Belgian Wit
Type
Partial Mash
Batch size
5.25 gal
Boil time
60 min
Efficiency
75.0%
Fermentables
| Name | Amount | Use | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilsen Light LME Briess | 4.5 lb | – | 37 |
| Wheat, Unmalted (Wheat Berries) | 3.0 lb | – | 34 |
| Oats, Flaked | 0.5 lb | – | 37 |
Hops
| Name | Amount | Time | Use | Form | AA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Saaz | 1.0 oz | 60 min | Boil | Pellet | 5.0% |
| Cascade United States | 0.5 oz | 0 min | Aroma | Pellet | 5.8% |
Yeasts
| Name | Lab | Attenuation | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Labs Belgian Wit Ale (WLP400) | – | 76.0% | — – — |
Notes
Steep Grains at 154deg for 60min prior to boil.
The Flaked oats are for smoothness and creaminess. The unmalted wheat is classic for the style. Add "1 handful" of wheat flour at 15 minutes. For mouthfeel. Unmalted Wheat only came in 1lb bags, so increased recipe to 5.25 gallons.
*** OG was way under, around 1.030. Transfered on 4.3.12 and Gravity read 1.006. Maybe my hydrometer is broken? Smell and taste as transfer very yeasty, almost sour.
*** Bottled on 5.14.12 Taste was just OK.
*** First bottle on 5.29. Has great potential, but can tell it's under gravity. The Yeast and Coriander are a bit too forward. I would brew this again and keep a better eye on the OG.
Kyle June 08, 2012 5:57pm
I wonder if the reason you missed your target OG was because you don't have any malts with diastatic power to convert your unmalted wheat. Unmalted wheat won't self-convert, so you have to mash it with another grain that has enough diastatic power. Because your recipe type is set to partial mash, Brewtoad is assuming that you'll have enough diastatic power to convert the unmalted wheat and, as a result, factors its point contribution into the predicted OG.
I bet if you replace some of the DME with something like a pale 2-row, you'd be able to convert that unmalted wheat and your gravity would be a lot closer.
Hope this helps!
Kyle June 08, 2012 6:08pm
Here's a thread on Homebrewtalk that might interest you: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/mash-unmalted-wheat-232947/
Nate Zander June 27, 2012 4:35pm
Thanks Kyle. That's great advice.
I will brew this again, as I'd love to have a good wit in my portfolio, but as is, it was a disaster. Nice that brewtoad has the "Brew Variant" option!