Novice brewer; use of wheat grain

[SteveMJ]

Hi,

I am a novice brewer, having made a few brews with kits, all very successfully so far in mine and guests' opinions. I recently made a brew of Wheat beer from a kit (Wilko's) that was good to drink, despite the weather causing it's primary fermentation to be warmer than recommended.

I live in Hertfordshire and happen to back onto a field of wheat that is imminently due for harvesting. I was thinking that I could get 'obtain' some wheat and try brewing another batch of Wheat beer from the wheat adjacent to my home.

Is this easy to do for a novice? A search for recipes didn't say how much wheat to use for, say 40 pints, and included a number of complex steps or steps that I didn't clearly understand what to do. I have limited kit; mainly a Coopers brew kit and regular kitchen utensils.

Is the wheat beer brew non-simple? Can anyone direct me to a recipe that would be easy for a novice such as myself.

Thanks for your help, Steve

[Dave S]

Hi,

I am a novice brewer, having made a few brews with kits, all very successfully so far in mine and guests' opinions. I recently made a brew of Wheat beer from a kit (Wilko's) that was good to drink, despite the weather causing it's primary fermentation to be warmer than recommended.

I live in Hertfordshire and happen to back onto a field of wheat that is imminently due for harvesting. I was thinking that I could get 'obtain' some wheat and try brewing another batch of Wheat beer from the wheat adjacent to my home.

Is this easy to do for a novice? A search for recipes didn't say how much wheat to use for, say 40 pints, and included a number of complex steps or steps that I didn't clearly understand what to do. I have limited kit; mainly a Coopers brew kit and regular kitchen utensils.

Is the wheat beer brew non-simple? Can anyone direct me to a recipe that would be easy for a novice such as myself.

Thanks for your help, Steve

It's a no-no I'm afraid. For a wheat beer the wheat needs to be malted first, which is a complex process. Non-malted wheat can be used in small quantities to enhance body and head retention, but even then it needs to be processed in order to gelatinise the starches and then mashed with the rest of your malted grains.

If you've only so far made kits, you've got quite a learning curve to accomplish in order to brew with grains. If you stick with it you'll get there though.

[SteveMJ]

Thanks Dave,

I was hoping for an easy way to use the wheat. Maybe sometime in the future then.

Will be brewing some Rhubarb Champagne next then followed by more Ginger beer as my first brew of this went so quickly at a weekend party; fresh ginger, coriander, orange zest and chilli all added with success.

Steve

[AceMcAce]

It's a no-no I'm afraid. For a wheat beer the wheat needs to be malted first, which is a complex process. Non-malted wheat can be used in small quantities to enhance body and head retention, but even then it needs to be processed in order to gelatinise the starches and then mashed with the rest of your malted grains.

If you've only so far made kits, you've got quite a learning curve to accomplish in order to brew with grains. If you stick with it you'll get there though.

I wouldn't say is't that much of a learning curve to go from Kit to AG. It's just more equipment.

If you're good at following instructions, it's all a piece of piss.

[Chug]

I have successfully used up to 40% unmalted wheat in some of my beers.