Belgian Wheat Ale
                         James T Perkins
                           19 May 2001

I've been curious about trying to make a wheat beer, so Kevin and Doug
at Main Street Brewing (http://www.mainbrew.com) suggested I give this
a try.  This is their recipe.  Notice the orange, coriander seed, and the
lactic acid -- all three should give it quite a zesty taste, great for
hot summer afternoons, with a wedge of orange in the rim of the glass...

Ingredients:
        8 oz. Flaked Wheat (unmalted and pre-gelatinized)
        7 lb. Wheat Malt Extract (65% Wheat, 35% Barley)
        2 oz. Hallertauer Hops (Alpha 5.3)
        Wyeast 3944 Belgian White Liquid Ale Yeast
        Zested (color part only of peel) of 3 or 4 oranges
        1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. crushed coriander seed
        1 tsp. to 1 Tbsp. Lactic Acid (88% strength)
        3/4 C. Corn Sugar for bottling

Hopping & spicing schedule:
        1.0 oz Hallertauer hops for     60 min.
        1 Tbsp crushed coriander for    20 min.
        0.5 oz Hallertauer hops for     15 min.
        zested peel of 2-3 oranges for  10 min.
        0.5 oz Hallertauer hops for      5 min.

Dry spicing in the secondary fermenter:
        1 tsp. crushed coriander seed
        zested peel of 1 orange

Bottling:
        3/4 C. Corn Sugar
        1 tsp. to 1 Tbsp. Lactic acid

5/19/01 prepared, using zested peel of one large and one small orange, and
        cracked (but not ground) coriander seed.

5/20/01 O.G. 1.052, pitched yeast. Put in 6-gal plastic primary with
        sealing lid and bubbler.  Bubbler crests at one bloop every 3 sec.

5/29/01 1.015. Pretty much done, 80 seconds between bloop.  Rack into
        glass 6 gal. secondary (lots of head room) with loose zest of 1.5
        oranges and finely ground coriander. Nice nice flavor with that
        distinctive belgian yeast thing happening. Nice light soft wheaty
        body with some hint of the spices.  Anticipate bottling 6/4 or 6/6.

6/05/01 F.G. 1.010 -- bottled with 3/4 tsp. corn sugar/bottle.  Strong spiced
        flavor, nice! Some orange bits probably got into the bottles.