All-Grain - McMenamin's Ruby - Page 3

Berlbrew · 05-22-2009, 03:35 PM

So can anyone provide some tasting notes on an un-infected batch?!??

**Picobrew** · 05-22-2009, 06:13 PM

I'm kegging this today. I will take a photo and let you know how it is warm and flat.

**Picobrew** · 05-24-2009, 12:15 AM

Hydro sample was very tasty. Crisp and dry despite being fruity. Nice raspberry flavor from the puree, and had the cloudiness of the McMenamin's version. Sorry but no photo. It is in the keg now but there are 3 kegs ahead of this one in the rotation. Guess we better get to drinking over here.

Here is the recipe I used:

7.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 100.00 %
0.75 oz Willamette [7.60 %] (90 min) (First Wort Hop) Hops 27.3 IBU
3lbs Oregon Puree Raspberry
1 Pkgs SafAle English Ale (DCL Yeast #S-04) Yeast-Ale

**Picobrew** · 05-30-2009, 05:34 AM

Just put this in the fridge on gas. I leapfrogged a couple other beers in the keg rotation since it is so hot here and this sounds refreshing. I'm going to try to carb this quickly at 30psi so I should have some tasting notes in the next couple days.

I happened to be at McMenamin's roadhouse the other day and tried a "Purple People Eater" which was basically a ruby with boysenberries instead of raspberries. It was extremely bland and I wouldn't have it again. My hydro sample tasted much better! I have a couple bombers of Ruby to compare to it when it is cold and carbed, so I'll report back.

**Picobrew** · 05-31-2009, 03:06 AM

Ok so this crappy cell phone pic doesn't really do it justice, but you can see the pinkish haze! It tastes pretty good. Not fully carbed yet but definite raspberry fruitiness and nice crisp finish. Later tonight I'll have a few people compare it to the McMenamin's bombers and see what they like about each.

EvilTOJ · 05-31-2009, 04:21 AM

Now that's what I'm talkin about! Mmmmmm that pic is making me thirsty.

**Picobrew** · 05-31-2009, 08:14 PM

So I compared this to the 22oz of Ruby I bought a couple weeks ago. Totally different beers.

The Ruby was barely pink, just a very very light tinge. This was accompanied by not much raspberry flavor, very light, and a bit of sweetness.

My beer on the other hand was much darker, more pink. Much hazier. Also, it was very tart and there was a lot more raspberry flavor. It was a bit puckering but it was refreshing. People liked it, but one guy wanted it to be sweeter.

From my experiences of dozens of pitchers of ruby, I remember it being cloudier than this bottled version. I will have to go refresh my memory.

if I was trying to get closer to the flavor of ruby and the color of the bottled one, id reduce the puree further from 3lbs and probably boil it for less time or add it at cooling.

I need to let this sit around a bit before I decide where to go with it, but I am enjoying it so far.

**mysteryberto** · 05-31-2009, 10:53 PM

Looks nice. Have you considered adding lactose to sweeten it up. Why put berries in the boil instead of secondary?

**Picobrew** · 05-31-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysteryberto

Looks nice. Have you considered adding lactose to sweeten it up. Why put berries in the boil instead of secondary?

I haven't really thought about tweaking this batch yet as we've only had a pitcher and a bit so far. If I make adjustments, it will probably be to the next batch. Also, I enjoy the tartness. It was one of my friends who wanted it more sweet. With it being so hot out, that tart flavor is quite refreshing.

I put the berry puree in the boil to induce the haze (yes I know it's weird) but the original (at least on draft) is pretty hazy.

kennymae · 06-11-2009, 08:20 PM

I love this beer and appreciate all the info. I'm a Portland ex-pat stuck in Wichita and hope to brew this beer often during the summers.

Do you think there would be any advantage or disadvantage to adding the puree to secondary?

How much raspberry puree do you intend to use next time? If I recall the Ruby has a subtle fruitiness, was 3 pounds too much?

I was planning on cutting the amount of puree down to 1.5 pounds unless somebody has a better idea.

Thanks in advance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Picobrew

I haven't really thought about tweaking this batch yet as we've only had a pitcher and a bit so far. If I make adjustments, it will probably be to the next batch. Also, I enjoy the tartness. It was one of my friends who wanted it more sweet. With it being so hot out, that tart flavor is quite refreshing.

I put the berry puree in the boil to induce the haze (yes I know it's weird) but the original (at least on draft) is pretty hazy.