Basic tips for brewing wheat beer using beer equipment

The malt in beer brewing raw materials is mainly barley, and wheat beer is very popular with the public now. In regions of the United States, new beer brewing needs will find brewing with wheat a novel idea. Compared to other styles of beer, wheat beers haven't been around that long outside their origins (Germany and Belgium).

Brewing wheat beer can be dispiriting for brewers, using wheat in the brewing process changes things, and if you are not very familiar with brewing methods, it may not be the best choice. With lots of brewers big and small trying new things to brew, here are some basic tips for brewing wheat beer from our brewers to help you achieve great results.

1. Choice of wheat beer

When brewing your first wheat beer, check the look and taste of your wheat beer so you can keep it that way as you brew. Wheat beers smell grainy and bready, with a hint of sweetness. Depending on your brewing method, the bitterness may vary slightly, but it shouldn't be as bitter as an IPA. A little sweetness is also normal with many wheat beers.

2. Tips for brewing wheat beer

Know Yeast Strains: Wheat beers utilize their yeast strains to extract the right flavors from your mash, plan to use the strains, and see if they are suitable for producing wheat beer. When brewing wheat beer with yeast, less flocculant is needed to achieve a neutral character.

Know the type of grain: It pays to choose a grain that will produce your beer, with different aromas of wheat to ensure the taste you want.

The stuck mash problem: Wheat malt doesn't have a husk like many other malts, creating a problem you might need to deal with during the brewing process: stuck mash. To prevent this problem, wheat malt can be ground at a coarser grind than barley.

Consider the acidity of the water: water with a lower pH is best for producing good quality wheat, the pH of the mash is between 5.2 and 5.6, and chloride can be a good mineral additive if needed , which contributes to the correct texture of the final product.

Find the balance in the hops: Wheat beers have sweetness, but still need a certain amount of hops. If you want the grain flavor to be dominant, add a small amount of hops.

As with all brewing tips, these are just suggestions to help you get the beer you want. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. Experiment as much as possible to brew your own taste.