Berliner Weiss (T)

First time using bacteria to try to make a sour beer. Co-pitching the lactobacillus with yeast.

No starter, recipe from Brewing Classic Styles. Was supposed to use WLP011 and 3# Wheat, but shop was out.

Brewed 5.0 gallons on 2014-02-27

Preboil gravity: 1.031

Original gravity: 1.034

Final gravity: 1.005

ABV: 3.8%

Apparent Attenuation: 85.3%

Process notes

2014-02-28

Fermentation has begun by morning. Frothy white foam on top of wort.

2014-03-13

Pull a tasting. Strong wheaty/bready aroma. Didn't pick up the sour in the aroma. Taste had a bit of sourness/tartness.

2014-03-23

Kegged

2014-05-01

Added fruit to the keg.

Boil for 15 minutes

At 15 minutes

1 ounce of 4.5% Alpha Acid Hallertau Mittelfruh pellets

Mash

[58.26%] 4 pounds 3 ounces of German Pilsner (Weyermann)

[27.83%] 2 pounds of Flaked Wheat

[13.91%] 1 pound of Torrified Wheat

Single infusion mash. Mashed with 3 gallons (1.67 quarts per pound) of tap water for 90 minutes. 7lb 3oz of grain was used in the mash.

Strike water temp: (0.2/1.67) * (149 - 69) + 149 = 158.6

Sparge

Sparged for 30 minutes with 4 gallons of 170° tap water.

Yeast

2014-02-27

Pitch 1 pack of WLP013 London Ale (WhiteLabs) at 67°.

2014-02-27

Pitch 1 pack of WLP677 Lactobacillus Delbrueckii (WhiteLabs) at 67°.

Dry additions

2014-05-01

48 ounces of Apricot. (This needed more flavor, so pitted apricots and yellow nectarines, pureed them, strained them, and then simmered for ~15 minutes before throwing into keg.)

2014-05-01

32 ounces of Yellow Nectarine.

Tasting notes (5.00/10; 3 ratings)

2014-04-29

[4/10] First taste. Pale, cloudy straw color. White head that doesn't stick around long. No hop aroma, aroma is mostly of wheat, smells a tad bit skunked, no tartness. Flavor is also of wheat with no tartness. Not a lot of flavor, dry finish, not a lot going on. Needs more lactic acid.

2014-05-02

[5/10] Orange, very cloudy, tart apricot, some sweetness, probably from nectarines. Easy drinking, light, does have a bitter finish.

2014-05-31

[6/10] Fluffy, white head, small amount of lacing. Pale, cloudy yellow color. Slightly bready, tart, apricot aroma. Slight tartness, apricot nectarine flavor, tart finish.