[sparkleberry]

i used this once in my first batch of beer(a wheat porter).

any recommendations or thoughts for a comparable strain from white labs or wyeast? i have been using mostly wyeast 1056 for just about everything but was thinking about trying this recipe again.  i am unfamiliar with wheat yeasts. 

thanks.

[majorvices]

Hefeweizen strains will be nothing like neutral US ale yeast, such as 1056. Expect clove phenols and banana esters and, with WB-06, some tartness. You simply can;t make a hefeweizen without a good german wheat beer strain (forget Widmer "Hefeweizen", while it is not a terrible beer it is an American Wheat Beer, not a German Hefeweizen.)

I personally think that WB-06 is too tart. I prefer to stick with liquid strain such as WLP300 and WLP380.

[tschmidlin]

Hefeweizen strains will be nothing like neutral US ale yeast, such as 1056. Expect clove phenols and banana esters and, with WB-06, some tartness. You simply can;t make a hefeweizen without a good german wheat beer strain (forget Widmer "Hefeweizen", while it is not a terrible beer it is an American Wheat Beer, not a German Hefeweizen.)

I personally think that WB-06 is too tart. I prefer to stick with liquid strain such as WLP300 and WLP380.

fixed

[majorvices]

Snob.  Can't really blame you though, I love authentic hefeweizen. Troeg's Dreamweaver Hefeweizen is a great, authentic example. Love that stuff. But Widmer is at least devoid of major flaws and has more flavor than BMC, so give 'em some credit. You could do worse after a lawn mowing session.

[tschmidlin]

I'd honestly rather drink water.  I've never been pleased with any American Hefeweizen I've tried, weather Widmer, Pyramid, Redhook, or any of the others I've tried.  I've not had some of the very hoppy ones I know are out there though, so maybe they'd be ok.

[majorvices]

I'd honestly rather drink water.

I'm gonna call your BS here. I guarantee you if you were in the right circumstance you would even drink a Coors Light over water. A few years ago I had spent several days and nights back packing along the pinhoti trail. It was a very dry and hot trip and when we got out of the mountains we stopped off at a convenience store for a six pack of beer. Being in the middle of BFE the best beer they had, literally, was MGD. Oh, I turned my nose up at first. But I can honestly say that it was one of the best beers I ever drank. Ever. Period.

I haven't had Widmer in several years but I don;t recall there being any obvious flaws. I can;t say that for every craft beer I have had out there. For instance, bringing up a previous thread, I'd probably take a Widmer "hefeweizen" over just about anything I have ever had from Weyerbacher.

[denny]

I'm gonna call your BS here. I guarantee you if you were in the right circumstance you would even drink a Coors Light over water. A few years ago I had spent several days and nights back packing along the pinhoti trail. It was a very dry and hot trip and when we got out of the mountains we stopped off at a convenience store for a six pack of beer. Being in the middle of BFE the best beer they had, literally, was MGD. Oh, I turned my nose up at first. But I can honestly say that it was one of the best beers I ever drank. Ever. Period.

I haven't had Widmer in several years but I don;t recall there being any obvious flaws. I can;t say that for every craft beer I have had out there. For instance, bringing up a previous thread, I'd probably take a Widmer "hefeweizen" over just about anything I have ever had from Weyerbacher.

I can guarantee you that you're wrong in my case.  Flavor (or lack thereof aside), I find water more refreshing than almost any NAIL.

[tschmidlin]

I'd honestly rather drink water.

I'm gonna call your BS here.

You just don't understand the dislike I have for American hefes.  I prefer BMC to them.  When it's 100F+ on the river, Coors Banquet is very refreshing, but I wouldn't touch any of the Am. hefes I've tried.  In Seattle weather, I'll pass on the macro lagers and Am. hefes and drink water.  It's happened before and will again.  We were at a water park two days ago - they had Bud and Bud Light.  I had water.

[majorvices]

OK, Tom. I'll let you have your dislike for Am. Wheat beers. Not my first choice either. But Denny, you have been in beer paradise too long. You are spoiled rotten. I'm just saying: if you were lost in the dessert for a week and you were rescued by a refrigerated Bud Light truck. I guarantee you that your snobbery be damned, you are going to drink that bud Light and you are gonna f-ing love it and want a second. I have been in situations, mostly back packing, for days at a time and I have been surprised at how delicious any beer can be when you haven't had one in a while. I can remember coming across this young group who had hiked in a case of Miller Lite and it wasn't even cold and I drank one and asked for a second. True story.

And It's not just because I'm a drunk, though that may be part of it. Because I normally carry bourbon out in the mountains. But I love beer. In fact, there's a little neon "High Life" sign in my brain that comes on every afternoon at about 3:37.

