Fruit flavored extract beer

xpoc454 · 10-18-2005, 04:33 PM

I am thinking about experimenting with making an extract fruit flavored beer and have a c few questions.

Anyone make a fruit flavored beer from extract?

Is it true, you dont have to add raw fruit, you can buy the fruit extract at HBs now?

Is there certain fruit which lends to better tastes compared to others?

Does anyone have any suggestions for a fruit ale? Im looking for something not to strong tasting to start with, just something simple.

Is there a specific name for beer with a fruit twist to it?
thanks

**Walker** · 10-18-2005, 04:41 PM

my first ever brew was a brewer's best Pale Ale kit, and I added a (4 oz?) packet of raspberry extract to it at bottling time. You can buy many different flavors of fruit extract at a homebrew shop. That beer was very good and kicked off a homebrew craze with me and my two roommates. We all still brew today (and that first batch was 8 years ago.)

I've never used real fruit, but I intend to with my upcoming blueberry wheat.

You have to decide which fruits you like for your brews. This is a matter of taste. I personally like berries (black, rasp, straw, blue) and cherries.

-walker

**david_42** · 10-18-2005, 04:52 PM

You can buy both flavorings and purees. I've used both. The purees have given me the best results in porters and stouts. About the only one I really like is blackberry and I have so many of them on my property that I don't need to buy any.

I've tried using birch and rootbeer flavorings in lightly hopped pales, but they just don't come through.

I've had good success with fresh ginger root in pales though.

Truble · 10-18-2005, 04:54 PM

There is a local brewery that makes an incredible Blueberry Ale. Once I become proficient in brewing, I am going to mess around with it.

Reapers revenge · 10-18-2005, 05:07 PM

My next brew was going to be peach beer, I was going to make up an IPA kit then add peach extract when it had fermented out.

regards Paul

xpoc454 · 10-18-2005, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walker

my first ever brew was a brewer's best Pale Ale kit, and I added a (4 oz?) packet of raspberry extract to it at bottling time. You can buy many different flavors of fruit extract at a homebrew shop. That beer was very good and kicked off a homebrew craze with me and my two roommates. We all still brew today (and that first batch was 8 years ago.)

I've never used real fruit, but I intend to with my upcoming blueberry wheat.

You have to decide which fruits you like for your brews. This is a matter of taste. I personally like berries (black, rasp, straw, blue) and cherries.

-walker

Ive done that pale ale kit myself. Do you just add the extract first in the bottling bucket than pour in your beer from the 2ndary fermenter and that will mix it?

Is it a general idea you want a light tasting beer so that you dont overbear the fruit flavor taste?
What are some lighter tasting beers you guys all suggest?
thanks

**Walker** · 10-18-2005, 05:16 PM

I added the fruit flavor and priming sugar to the bottling bucket, then siphoned the beer in and stirred it a bit to mix evenly.

(You should NEVER pour your beer during the fermentation process. That will oxidize it and it will go stale pretty damn fast in the bottles.)

I don't think there are any guidelines about light vs heavy flavored beers and the use of fruit. I've had fruity pale ales, fruity wheat beers, fruity stouts.... all of them were tastey.

-walker

xpoc454 · 10-18-2005, 07:18 PM

Heh i didnt mean pour, I siphon

homebrewer_99 · 10-30-2005, 02:49 PM

My experience with fruit extracts have all been bad.

They've all come out tasting soapy, especially the apricot and peach.

I have a peach mead in a secondary right now. I used 5 lbs of peaches my wife put up in the freezer from last summer. It tasted pretty good when I racked last month.

God Emporer BillyBrew · 10-30-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xpoc454

Is it a general idea you want a light tasting beer so that you dont overbear the fruit flavor taste?
What are some lighter tasting beers you guys all suggest?
thanks

Desert Brew was telling me about doing an apricot wheat along the lines of the one from Pyramid. I've had the pyramid one and the wheat beer is a good complement for the apricot flavor. Haven't tried the home brew yet. But anyway, yeah, wheat should be good.