Question from a noob

I'm brewing from Munton's hopped Pilsner LME and planning on using blueberries for a secondary fermentation.

The primary fermentation is almost done. Maybe 1 or 2 days left.

I plan to rack the beer over the blueberries on Monday. My question is, should I discard the sludge at the bottom of the primary? Or include it with the blueberries??


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

The sludge is yeast part of the point of racking is to leave the yeast and trub behind. I strongly recommend sanitizing the blueberries to avoid infection.

Yes, what One said. Leave the trub, sanitize the berries.

I've heard of people freezing fruit before adding it but I don't have any direct experience with adding fruit.

Rhumbline said:

Yes, what One said. Leave the trub, sanitize the berries.

I've heard of people freezing fruit before adding it but I don't have any direct experience with adding fruit.

Click to expand...

My understanding was that freezing the fruit + the alcohol already present in the beer would kill any bugs left after freezing... Is this right?


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

I've never sanitized fruit, but I do freeze it. It helps break down the fruit's cell walls for better/faster extraction of flavors.

blizzard said:

I've never sanitized fruit, but I do freeze it. It helps break down the fruit's cell walls for better/faster extraction of flavors.

Click to expand...

So that's all you personally do? Just freeze it and it's good to go?


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

Theonlychrisj said:

So that's all you personally do? Just freeze it and it's good to go?


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

Click to expand...

Yeah. It hasn't been any issue the few times I've used fruit. I suppose if you're concerned you could dip it in some star san.