Expert: Dave Nyce - 12/16/2006

Question
Thanks for your time, I just started home brewing a few months ago. I started with a honey wheat kit that I got from the brew store, but the finished product tasted nothing like I thought it would, had a real strong hop taste to it, nothing like a wheat beer.  Do you have any idea what I might be doing wrong? The only strange thing that happened was that I had to add more yeast because the fermentation didn't start after 3 days.  

Thanks again.  

Answer
Well, I don't care for wheat beers myself, but here's what to do about the hops:  most home brew recipes seem to go heavy on the hops flavor because that's the tendency of good German beers.  I like a strong hops flavor, but if you don't, it can be adjusted.  Go to your local brewing supply store and explain what you have in mind.  They can recommend a good pelletized hops without an overpowering flavor.  Then, when brewing, only put in about 1/3 the amount of hops called for in the recipe.  Try adding hops only in brewing, and then don't add any extra during fermentation.  That should get you close to where you want to be.  Then, on the following batch, you can make any fine adjustments as needed.

Hope this helps!

Dave