Why Won't My Wheat Beers Hold A Head?

[rosswill]

I don't know what is happening here, but my wheat beers will not hold a head. They pour from the tap with a nice head, but within a minute or two, nothing. Also no tide marks left on the glass.
A lot of people add wheat to their beer to aid head retention. It doesn't seem to help my wheaties.

I know most peoples first reaction is going to be, dirty glass, but I don't think so. I have two taps on my fridge, and the other tap has a 100% malt/barley beer and absolutely not problems with head retention and tide marks down the glass. This is the second wheatie batch I've made with the same issue. I've probably made 30 malt/barley batches between the wheaties, with no head retention issues.

I'm thinking it is something to do with my process. My wheaties are fairly simple and are quite tasty, but visually , shite. Here is my recipe/process:
50/50 JW malted wheat and pilsener. Hallertau for 60 minutes. Wy 3068. Single infustion @ 66 degrees. Batch sparge. 60 minute boil. Ferment @ 18 degrees gradually increasing the temp to 22 degrees over the ferment.

Has anyone got any insight into what is happening here?

 

[OzBeer_MD]

Have the glasses been in the dishwasher? Rinse aid is a head killer.

MD

 

[brettprevans]

Protein rest is needed in mash. That's tge most likely issue. Someone will give u details (I'm on shitty mobile phone and cbf typing it out).

 

[rosswill]

Thanks citymorgue2. I thought something like that might be the issue.

Can someone out there explain to me what the protien rest is doing and why/how it effect head retention. Just so I can understand the science.

 

[Phoney]

Have a read of this thread, particularly Fourstars posts regarding protein rests & head retention.

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum//ind...showtopic=34744

 

[argon]

Protein rest is needed in mash. That's tge most likely issue. Someone will give u details (I'm on shitty mobile phone and cbf typing it out).

here we go... Zwickel's profile

Mash In 35C for 20mins
Ferulic Acid Rest 43C for 15mins
Beta Amylase Rest 63C for 30mins
Alpha Amylase Rest 72C for 30mins
Mash out 78C for 10mins

 

[Fourstar]

Protein rest is needed in mash. That's tge most likely issue. Someone will give u details (I'm on shitty mobile phone and cbf typing it out).

nope, no protein rest needed. Infact it can be detrimental to fully modified malts. My last weizen was JW pilsner and JW wheat, straight 67 deg infusion mash. perfect headstand. so its not the malt

Have a read of this thread, particularly Fourstars posts regarding protein rests & head retention.
http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum//ind...showtopic=34744

yep, this post in particular.

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...st&p=487504

 

[rosswill]

Have a read of this thread, particularly Fourstars posts regarding protein rests & head retention.

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum//ind...showtopic=34744

OK, so now I'm really confused. I've just read this thread, and John Palmer. 4* and John Palmer seem to agree, If useing modifided malts, a protein rest is not required. In fact if you do one, it may reduce head retention.

I used 50/50 malted JW wheat and barley. So if a protein rest was not the cause, what was it?

Seems like a pretty hot topic with vastly diverging opinions. The truth is out there somewhere. More reserch required.

 

[Fourstar]

OK, so now I'm really confused. I've just read this thread, and John Palmer. 4* and John Palmer seem to agree, If useing modifided malts, a protein rest is not required. In fact if you do one, it may reduce head retention.

I used 50/50 malted JW wheat and barley. So if a protein rest was not the cause, what was it?

Seems like a pretty hot topic with vastly diverging opinions. The truth is out there somewhere. More reserch required.

head retention (not formation, two different things) can be due to a wide range of things. head forming proteins, oils (hop oils), bubble size. grist composition, mash temperatures, viscosity, etc etc. im not going to go on about it... just read this. :icon_cheers:

http://www.byo.com/stories/article/indices...5-fabulous-foam
http://www.byo.com/stories/techniques/arti.../747-head-games

 

[brettprevans]

Woops I read the question wrong. Sorry for misleading. 4* is right