Beer color issue

General Homebrew Discussion
1

I brewed a Belgian Wit (albeit hoppier) and while I’m satisfied with the taste, the color is unappealing. My grain bill was:
4.5 lb. pale 2-row
4.5 lb. American wheat
0.5 lb. flaked wheat
0.5 lb. flaked oat
While I wanted a hazy finished product, the beer is tan and doesn’t fit anywhere on a beer color chart. It is missing a straw color (yellow hue) I was hoping for.
Yeast is WLP 410

I am hoping for some help understanding how I might have messed up the color and ideas on how I might correct without impacting flavor. Here are my current thoughts:

  • it looks a bit like water when making oatmeal. Could the oats be the source?
  • I’m relatively new to dryhopping which I did in this beer. Any potential issues?

This is my first time posting so I apologize if I messed up in some way. I sure appreciate your feedback. I’m trying to add a photo but not successful on my iPad. I will try to get one up from another device.

wrong orientation, but you get the idea

2

Elevated mashing pH will increase wort color and boiling for extended time adds color too.

3

Photos have to be less than 1MB to upload, try lower resolution

4

Oxidation can lead to darkening too

5

I’m not sure how you get <1 SRM from that grainbill. The grains in my Wit are similar to what you mention, but uses Pils malt instead of 2-Row. I use more Oats than you indicated, so I don’t think that is an issue.
BeerSmith predicts 4 SRM using that grain bill with my water, which is low in minerals, and alkalinity.

I don’t dry hop a lot, so can’t advise on what that might do, but shouldn’t affect the color.

Will be interested in your picture.

6

Thanks Roger. You are right, I went back and calculated again.  I get 3.4 SRM.  I don’t have my water stats handy but will look for them later to check on mineral and PH per Mabrungard’s post

7

Thanks Martin, I am just starting to assess water content but have spent a bit of time on your site.  I have lots to look at and learn.

8

IMO, Looks like a milky protein haze caused by the addition of flaked wheat and oats.
A pilsner base will give a diffrent color or maybe adding some Munich 10 will give a nice golden hue.
Here is my grain bill for a belgian style beer. Just increase the wheat to whatever the guidelines are.

2dae1ca92d01140dff573659f9e4e276.jpg
2dae1ca92d01140dff573659f9e4e276.jpg540×960 49 KB

9

Thanks to everyone for the comments. I think I’ll try again with some focus on the water and an adjusted grain bill.

10

Now that I can see a picture, the primary problem is the amount of yeast still in suspension. Let it chill for a couple more weeks.

11

+1.  When some more yeast drops out, you will get a nice light golden color.