Launch Pad Brewery revamps Hefeweizen with Crystal Wheat 3L
October 7, 2021
Launch Pad Brewery revamps Hefeweizen with Crystal Wheat 3L
You probably heard that MMC (Malteurop Malting Company) launched its new Crystal Wheat 3L malt earlier this year. As expected, it made an immediate impact on Hazy IPAs at breweries across the country. Numerous brewers were quick to see the effects of a light-colored, lightly flavored crystal wheat that put hops on full display in a glowing haze.
Not surprisingly, crafty brewers were quick to jump outside the box to see what else they could do with this revolutionary new malt.
Paul Mahoney, head brewer and co-owner at Launch Pad Brewery in Aurora, Colorado, decided to use Crystal Wheat 3L in a complete overhaul of their popular Hefeweizen.
Crystal Wheat 3L was designed with hazy beers in mind, so it’s not an incredible stretch to use it in a Hefeweizen. But when Paul and Launch Pad decided to rework their Hefeweizen to turn it into a year-round beer not only in the taproom, but also targeting it for packaging, they didn’t just dip their toes in the water, they dove headfirst.
“Our Hefeweizen is one of our biggest sellers. We decided to completely change up the recipe,” Paul said. “We were shooting for a Hefe that was going to be a little more bold than some of the classic Hefes that were out on the market.”
Launch Pad achieved their goal with a Hefe that was made entirely from MMC malts. They combined the new Crystal Wheat 3L (40-percent of grist) with Malteurop’s Bavarian Pilsen (60-percent of grist), a select 2-row spring barley grown in Bavaria, Germany.
The Bavarian Pilsen provided the tradition expected of a Hefeweizen. The Crystal Wheat 3L, though light, provided a bit more color than the white wheat they had been using, which is exactly what Paul wanted. It also added more to the overall complexity.
“There was a huge change in the mouthfeel. The Crystal Wheat has a little bit more body to it,” Paul said. “We also noticed there was a pretty large change in the flavor profile. We got a lot more honey notes out of it. The fruity esters play off of that honey sweetness really, really well. It really kind of popped on the flavor profile; a lot better than what we normally see with white wheat.”
A significant sensory factor of most beers is also the appearance. And a Hefeweizen is supposed to have that wheat haze with a good bit of head on top. Paul was extremely pleased with how Crystal Wheat 3L, used at about 40 percent of the grist, took both of those elements to the next level.
“With the Crystal Wheat 3L, it pops and resonates color throughout the beer. It’s an absolutely stunning beer when we pour it. With that much Crystal Wheat 3L, plus the Bavarian Pilsen, it has that nice big frothy head on top that holds.”
Launch Pad Brewery Hefeweizen
Grist
~60% MMC Bavarian Pilsen
~40% MMC Crystal Wheat 3L
Hops
~10-12 IBU
60 minute addition of classic noble hops
(or modern versions like Mandarina Bavaria or Hallertauer Blanc are great choices)
Yeast
Brewer’s preferred hefeweizen or wheat beer yeast
For Paul, this new recipe took Launch Pad’s Hefeweizen to where they have always wanted it to be. As he said, it was always pretty good, but now the Launch Pad crew is so excited about the beer, it could become the brewery’s next year-round packaged beer as they embark upon expansion.
Launch Pad Brewery expands brewhouse, along with its line-up
Launch Pad Brewery operates on a 5-barrel brewhouse, most times double or triple batching beers to try and keep up with the demand from their 32 taps and limited distribution, which includes the Denver Zoo. Though the pandemic was difficult for most breweries, Launch Pad was one of the lucky ones that actually grew during that tumultuous time, producing 880 barrels in 2020.
They will undertake an expansion in 2021 with plans to begin production on a new 20-barrel brewhouse with 20- and 40-barrel fermenters in early 2022.
Launch Pad is known for its hands-on approach and consistently rotating taps. Paul is one of three owners, who are constants in the taproom. On any given day, you’ll often find two, if not all three of them behind the bar. With 32 beers on tap and having produced about 120 different beers in 2020, they have no shortage of things to talk about.
They also have quite the variety of brews to which they can apply Crystal Wheat 3L. Launch Pad has already used the revolutionary new malt in other beers besides their revamped Hefeweizen.
“We put it in our house IPA, our West Coast IPA, just mainly for head retention, and that beer is absolutely stunning. We tried the Crystal Wheat 3L to lighten up the color and still get that honey flavor. It totally changed the way that beer comes out. But it’s such a nice nuance that it’s not overpowering,” said Paul.
They also used Crystal Wheat 3L in conjunction with MMC’s Colorado Select malt for a collaboration brew with their friends at Six Capital Brewing and BBQ. The Colorado Select was smoked over cherry wood in Six Capital’s smoker for the partnership’s Smoked Peach Blonde, which goes to show the diversity of the brewers and the malt.
Like many other brewers, Paul sees Crystal Wheat 3L as a malt with a light sweetness that doesn’t overtake the other ingredients. It also gives the beer somewhat of a glowing characteristic, improves body, and helps bolster head retention, proving itself useful in any number of beer styles.
It’s certainly a malt that Paul will continue using as he tries to keep up with Launch Pad’s amazing array of offerings and a bold expansion.