I’m a newbie and want to make a hefeweizen. Is there any difference in technique when transferring from the primary to secondary fermenter as far as stirring-up the yeast sediment? How about from the secondary to bottling? I know the suspended yeast is part of this style of beer, but don’t know if you have to stir it up to keep it in suspension or just let it settle and avoid transferring it like a typical beer. Would this style benefit from a single-stage fermentationto keep it in contact with the trub longer? Thanks for your help!
Ferment low to mid 60’s
No secondary
Some brewers ( me at least ) underpitch a little on this style too
I appreciate the response. I also have a question about carbonation. I prefer this to be highly carbonated and it seems that most of what I read on hefeweizen suggests it should be as well. The standard priming of corn sugar is 3/4 cup for 5 gallons. Should I consider slightly more to ensure high carbonation? I sure don’t want exploding bottles. My very first batch of homebrew was a Mr. Beer kit and I decided to use Coopers Carbonation Drops instead of the table sugar they recommended because I have read that table sugar can cause off-tastes to develop - well after almost 2 weeks@72F, it’s still flat. I fermented 10 days @ 72F and then bottled and have kept it at 72 the entire time and it’s not carbonating. The very last bottle got some trub in it and it is the only bottle that had a reasonable amount of carbonation. I bought the “Complete Joy of Homebrewing” and I’m ready to give it another shot - this time with better equipment and knowledge.
I use only table sugar any more. No one could tell the difference.
You really need to use a calculator like this one and measure by weight. I like 3.5-4 volumes for hefeweizens. 4 might be pushing it for regular bottles. With PET bottles you could go higher.
I’ve used up to a 1/2 lb. of cane sugar in hefeweizens without off flavors or broken bottles.
Complete Joy of Homebrewing will NOT increase your knowledge azltho’ “back in the day” is was the only thing we had…it’s easier to learn correctly rather than have to UNLEARN…try How to brew by Palmer -free on the net or just read advice for newbies on this forum or at Brew Your Own magazine’s site
Thank you both - great resources. I hope I don’t get something started here, but what’s wrong with the Complete Joy of Homebrewing?
Basically it’s very outdated and a lot of the info in there has since been disproven. It was a great book “in its day” and Charlie’s RDWHAHB attitude gave a lot of us our start on homebrewing, but in the years since it was written a lot has changed in terms of ingredients, equipment, techniques, and knowledge.
How much do you underpitch and what does it do for the brew? I am about to embark on a Hefeweizen adventure as well.
[quote]How much do you underpitch and what does it do for the brew? I am about to embark on a Hefeweizen adventure as well.
[/quote]
Not by much, 2/3rds or so
I get more balance , at least for my tastes
I may give that a shot, just don’t tell Keith 
You’re lucky he hasn’t posted on this thread…yet. ;D
Actually, I pitch a 1L unstirred active starter of WLP380 HefeIV for mine - “technically” underpitching. ;)
As far as “The Complete Joy of Homebrewing” goes, it’s a great book, and is still well worth the read IMO. however, it is a bit outdated and you will have to “unlearn” some things - but his techniques and recipes do make very good beer - they worked for me when I first started. And I’ve unlearned quite well.
After you finish Charlie’s book pick up a copy of Palmer’s “How to Brew”.
0.3 - 0.4 mil cells / Plato
This would translate to about 1000 ml starter per 5 gal of 1048 beer.
or this is what I have found in my notes:
“Wheat beers are pitched at about 0.5 rate of ale beers to produce more esters and aromatic compounds.”
I guess Keith’s ears were burning. 
According to Mr. Malty one would need 185 billion cells for a 12.3°Plato (1.048) beer under normal conditions which equates to about a 1L starter using intermittent shaking and/or stir plate.
So the consensus is to pitch anywhere between .5 - .66 of the prescribed rate. Which would equate to a .5 - .66 Liter starter
Does this seem about right?
[quote]pitch anywhere between .5 - .66 of the prescribed rate
[/quote]
No, I pitch about 2/3 ;D
Great information - thank you all!
Since it was only lightly brushed over I will emphasize fermentation temp. Keep it low. I like to start mine out around 58-60 degrees and keep it round 62 for a few days then slowly ramp it up to around 64-66 to finish. A lot of misconception is out there that these things are best when fermented warm - even though there are a few breweries in Germany who do ferment in the low 70s I have never had one that turned out with the proper balance brewed at home (maybe we don’t have the proper strain - I dunno.)
Mash fairly low, 150-152 and keep the hops low and with a bittering addition only if you want to keep it traditional. Drink it young, no secondary, no aging. Just carb up and drink ASAP.
I’ll second (or third) the low fermentation temps. I tried this last month for my first true Hefeweizen and fermented at 62. This beer turned out most excellent, very drinkable and a subtle hint of spice from the yeast. When I was still a n00b I tried fermenting a dunkelweizen in the upper 70’s. Yeah, guess how that turned out.
Fermenting low especially because of the decreased amount of yeast. You don’t want to burn those yeaties out. You want them to work hard without getting overheated and producing excessive off-flavors.
About priming… I read the online vesion of How to Brew by John Palmer last night and he mentions the need to occasionally add more yeast at priming - typically for lagers that have been fermentng for months at low temps. If I ferment my hefeweizen at low to mid 60’s with reduced yeast (Wyeast 3068, btw), does anyone see the need for additional yeast at bottling? I just want to ensure adequate and substantial carbonation. I am reading that 3.3-4.5 units of CO2 is typical for hefeweizen. Doe anyone know the safe limit of carbonation for 12oz glass bottles? ???