Homebrewing is equal parts science and sorcery. On one hand, it requires having a firm grasp of the chemistry of the process insofar as water, mash, temperature, pH, and other factors have a big impact on your final beer. On the other hand, artful ingredient pairings are just as important, as your choice of malts, yeast strain, and other adjuncts like candi sugar or organic herbs all combine to add an intangible magic to a brew.     

This herbaceous witbier (Flemish for “white beer”) was developed in conjunction with my gruit recipe for Homebrew Con 2018, America’s largest gathering of homebrewers. And if you’ll indulge me in a not-so-humble brag, it was one of the best beers on the show floor! The delicately layered aroma presents spicy cardamom and floral chamomile notes that linger in the brew’s fluffy head and light body.

If you’re new to crafting your own beers, I recommend reading up on the fundamental techniques and guides before jumping into making your first batch. This recipe assumes that you have a basic knowledge of homebrewing, so I only outline the steps of mashing and boiling. There are a lot of great resources for new brewers in my gruit recipe.

Herbally Yours Witbier

Makes 5 gallons.

Estimated Original Gravity: 1:048

Ingredients

• 5 lb. 12 oz. Pilsner malt
• 1 lb. 8 oz. white wheat malt
• 1 lb. 8 oz. torrified wheat
• 8 oz. acidulated malt
• 8 oz. flaked oats
• 5.2 gallons water
• .75 oz. Mandarina Bavaria hops (divided)
• 8.75 g organic sweet orange peel
• 7.5 g organic chamomile flowers (divided)
• .5 oz. Huell Melon hops
• 15 g organic pink peppercorns
• 8.75 g organic coriander seeds
• 8.75 g organic hulled cardamom
• Belgian yeast (I used Imperial Organic Whiteout )

Timing for Herbal Additions to the Boil

60 minutes

• .5 oz. Mandarina Bavaria hops

20 minutes

• 8.75 g organic sweet orange peel

10 minutes

• 2.5 g organic chamomile flowers

5 minutes

• .5 oz. Huell Melon hops
• .25 oz. Mandarina Bavaria hops

Flame out/0 minutes

• 15 g organic pink peppercorns
• 8.75 g organic coriander seeds
• 7.5 g hulled cardamom seeds
• 5 g organic chamomile flowers

Directions

1. Mill all grain.
2. Heat 5.25 gallons of filtered water, targeting a mash temperature of 150° F.
3. Slowly add crushed grain to hot water, stirring well to prevent clumping or dough balls.
4. Rest mash for 75 minutes.
5. While mash rests, prepare herbal additions by measuring into bags to add to the boil.
6. Sparge mash until six gallons of wort has been collected.
7. Bring wort to a boil. Watch carefully to avoid a boil over.
8. Add hops and set a timer for 40 minutes.
9. When timer goes off, add 20-minute additions and set a timer for 10 minutes.
10. When timer goes off, add 10-minute addition and set a timer for 5 minutes.
11. When timer goes off, add 5-minute addition and set a timer for 5 minutes.
12. When timer goes off, kill boil, and add flame out additions.
13. Let steep 20 minutes.
14. Chill wort to 68° F.
15. Collect in sanitized fermentation vessel.
16. Pitch yeast.

If this is your first batch, congratulations! The hardest part of homebrewing comes next—waiting for this delicious elixir to ferment. So sit back, relax, and don’t worry (have a homebrew)! And if you don’t have one on hand, an ambrosial cup of organic tea is just as nice.  

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Try This Spiced Berry Mead!

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