Brunchmaster 2000

2018
Thomas Kinzer of Milwaukie, OR, member of the Men Who Stare at Airlocks, won a gold medal in Category 21: Belgian Ale during the 2018 National Homebrew Competition Final Round in Portland, OR. Kinzer’s Belgian witbier was chosen as the best among 202 entries in the category.

To see other winning homebrew recipes from the 2018 National Homebrew Competition, visit our archive of National Homebrew Competition winners.

Brunchmaster 2000 Witbier | Witbier
INGREDIENTS
For 5.5 US gallons (20.8 L)
MALTS
6 lb. (2.72 kg) flaked wheat
4.5 lb. (2.04 kg) Briess pale two-row malt
4 oz. (113 g) flaked oats
HOPS
0.65 oz. (18 g) Amarillo, 9% a.a. @ 20 min
0.5 oz. (14 g) Amarillo, 9% a.a. @ 15 min
1 oz. (28 g) Amarillo, 9% a.a. @ 0 min
WATER
Malt-forward (CaCl 75–100% of Ca additions) water profile that is appropriate for your water. Resist the urge to use gypsum to boost hop crispness; this is a round, balanced to malty beer with heavy hop aroma and flavor, not bitterness.
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS
0.1 oz. (2.8 g) freshly ground coriander @ 5 min
0.1 oz. (2.8 g) freshly ground bitter orange peel @ 5 min
0.25 tsp. (1.2 g) Wyeast yeast nutrient @ 1 min
YEAST
Wyeast 3944 Belgian Witbier, 1 L starter
SPECIFICATIONS
Original Gravity: 1.050 (12.5° P)
Final Gravity: 1.012 (3° P)
ABV: 5%
IBU: 18
SRM: 3-4
DIRECTIONS
Use BIAB single infusion mash at 152°F (67°C) for 90 to 120 minutes. Stir occasionally, keeping mash between 150 and 152°F (66 and 67°C). Remove bag. Measure gravity, adjust volumes for gravity vs. evaporation rate/boil length if needed to hit target OG of 1.050 and begin boil. It’s very important that you chill immediately and quickly because this is a hop-bursted beer. Delays will cause the beer to be too bitter. Chill to 64°F (18°C), oxygenate and pitch. Fermentation should start low and finish high: let primary free-rise gradually over the course of two weeks, bumping with heat, if needed later in the fermentation, to finish at 78° F (26°C) at the very end. Let sit in primary at 78°F (26°C) for a few days and keg, then chill and carbonate to taste (high level for wit). Ready to drink as soon as it is carbonated.

Do not add more coriander or orange peel to the recipe. Let the Amarillo do the heavy orange lifting. Watch your base malt’s diastatic power, too. Briess 2-row has worked for me, but other malts might have issues fully converting so much adjunct.