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Raspberry Wheat Beer Recipe: A Refreshing Summer Ale

raspberry wheat ale beer

Introduction to Raspberry Wheat Ale

If you’re looking for a refreshing, fruity beer to enjoy during the warmer months, a raspberry wheat ale is a great option. This beer combines the crisp, clean flavors of a traditional wheat beer with the sweet, tangy taste of fresh raspberries, resulting in a brew that is both thirst-quenching and flavorful.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to brew raspberry wheat ale at home, complete with a detailed recipe and brewing tips.

Raspberry Wheat Ale Recipe

Grain Bill:

  • 6 lb Wheat Malt
  • 4 lb Pilsner Malt
  • 1 lb Flaked Wheat

Hops:

  • 0.5 oz Saaz hops (60 min)
  • 0.5 oz Saaz hops (15 min)

Yeast:

  • Belgian Wheat Ale Yeast

Fruit Additions:

  • 6 lbs Raspberries (pureed and added to the secondary)

Other Ingredients:

  • Irish Moss (for clarity)
  • Corn Sugar (for priming)

Brewing Instructions

Step 1: Mashing

  1. Begin by heating 5 gallons of water to 160°F (71°C).
  2. Mash in the wheat malt, pilsner malt, and flaked wheat.
  3. Hold at 152°F (67°C) for 60 minutes.

Step 2: Sparging & Boiling

  1. Sparge with 170°F (77°C) water to collect 6.5 gallons of wort.
  2. Boil the wort for 60 minutes, adding hops at the specified times.
    – 0.5 oz Saaz at 60 minutes (bittering)
    – 0.5 oz Saaz at 15 minutes (flavor)
  1. Add Irish Moss 15 minutes before the end of the boil to help with clarity.

Step 3: Cooling & Fermentation

  1. Cool the wort to 70°F (21°C) using an immersion chiller or ice bath.
  2. Transfer to a sanitized fermenter.
  3. Pitch the Belgian Wheat Ale Yeast and ferment at 68°F (20°C) for 7-10 days.

Step 4: Adding Raspberries

  1. After primary fermentation is complete, transfer the beer to a secondary fermenter.
  2.  Add the 6 lbs of pureed Raspberries.
  3. Allow the beer to sit on the raspberries for 7-10 days.
  4. The raspberries will add a slight tartness and a beautiful pinkish-red hue to the beer.

Step 5: Bottling or Kegging

  1. If you’re bottling, add corn sugar to the beer before bottling to ensure proper carbonation.
  2. Bottle the beer and let it carbonate for 2-3 weeks at room temperature.
  3. If kegging, there is no need for priming sugar; instead, force carbonate to 12-14PSI at 38°F (3°C) for proper carbonation.

Tips for Brewing Raspberry Wheat Ale

1. Corn Sugar Calculation for Bottling

For Wheat Beers, aim for a carbonation level of 2.5 – 3.0 volumes of CO₂

For 5 gallons (19L) of beer:

  • 3.5 – 4.5 oz (99 – 128g) of corn sugar (Use a priming sugar calculator to get the desired carbonation level).
  • Be precise, as over or under-carbonation can ruin your beer.
  • Mix the sugar in 1 cup of boiling water until dissolved. Let it cool, then mix it evenly into the beer before bottling.

2. Fermentation Control for a Clean Flavor

  • For best results, keep fermentation temperatures at 66-70°F (19-21°C). If temperatures are too high, it can result in “off” flavours. Too low can cause a sluggish fermentation.

3. Preventing Excess Sediment in the Final Beer

  • To prevent excess sediment, drop the fermenter’s temperature to 35-40°F (2-4°C) for 48 hours before bottling. This will help it settle.
  • The Irish Moss will help to reduce the haze.

4. Fresh vs Frozen Raspberries

  • While you can use frozen raspberries, fresh ones are preferred as they give your beer a more vibrant, natural flavor.
  • Puree the Raspberries for better extraction of the flavor and color.

5. Preventing a Stuck Mash

  • Wheat malt tends to be a bit sticky and can lead to a stuck sparge, so be sure to use rice hulls or some other method to prevent this.

6. Achieving the Perfect Balance

  • If you prefer a more sour or tart flavor, you can achieve this by extending the time the beer sits on the raspberries.

Conclusion

A raspberry wheat ale is a fun and flavorful beer and the perfect summer sipper. Combining the refreshing wheat ale and fresh raspberries creates a light and fruity beer with a beautiful color. Impress your friends this spring and summer with this fun and tasty brew.

Happy Brewing.

author avatar
Jack Lawson Founder
Jack is the founder and main man at Craft Beer Me. He is a dedicated craft beer lover from Boulder, Colorado, now living in Denver. Jack has an insatiable passion for discovering new brews and created Craft Beer Me as a hub for fellow beer lovers to explore, review, and celebrate the world of craft beer.