nutty_gnome
Well-Known Member
To justify my homebrew purchases, I had to make a beer pleasing to SWMBO. She likes Leinenkugel's berry weiss so I thought I'd try something similar. I got the Brewer's Best Weizenbier kit and 4 ounces of LD Carlson's blackberrry extract. This extract isn't fruit-based; it is a clear, sugarless, aromatic liquid.
Using the search function on this site I found a a fair bit of information on using these types of extracts. I saw that most people put it in prior to bottling but also that people found the taste too harsh and 'chemically.'
On the advice of the LHBS I added the clear extract to the primary fermentation bucket with the cooled wort and yeast. Fermentation progressed wonderfully. After two weeks in primary the still beer had a wonderful blackberry aroma and a light blackberry flavor. The aroma was more intense than the flavor which to me is a good thing, it lets the beer come through. It does not taste like a chemical was added.
My wife has been enjoying the still samples and this weekend when we crack open a carbonated one I'm sure she will be tickled pink. I didn't add lactose so the Leinenkugel's is much sweeter than my brew, but mine has its own charms. So, if you are hesitant to use the extracts because you have heard they have too much of a chemical flavor, try adding it during primary so it has a week or two to mellow out. I'll be doing this again to keep SWMBO happy.
Her quote about the still samples: "Its kinda like blackberry iced tea and I like it!"
N_G
Using the search function on this site I found a a fair bit of information on using these types of extracts. I saw that most people put it in prior to bottling but also that people found the taste too harsh and 'chemically.'
On the advice of the LHBS I added the clear extract to the primary fermentation bucket with the cooled wort and yeast. Fermentation progressed wonderfully. After two weeks in primary the still beer had a wonderful blackberry aroma and a light blackberry flavor. The aroma was more intense than the flavor which to me is a good thing, it lets the beer come through. It does not taste like a chemical was added.
My wife has been enjoying the still samples and this weekend when we crack open a carbonated one I'm sure she will be tickled pink. I didn't add lactose so the Leinenkugel's is much sweeter than my brew, but mine has its own charms. So, if you are hesitant to use the extracts because you have heard they have too much of a chemical flavor, try adding it during primary so it has a week or two to mellow out. I'll be doing this again to keep SWMBO happy.
Her quote about the still samples: "Its kinda like blackberry iced tea and I like it!"
N_G
