Gorilla Hefe Weizen

This brew is very easy to make since there are no grains involved, I usually love mini-mashing grains, but the true character of this beer is the spiced fruit addjuncts.

Brewer:	Brew-ha-ha		Email:	-
Beer:	Gorilla Hefe Weizen		Style:	Weizen/Weissbier
Type:	Extract		Size:	6.1 gallons
Color:	3 HCU (~3 SRM)		Bitterness:	24 IBU
OG:	1.056		FG:	1.012
Alcohol:	5.7% v/v (4.5% w/w)
Water:	No treatment, my tap water has a pH of about 7.8.
Boil:	60 minutes	SG 1.049	7 gallons
	6 lb. Bulk Coopers Wheat extract 3.3 lb. Canned Coopers Wheat extract
Hops:	1 oz. Perle (7.8% AA, 60 min.)
Yeast:	WLP300 White Labs German Hefe Weizen, no starter used. Aerated by shaking vigorously.
Log:	Mushed up 3 bananas and pasteurized with 2 whole cloves and about 1.5 quarts of water for 20 minutes. Added fruit to the primary fermenter with a 1 inch blow-over tube. This fermented out in 1 week and 2 days. Racked to a secondary fermenter leaving the fruit behind. Aged for 1 week and 2 days before bottling. Used 3/4 cup of glucose priming sugar in one pint of water and boiled for just over 5 minutes at bottling time.
Tasting:	I took a 1/2 gallon sample during the primary to secondary racking and force carbonated it with CO2, with just the right amount of yeastiness for this "hefe" wheat beer. The first thing apparant is a very noticable banana smell. After swallowing, the flavor that remains on the tongue is definitely a clove spiciness. The traditional bannana and clove character of this yeast is very pleasantly accentuated by the fruit and spice without being overbearing. I received excellant reviews from a wheat beer connesoir, though I am anxiously awaiting the first bottle to truely test this yummy brew.

Recipe posted 03/10/08.