Batch 56: Belgian Wit

Brewed along with a Rochefort 8 clone with Jim McManus. Notes spotty. 10 gallons of wort split between two fermenters, I kept one, Jim brought his home.

I had never successfully made a witbier before. My first attempt was the last extract brew I did, in July/August 2002, and was dumped due to gushers. The second attempt was in the Summer of 2004, and developed mold on the krausen, after a slow start. Hopefully, the third time's the charm, despite the fact I never got a chance to make a starter for the notoriously slow Wyeast 3944, so I'm counting on luck and a bit of yeast nutrient.

Recipe

Grain Bill

10 lbs Durst Pilsner
5 lbs Durst Wheat Malt
1.5 lbs Flaked Wheat
1.5 lbs Flaked Oats

Hops

0.5 oz Styrian Goldings (5.1% AA) @60 minutes
1 oz Hallertauer (4.3% AA) @60 minutes
0.7 oz Cracked Coriander @10 minutes

Yeast

Wyeast 3944 smack pack, no starter (min was barely swelled due to a bad smack).

Mash

Single infusion, under two hours at 151F.

Vitals

OG: 1.048 (12 Brix)
FG:
Calculated IBUs: 14
Carbonation:

Timeline

Brew day: July 30, 2005

11:40 am: Mash-in @151F
1:33 pm: First runnings on to boil, 4 gallons sparge water mixed in.
1:45 pm: Begin second runoff.
2:13 pm: Everything on to boil.
2:25 pm: Boiling!
2:40 pm: Add hops.
3:30 pm: Add coriander along with 2 tsp. Wyeast yeast nutrient.
3:40 pm: Therminate. OG 12 Brix.
4:10 pm: All cleaned up.

Visibly fermenting (high krausen) morning of 7/31. Fermentation died down by evening, a midnight reading gave 9.6 Brix = 1.033 (corrected for OG). I've never monitored a fermentation this closely, but this seems normal for less than 48 hours after pitching.

Tasting notes

10-27-2005

Last half-glass from keg, and no tasting notes! Better fix that.

If this beer has one flaw, it's that it dropped clear too fast. It has been crystal clear for at least the last month, and it would have been better to bottle it. If it has two flaws, it could use more spices.

Fruity/floral aroma, quenching tart flavor with a spicy finish. Full, thick body despite low gravity. Keeper of a recipe, just need to add some more spices, probably the usual orange peel, or possibly chamomile. Grain bill could use some more flaked grains for an even creamier texture.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out. It was much better than my previous batches, which were all dumped....

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