Wheat Beer Fermentation Temperature

[johnno]

Hiya all,
I got a cheap wheat kit at the supermarket that I'm going to do with some grain.
I also have some safwheat yeast.
My question is , what temp do you ferment a wheat beer at? Ale or lager?

cheers

 

[nonicman]

For the Salwheat, ale temperates worked well when I used this yeast with a kit (ESB wheat) and some grain and malt extract. Wasn't taking notes at the time, but I remember it was enjoyable.

 

[big d]

18-24 should see you sweet johnno.with dried i think a few degrees above will not hurt too much.

cheers
big d

 

[JasonY]

No expert (only done one wheat) but I think there is some kind of 30 rule = pitching temp + ferm temp = 30degC so say pitch at 12degC and ferment at 18degC is one possibility. I used this and WLP300 and the brew turned out nice ... can't say I could attribute this to any particular effect ... need to do more reading before brewing another wheat.

Something to think about if you have temp control?

 

[johnno]

Thanks for the answers lads
I can ferment that at 18-20. May wait a few weeks and do a nother lager first while the weather still allows it.

cheers

 

[barfridge]

I was reading somewhere that safwheat k-97 is actually a german ale yeast, so normal ale temperatures apply.

 

[Asher]

Wheat yeast is an ale yeast and so should be fermented at ale temps....

From my recollection the 30deg rule Jason mentioned is to encourage a longer lag phase, as this is when allot of the bannana/bubblegum typ esters are produced, then up the temp for fermentation to get the clove flavours to develope....

could be wrong but sounds good!

Asher for now...