Beer is traditionally made from barley, hops, and yeast. In fact, old Bavarian rules actually forbid brewers from adding other ingredients to their beer. However, many beers were made with wheat as well, and it is added to beer for many reasons. It adds flavor to the beer, changes the color of the beer, and is often more readily available than barley in some areas. If you’re looking for a wheat beer, you will likely find a witbier or a weissbier. There are also some other varieties, such as lambic.
Wheat Proportions
There are no hard and fast rules about what makes something a wheat beer in Goleta, CA. It is typically made with a higher proportion of wheat to barley than a standard beer. That could be as little as thirty percent or as much as one hundred percent. The wheat is germinated much like the barley, and the germination process releases the wheat flavors and the sugars trapped in the grain. At that point, it is steeped in hot water or even boiled to release the sugars. The result is a sugary liquid known as wort.
Hops are often added to the wort. The length of the hop addition and the timing will determine how hoppy the beer is. You can browse our website to find some very hoppy beers.
The Results
After the wheat beer is done brewing, it will likely be aged for a few weeks. That will result in the mellowing of flavors and more complex flavors. Beer made with high proportions of wheat is typically lighter in color and flavor than pure barley beers. Wheat also lends some fruity notes to different types of beer. Some are even described as vanilla in taste. Many people prefer a high amount of wheat in their beer; try several different beers to determine your favorite.
