A Desert Dazzler: Brewing the Borderlands Prickly Pear Wheat
Just as desert flowers bloom with vibrant colors in stunning contrast to their arid surroundings, so does the Borderlands Prickly Pear Wheat stand out amidst the contemporary beer landscape. This craft beer, marked by its offbeat ingredient set, brings a unique and refreshing addition to the craft brewing scene. Let’s dive into the journey of brewing this horticultural wonder.
Gathering Your Ingredients
Before getting started, gather all your ingredients. For the uninitiated, the ingredient list might appear slightly overwhelming, but don’t worry – every item plays its part in contributing to the brilliant and distinctive taste of the Borderlands Prickly Pear Wheat.
Malt
Start off with 8 pounds of 2-row pale malt – a classic base malt that provides a solid spine to this beer. Alongside this, get 2 pounds of wheat malt to add a refreshing lightness to the overall body. Finally, half a pound of Munich malt is a great addition to instill some color and some light caramel notes.
Hops
Unlike high octane IPAs, this brew’s hop profile is moderate, meaning you won’t need a huge amount. An ounce of Columbus hops will provide just the right amount of bitter balance to the beer’s sweet notes.
Prickly Pear
Now, let’s talk about the star of the show – the prickly pear. Extract from this unique cactus fruit will give your brew that radiant pink color, as well as a sweet and tangy flavor profile. You’re looking for enough extract to make one quart.
Yeast
Use a standard ale yeast like the American Ale II. It should nicely complement the brew without making its own flavors too noticeable.
Let’s Start Brewing!
With all the raw materials in place, let’s start brewing our Borderlands Prickly Pear Wheat!
The Mash
First off, you’ll want to conduct a single infusion mash. Heat the grains with about 12.5 quarts of water at around 152°F for about an hour. This temp and time will extract the sugars from the malt, creating the “wort.” Then, after an hour, remove the grain and heat the wort to a boil.
The Boil
As the wort reaches boiling point add your Columbus hops. Boil for another 60 minutes, remembering to keep stirring. Once the hour is up, chill the wort as quickly as possible.
Adding The Prickly Pear
With the wort cooled, transfer it to your fermentation keg or carboy and then comes the thrilling part – add the prickly pear extract. The fruit’s bright pink hues will blend with the wort, turning it a beautiful, exotic shade.
The Fermentation
Add the yeast into the spread and seal the keg. This princely concoction now needs time to ferment. Store it in a cool, dark place for about two weeks. You’ll notice changes in color, aroma, and bubble patterns –all signs of a successful fermentation process.
Bottling
After the fermentation is complete, it’s time for bottling. Be sure to add a little priming sugar to incite carbonation. Once bottled, store your brew away for another week or two to allow for carbonation.
Voila! Your Prickly Pear Wheat is Ready!
After a patient wait, your Borderlands Prickly Pear Wheat is ready. Pop open a bottle and take in the aroma. The first sip should reveal a wonderfully crisp beer with a sweet-citrus punch from the prickly pear. This is a brew that promises a vibrant treat, a sharp shock of the desert enlivening your senses. Enjoy!
