Summer beers are great. It is even better when you are inspired by the season to brew something that will pair well with the long days and the high temperatures. In this post, we chat through Mike’s thought process where he

Summer American Wheat Recipe

The beer is a hoppy wheat ale designed for summer, targeting a fruity and refreshing character.

Water Profile:

  • Spring water
    • 2 grams of calcium chloride
    • 1 gram of calcium sulfate
    • 1 gram of magnesium chloride
    • Lactic acid for pH adjustment

Grain Bill:

  • 46% Belgian Pilsner Malt (5 pounds)
  • 23% White Wheat Malt (2.5 pounds)
  • 23% Flaked Wheat (2.5 pounds)
  • 8% Honey Malt (12 ounces)

Hops:

  • 10 minutes boil: 1 ounce each of Idaho 7, Zythos, and Mosaic (3 ounces total)
  • Dry hop: 1 ounce each of Idaho 7, Zythos, and Citra Lupamax

Yeast:

  • American Wheat Ale Yeast (WLP 320)

Instructions:

  • Mash at 149°F for 60 minutes
  • Ramp slowly to mash-out temperature
  • Chill wort after boil and ferment at room temperature

Results:

  • Starting Gravity: 1.044
  • Final gravity: 1.005
  • Approximate ABV: 5%

Did It Hit The Mark?

Well, while the beer was enjoyable and had tasty hop characteristics, it was not entirely what Mike had in mind in terms of fruity hop flavors. The beer showcased some pungent and green onion-like notes attributed to the Idaho 7 and Zythos hops. We were thinking we would get some fruity and tropical flavors from the Mosaic and Citra, but we didn’t.

We chatted about the possibility of the hop quality being a factor in the flavor profile of the beer. Mike has stated in the past and in this video that the best lots are taken by the commercial breweries. What we get at the homebrew level may never come close to what a big brewery can get.

As we say, Brew On! I think there will be more beers like this one from Mike in the future.