Spiced Cherry Wheat

Source: Dave Bonvicin
Recipe added: 07/15/98
Email: bonvicin@mindspring.com

My intention was to brew a Belgian-style Wit but to replace the orange peel/Coriander combination with cherries and Grains of Paradise. This was suggested by Scott Russell in an issue of Brew Your Own about a year ago. Well, this kind of changed! First off, I grabbed the wrong yeast at the homebrew shop. Next I found people preferred a stronger cherry flavor than what the 2 pounds of puree offered, so I added some extract at bottling. Friends and family, who just drink for enjoyment, love the beer. I received the following criticisms from members of a homebrew club in case anyone decides to try this recipe. "Needs more wheat character." I agree. Next time I'll replace the flaked wheat with wheat malt, upping it to at least 50% of the grist. "Cherry/Grains of Paradise combination is a winner. Definitely a must do again." I also agree. May add a half ounce to the secondary. "Use real cherries next time." I try to brew my summer beers during the spring. Don't know about the rest of the country, but here on Long Island, NY I don't see cherries until sometime in June. Usually have to close down the homebrewery by that given my lack of refrigeration. So, I'll stick with the puree next time!

Specifics

Recipe type: All Grain
Batch Size: 5.25
Starting Gravity: 1045
Finishing Gravity: 1009
Time in Boil: 90 minutes
Primary Fermentation: 7 days in plastic - mid 60's
Secondary Fermentation: 14 days on fruit in plastic - mid 60's
Additional Fermentation: 14 days in glass - mid 60's

Ingredients:

5.5# Weyermann Pils
3.5# Breiss flaked wheat
0.5# DWC CaraPils
0.25# Breiss flaked oats
1.0 oz Saaz pellets 3.7% AA (60 mins)
0.5 oz Saaz pellets 3.7% AA (15 mins)
2.0# Oregon Fruits cherry puree
1.0g Grains of Paradise (freshly ground)
2.0 oz Cherry extract
1.5 tsp lactic acid
Wyeast 3942 Belgian Wheat

Procedure:

Mash grains at 154°F. Boil and add hops as noted above. Add the Grains of Paradise for the last 5 minutes. Rack to the secondary on top of the cherry puree. Add the cherry extract and lactic acid at bottling. Bottle with 3.4 cup corn sugar.

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