Sorry, this is the last thread on this dunkelweizen. I just bought my grain for a smoked dunkelweizen recipe. The recipe calls for 5 lbs Weyermann Dark Wheat Malt, but they didn't have that at my LHBS. I asked the guy what a good substitute for this would be, and he said Weyermann Carawheat. Now, after looking back on it, and doing some research, I realized that this was probably not the best idea. I think it is WAY too much CaraWheat. 5.5 gallon batch Grain Bill 5 lbs. Weyermann Carawheat malt 3.5 lbs. German Pilsner malt 2 lbs. Weyermann Smoked Malt 1 lbs. German Dark Munich malt 0.5 lbs. Weyermann Caramunich II 0.5 lbs. Oak Smoked Wheat 0.25 lbs. Briess Caramel 120 Mash Temp – 152F for 60 min Batch Sparge – 168-170F for 10 min 60 minute boil 1.25 oz German Tettnang at 60 min Ferment with Danstar Munich - German Wheat Beer What are your guys' thoughts? Should I jump ship on this grain bill and bite the bullet and buy more? Do you know what a good substitute would be for Weyermann Dark Wheat? because the guy at my LHBS obviously didn't know...
They aren't even remotely comparable. I would just substitute with White Wheat malt. Dark wheat isn't "necessary" to this recipe.
I'd go back and ask them to redo that grainbill for you - except not using that much caramalt. That is a lot of caramel malt in that grainbill and definitely not a suitable replacement for the grain that you were looking for.
That is not in any way an acceptable substitution. Personally, I wouldn't use caramalt of any kind in a dunkleweizen, and this much is just out of the question.
Thanks, I'm just glad I double checked before brew day. Still pissed I have to get more grain, since it's all mixed up in a bag. @JohnSnowNW so you're thinking 5 lbs. white wheat substituted for the 5 lbs. (d'oh!) of carawheat?
No worries. Well, basically I don't think you have much choice...as you're at the mercy of your LHBS unless you want to purchase online. There isn't really anything comparable to the dark wheat. You do, however need wheat in a Dunkel so white or red wheat (but white if it were me) would be what I'd use...and yeah 5 lbs. That said, I think the differences in your recipe between dark wheat and white wheat malt will be subtle.
The dark wheat wasn't providing much "darkness." It provides more of a golden hue...as it's not a particularly dark malt. I haven't run the numbers or anything...but the beer will still dark. Edit: Well it will still be dark relative to the original recipe (the one with dark wheat).
Just input the recipe and was coming out with 15 srm with dark wheat, and 13 srm with white wheat. So, not a huge difference...but both are pretty light for a Dunkel.
You may want to share this link with your LHBS. It specifies that you should not use more than 15% Carawheat in your recipe. http://www.weyermann.de/eng/produkte.asp?idkat=17&umenue=yes&idmenue=0&sprache=2
Yea, that was actually one of the sites that I checked out, and realized that there was a huge mistake. Thanks man
Feel bad for you but this is a rookie error. In this case ... you're stuck with a bag of mixed grains destined for the compost pile. Buying a bag of mixed-grains assumes the LHBS staff is competent to fill your order properly. Given how often LHBS fail in this regard ... especially o-LHBS ... it's more better (IMO) to buy each ingredient separately.
I was visiting an out-of-state friend. We decided to pop in to his LHBS. I picked up some grain and asked them to mill it. I watched this guy mill the guys grain before me for about 30 seconds (waiting for the employee to figure out why it was milling so slow). I pointed out that he was milling with the drill in reverse. So yeah, not all LHBSs are created equal.
Being the cheap bastard that I am, I'd try to cut it into a few sweet stout recipes. But, I'd also expect that the bag will have to be returned to trade in for the correct recipe.
Well, it's actually a 'mill your own' LHBS. Lots of buckets of malt in the back room, and you mill it all yourself. I had asked the guy what would be a good substitute, and that's what he had suggested. I don't think he knew it was gonna be 5 lbs of the carawheat, but I also didn't think twice about it and just went ahead and started milling it. So yea, you live and learn I guess... AND, because it's mill your own, I'm responsible for my own grain bill so I don't think I can even return what I've got. Destined for the compost pile for sure, where my dog will pick at it
I would definitely ask the store, and not assume you have to eat it. They gave you bad advise, and it would turn out to be a pretty undrinkable beer i think, particularly since there was already nearly a pound of crystal/cara malts in the grain bill. They may technically have an out because they didn't review the grain bill, and you self served, but at the same time they want you to have a good experience, particularly since it sounds like you are a new customer. Besides, the worst thing they can do is tell you no. I think if it were my store I would at least offer you replacement grains at cost instead of full price.
I'll give it a try. I've been going there for years, so I'm a loyal customer. I just have no experience using carawheat, so didn't know what I was getting myself into. I just trusted they would... Guess I shouldn't just assume what they say is true any more!
Unless I knew an LHBS employee personally over a long period of time and therefore knew them to be knowledgeable, I wouldn't automatically assume anything they say its true, other than directions to where in the store you can find something. There are some truly unqualified people manning some LHBSs.
