number of hop vareities to a minimum.

That beer wont need any particular temperature controls for brewing will it? It would keep till summer if I brewed it in Feb/March wouldnt it? Only I have heard that white beers dont keep too well and are best drunk freshish.

Thanks,

Dean.

[mysterio]

They keep fine, they can be drunk fresh, more or less out of the fermenter. In my experience they keep for a while without any problems.

The great thing about the hefe extract is you wouldn't have to add any steeping grains, and just one hop addition (and maybe a smallish handful late), so you would look for 20 or so IBUs in total. Hallertau hersbrucker would be perfect but to be honest you can be pretty flexible.

Safbrew WB-06, should do fine at cool room temperature, try and keep it around 17 - 18C if you can. Should be a very good beer.