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A refreshing, hazy Belgian-style wheat ale with bright notes of orange peel and coriander. This classic, unfiltered summer beer is surprisingly straightforward to brew at home.
Mash In
Lauter and Sparge
A refreshing, hazy Belgian-style wheat ale with bright notes of orange peel and coriander. This classic, unfiltered summer beer is surprisingly straightforward to brew at home.
This Belgian recipe takes 245 minutes to prepare and yields 48 servings. At 361.88 calories per serving with 12.1g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for beverage.
The Boil
Chill and Transfer
Pitch Yeast and Ferment
Bottle and Condition
Add 0.25 oz of chamomile flowers or a teaspoon of crushed grains of paradise along with the coriander and orange peel for additional complexity.
Add 1-2 pounds of fruit puree (such as raspberry or peach) to the fermenter for the last 5-7 days of fermentation for a fruity twist.
Experiment with different Belgian yeast strains. Each will contribute a unique profile of fruity esters and spicy phenols.
Unfiltered beers like this witbier retain yeast, which is a natural source of B vitamins, including folate, niacin, and riboflavin, that play a role in energy metabolism.
The ingredients in beer, such as malted barley and hops, contain polyphenols. These plant-based compounds have antioxidant properties.
A 12 oz (355 ml) serving of this homemade Belgian Witbier contains approximately 180-190 calories, depending on the final alcohol content and residual sugars.
As an alcoholic beverage, witbier should be consumed in moderation. It contains calories and alcohol, but also B vitamins from yeast and some antioxidants from the grains. It is not considered a health food.
Both are wheat beers, but they have key differences. Witbiers are brewed with unmalted wheat, oats, and are spiced with coriander and orange peel. Hefeweizens are brewed with malted wheat and get their characteristic banana and clove flavors solely from the specific yeast strain used, with no spices added.
You can, but it will change the flavor profile. Bitter orange peel provides a dry, floral, and complex citrus aroma. Sweet orange peel will contribute a more straightforward 'juicy' orange flavor and can sometimes add a pithy bitterness if not prepared correctly.
A lack of haze could be due to several factors, including a less protein-rich grain bill, over-flocculation of the yeast (the yeast settled out too clearly), or using clarifying agents. The high percentage of flaked wheat and oats in this recipe, along with the specific yeast strain, should ensure a proper haze.