[tomsawyer]

I used WB-06 for quite a few American wheats since the wife enjoys that style.  I thought the yeast did a decent job but I don't recall getting much clove/banana from it.  In the meantime, wifey has branched into German hefes and I've been using WLP300 and WLP380, she likes the 300 best.

I never really find myself reaching for wheat beers although my latest witbier is pretty tasty.  I appreciate the style and its fun to tweak ferm temps and pitching rates to get the perfect balance of banana and clove.  I did have a Boulevard wheat the other day due to the lack of decent beers at the place, and it was passable.

[majorvices]

Well, WB-06 is a german weissbier strain so it should give you the typical ester and phenol profile. Surprised you didn't get that, Tom.

[jaybeerman]

You just don't understand the dislike I have for American hefes.  I prefer BMC to them.  When it's 100F+ on the river, Coors Banquet is very refreshing, but I wouldn't touch any of the Am. hefes I've tried.  In Seattle weather, I'll pass on the macro lagers and Am. hefes and drink water.  It's happened before and will again.  We were at a water park two days ago - they had Bud and Bud Light.  I had water.

I pretty much feel the same though maybe not quite as strongly.  So via a full beer profile explain what would constitute an exceptable american hefe or if you can't do that then your personal ideal german hefe (I'm talking the flavors, aromas, mouthfeel, overall character, etc.)

The reason I ask - I've made what I would call an american autumn wheat, its still has the refreshing wheat character but with a little more body or oomph.  I'm curious what other american wheat haters would think of it.

My vote would be for 380 otherwise.

[tomsawyer]

Well, WB-06 is a german weissbier strain so it should give you the typical ester and phenol profile. Surprised you didn't get that, Tom.

Maybe it did, its been a long time since I brewed with it and like I said I didn't drink much of it.  Just didn't recall it being nearly as estery as WLP300 or even WLP380.

The reason I ask - I've made what I would call an american autumn wheat, its still has the refreshing wheat character but with a little more body or oomph.  I'm curious what other american wheat haters would think of it.

We'd hate it of course.

[majorvices]

You just don't understand the dislike I have for American hefes.  I prefer BMC to them.  When it's 100F+ on the river, Coors Banquet is very refreshing, but I wouldn't touch any of the Am. hefes I've tried.  In Seattle weather, I'll pass on the macro lagers and Am. hefes and drink water.  It's happened before and will again.  We were at a water park two days ago - they had Bud and Bud Light.  I had water.

I pretty much feel the same though maybe not quite as strongly.  So via a full beer profile explain what would constitute an exceptable american hefe or if you can't do that then your personal ideal german hefe (I'm talking the flavors, aromas, mouthfeel, overall character, etc.)

The reason I ask - I've made what I would call an american autumn wheat, its still has the refreshing wheat character but with a little more body or oomph.  I'm curious what other american wheat haters would think of it.

My vote would be for 380 otherwise.

Wheat malt itself doesn't have a strong character, which is why I find it odd that people would hate US Wheat beers so vehemently. To me they are more like blondes or kolsches. Just not enough character there for me to hate. Perhaps they are not super exciting but if it's 95 degrees pool side I could find one quite refreshing. Generally I'd prefer an authentic hefeweizen. But I wouldn't necessarily turn my nose up to a widmer "hefeweizen" depending on the circumstances.

[tschmidlin]

You just don't understand the dislike I have for American hefes.  I prefer BMC to them.  When it's 100F+ on the river, Coors Banquet is very refreshing, but I wouldn't touch any of the Am. hefes I've tried.  In Seattle weather, I'll pass on the macro lagers and Am. hefes and drink water.  It's happened before and will again.  We were at a water park two days ago - they had Bud and Bud Light.  I had water.

I pretty much feel the same though maybe not quite as strongly.  So via a full beer profile explain what would constitute an exceptable american hefe or if you can't do that then your personal ideal german hefe (I'm talking the flavors, aromas, mouthfeel, overall character, etc.)

The reason I ask - I've made what I would call an american autumn wheat, its still has the refreshing wheat character but with a little more body or oomph.  I'm curious what other american wheat haters would think of it.

My vote would be for 380 otherwise.

It's hard for me to say, since I avoid them so much.  Maybe it's time to have one again so I can remember what I don't like about them.  I much prefer the german hefes.  Besides the obvious yeast differences, they tend to have a fuller body and more flavor.  I don't know if I would like your wheat beer, but I know how we can find out.

And Keith, you're right that there isn't all that much flavor.  But I also don't really care for pilsners, blondes, and even kolsch is pretty far down my list of favorite styles.  For lower alcohol beers I'd much rather have a bitter, mild, or 60/-.