Belgium Wit Beer Notes
References:
The Brewing Network: The Jamil Show 3-13-2006
Randy Mosher. Radical Brewing
Style:
400 year old style
Init 1.044 – 1.052
final 1.008 – 1.012
Very Pale in color. It gets it color from its white haze.
Alcohol: ~4.5%
The beer is only lightly hopped; not a hoppy beer. More flavor from the spices you add. This beer is citrusy.
Smooth and creamy mouthfeel.
Aroma: Citrusy, spicey, orange. The orange is present but is not so strong that it is overpowering. You want this to be a beer, not an orange soda.
Spices:
All of the spices are added at “flame out,” at the very end of the boil.
Corriander – This is the main spice. Grind this up really fine.; a coffee grinder will do. If you can find Indian Corriander, buy it; it will produce a more balanced beer
Bitter Orange Peel – Most recipes call for this but his can be be a pain to work with. A nice alternative is to use fruit zest. Use the zest of most any citrusy fruit. Just be sure not to get the white part of the rind.
Cammomile – The secret ingredient.
Additional Spices could be used:
Star Anise – This works out well if used sudtley
Yeast:
Cal Ale yeast: Provides an overly neutral taste.
Wit Yeast: Designed just for Wit Beers.
Abby Yeast or Beglium Yeast: You will need to keep this on the cool side; mid 60s.
Grain Bill:
Base malts
2-row Pilsner Malt (and maybe a little 6-row for more enzymes and greater husk).
Rice Hulls to improve the filter bed.
30-40% Unmalted Wheat ( more wheat flavor than malted wheat )
Oats ( adds to mouth feel. Adds clarifying effect. Kills head retention. Wheat will offset )
* Old Fashioned Oats – decoction.
* Instant Oatmeal – Use with infustion mash
1-3% Acid Malt ( for latic tang )
1 Tbs Flour ( to ensure the haze )
Saaz or Tettanager hops
Extract
Use wheat liquid malt extract
Brewing Notes:
Keep it cool: 64 fermentation is good.
Use a normal pitch. Use a starter. This is a normal beer; not too big.
90 minute boil.
Do not use any clarifiers.. You want haze.
Hops; 90 min, 60, and 5 min.
Keep the fermenation temperature down and under control. Temp fluctuctuation will have the yeast kick off a lot of unwanted byproducts.
Commercial Examples:
Hoegarten
Blue Moon
Popularity: 3% [?]