FUMIGATOR (Citrus Pale Wheat Ale)

Lame Beer Naming Thought Process: Zest >> Pest >> Fumigator

STORY
Fumigator is my take on one of Michigan's most beloved seasonal beers, Bell's Oberon. It is loaded with citrus, a heavy wheat bill, and aggressive hopping (considering it is a wheat beer). I had kitchen-sink syndrome during my first attempt, but it still turned out pretty good. However, after tuning the recipe a little bit, I was able to make this a crowd favorite. Not only is this my favorite homebrew, but is one of my favorite beers in general.

This has become a integral part of my family's 4th of July festivities. We drive over to northern Indiana and enjoy our long weekend on the sandy southern beaches of Lake Michigan, and this beer makes the perfect beach companion. Be careful though, you don't want to get caught with glass bottles on the beach, so make sure to pack some plastic cups in the cooler.

If you are going to take anything from this blog, it should be this recipe.

RECIPE (PRINTABLE VERSION)

Zest + Hop Additions

Grains (12.7lbs)
     7.0 lbs 2-Row Barley
     4.0 lbs Wheat Malt
     1.0 lbs Vienna Malt
     0.2 lbs Acid Malt
     0.5 lbs Flaked Barley
Hops (59 AAUs)
     14 AAUs Cascade (2oz | 7.0%)
     18 AAUs Centennial (2oz | 9.0%)
     27 AAUs Citra (2oz | 13.5%)
Yeast (1 Packet)
American Ale 1056 (Wyeast)

(Medium-Low | 73-77% | 60-72°F)

Misc

2 Grapefruit (1 Zest | 1 Peel)

3 Navel Oranges (1 Zest | 2 Peel)
*Note: when peeling, be sure to remove pith

1 Lime (1 Zest)

1 Lemon (1 Zest)
3 Muslin Hop Bags

Pectinase

STATS

OG: 1.060

FG: 1.015
ABV: 5.8%

SRM: 5

IBU: 60

MASH SCHEDULE

Strike
18.0 qts water @ 130°F
Should settle to 122°F

Infusion
10.5 qts water @ 210°F
Should settle to 152°F
Sparge
Prep water @ 175°F
Continue until 6.5 gallons gathered
*BG should be 1.046

BREW SCHEDULE
*Mix Hops and separate into three equal groups and place into muslin bags

2 oz Hops Mix @ :60
2 oz Hops Mix @ :00

Zest @ :00
Cool in Ice Bath to 68°F
Pitch Yeast
*Store last hop bag and fruit peels

FERMENTATION SCHEDULE

     Transfer to secondary after 1-2wks
     Add final hop bag and fruit peels into secondary prior to beer transfer
     Bottle after another 2wks
     Prime to 2.6 vol CO2 (~.85oz/gal)
     Condition at room temp for 1wk
     Cold condition for 1wk
     DRINK!
     

SESSIONS

     May, 2014
     May, 2015
     May, 2016 
      May, 2018