Avoiding banana/bubble gum tones

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Hossjob, Feb 24, 2016.

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  1. Hossjob

    Hossjob Initiate (0) Jun 13, 2014

    I have been very happy with my first 2 home brews and am fermenting my 3rd, first all grain. My next batch I'm planning on an American wheat ale for the spring/summer, but I want to avoid the banana/bubble gum undertones. I'm assuming that has more to do with the yeast I choose over the grain bill. What, if any, yeasts would you recommend? Thank you!
     
  2. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

  3. DunkelFester

    DunkelFester Zealot (607) Aug 24, 2004 Pennsylvania

    Or you could use any neutral ale yeast. 1056, 1007, 2565, etc. There's no need to use a 'wheat' yeast just because there's wheat in the beer.
     
  4. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Fermenting too warm can also produce banana type flavors (which can't be cleaned up with conditioning), so be conscious of the ambient temp where your fermentor is placed.
     
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  5. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    You're right, this is mostly about the yeast.

    How hoppy do you want this beer to be? Are you good at temperature control? Dry yeast or liquid?

    If this will be hoppy and you have to use dry yeast, US-05 is likely the answer.

    If it's not hoppy, this will be a harder beer to make, but could be very rewarding if done well. I would recommend WY1007 German Ale if you can brew on the cooler side and have the patience to lager this for a few weeks. I would use wheat malt for anywhere from 30 to 60 % of the grist and a good quality pilsner malt for the rest. Maybe consider Vienna malt for 5 to 10 % of the grist.
     
  6. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    I'm not a fan of banana and bubblegum, either, but have found a couple of German/Belgian yeasts that are very subtle if fermented cool and overpitched...eg, WYeast 3638, T-58, and Danstar Munich Wheat

    If you want absolutely no bubble gum or banana, use 1010 or another neutral yeast
     
  7. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    As others have said, the easy way to avoid banana/bubblegum would to use a yeast that doesn't produce those flavors under proper fermentation circumstances.
     
  8. Hossjob

    Hossjob Initiate (0) Jun 13, 2014

    You guys rock. Thank you. Finally doing this as an Oberon clone with some added cascade. Trying to harvest yeast from Oberon but if that doesn't work looks like 1010 will be my choice. Unfortunately I think I have the white labs 320 on hand and not the wyeast 1010
     
  9. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Big starter, start the ferment cool for a few days and then ramp up and it shouldn't be a problem.
     
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