Recipe for High ABV Witbier

[ricardo]

I'm planning on doing a recipe I found for a high ABV Wit at 7.5%

The grain bill is

48.5% Pils
40.25% Wheat Flakes (unmalted)
6.25% Oats
5% Rice Hulls

Hops - Centennial for 45 IBU

Yeast is WLP400

It says starting gravity should be 1.075 but it doesn't give a terminal gravity. I've been playing around on Beersmith which tells me that fermentation should stop at 1.018 for 7.5% ABV, is this too high for a Wit or am I doing something wrong?

My grain bill for a 5 US Gallon batch is

12 oz rice hulls
14.9 oz oats
6 lb flaked wheat
7 lb 4 oz pils

 

[Cocko]

So you want a high ABV wit? 7.5% is pretty high...

Unsure what you think is wrong? Do you mean will it be balanced? or will it taste like a Wit?

A Belgium Wit is predominately flavoured by the yeast, which you have chosen a good one. Typically you would use a noble hop in a wit, so centennial seems a little out of place but maybe with the higher ABV it may be a good choice....

Never done a Wit that strong so others will no better.. but I had 2c in my pocket and thought I would spend it here.

Cheers

 

[ricardo]

So you want a high ABV wit? 7.5% is pretty high...

Unsure what you think is wrong? Do you mean will it be balanced? or will it taste like a Wit?

A Belgium Wit is predominately flavoured by the yeast, which you have chosen a good one. Typically you would use a noble hop in a wit, so centennial seems a little out of place but maybe with the higher ABV it may be a good choice....

Never done a Wit that strong so others will no better.. but I had 2c in my pocket and thought I would spend it here.

Cheers

Many Thanks for the reply

This is my first attempt at this style and I normally brew IPA's where the terminal gravity drops to 1.010 and below. I was thinking that if Beersmith is correct and fermentation stops at 1.018 will the beer be sweet and cloying.

For anybody who is interested here is a link to the recipe

http://www.stonebrewing.com/epic/Wca5d626b5ce75.htm

 

[Danwood]

Possibly perform a Google (no, I don't work in I.T.) on Brooklyn Brewery's Gran Cru Wit from GABS...that was fantastic strong Wit.

You might dig up some hints.

 

[slcmorro]

Not keen on using any torrified wheat? I did a partial with wheat malt, torrified wheat and pils. Turned out lovely.

 

[RelaxedBrewer]

The IBUs seem way to high for a Wit style beer.

Most Wit beers are ~15 IBU and 4.5-5.5% ABV. Since you are going to finish a bit sweater then you should probably up the IBUs but 45 is way to high IMO.

I would use a noble hop, CZ saaz is my personal favourite for the style.

Any reason in particular that you want to make an imperial Wit? Why not try and make a good normal Wit first and if you are happy with it begin to mess around with with the recipe?