Watermelon Ale
 

Add 6# of Light LME to 3 gallons of boiled water and bring back to a boil

1oz Amarillo hops at boil

after 45 minute boil...

12 oz Honey (find a local beekeeper for the best natural honey, and the best prices)

1oz Amarillo hops and steep for 5 minutes

Add remaining water to fill to 5 gallons, and finish cooling to 70 F add one dram of watermelon flavor (available here - https://www.lorannoils.com/p-8695-watermelon-flavor.aspx )

pitch yeast, aerate, and watch it work.

While I have never taken gravity readings on this particular beer (I have on the base ale recipe though, and they typically are around 1.050 OG and 1.008 FG or there about if I recall correctly). I will update the gravity readings when I brew this again in late April/early May. This is a fantastic summer brew, that is not only simple to make, but easy to drink too.

*edit*
After finding the Brew Target software, I recalled correctly. It came up with an OG of 1.048 and a FG of 1.013 with and IBU of 24.8 and color of 7.6. Sounds about right to me. :)

Have you tried other flavors of this syrup? This seems like a much easier way to impart fruit flavors than trying to add fruit to secondary and hope the yeast don't steal too much of the fruit essence.

Yes, I have used several of their flavorings in different brews. Specifically their pumpkin extract (as it is waaaaaay easier than trying to clean a 3" slug of pumpkin gunk from your carboys), and their lemonade flavoring (in a Summer Shandy knockoff). I tried one of their cherry flavorings, but it was too "candy like" for my taste, so it's back to fruit juices for that beer.

It is more of an ultra-concentrated liquid than a syrup though. A little goes a long way, and I always start on the conservative side, as I know the beer will be good - it's just a matter of how much flavoring you like. You can always make it again and add more, but killing a beer with overpowering flavors can be heartbreaking.

I have also used Liquor Quick ( http://www.winemakeri.com/LIQUOR_QUIK_Essences_s/117.htm ) in a beer or two, for their hazelnut extract. I goes magically well in a Nut Brown Ale.

Have you used their strawberry or apricot flavoring? I'm thinking about making a strawberry or apricot cream ale. A little will go a long way in a subtle beer like that.

That seems a lot simpler than squeezing a watermelon as I did last summer. Thanks for the link to the flavoring. I saw that they have a handy 6 pack of fruit flavors including watemelon. I think I"ll have to pursue that this Spring.

Any reason why you put the flavoring in during fermentation instead of at bottling like when using conventional flavorings?

Trial and error. It gives just the right amount of flavor I was looking for by adding it at that time. If I add that type of flavoring at bottling (or kegging) it seems to always overpower the taste of the beer. With this particular brew, you get a nice watermelon nose, and a modest taste of it, before it fades and the Amarillo hops gently take you to the finish, leaving you wanting another sip.

Sounds good I'll have to try it. Definitely cheaper then buying the conventional extracts too. Also cheaper then 5# of fruit and a bottle of oxyclean for cleanup when the secondary blows over. Thanks for this.

My pleasure.

Three things I am always looking for when brewing...

A way to save $$ without sacrificing quality
A way to cut down on my work (cleaning and prepping for fresh fruit can me a chore)
Someone to share a successful story of the first two with (preferably over a pint):mug:

So I'm brewing this version with the candy extract next week. Grain bill is:

Wheat malt - 4 lb
2-row malt - 3 lb
cara hell - 8 oz
rice hulls - 8 oz
honey 1 lb at 10 mins
Hersbrucker for bittering (1 oz) and flavor (0.5 oz)
WY 1010 - American Wheat yeast


I bought the watermelon flavor off e-bay and am going to add it one week into a planned 2-week fermentation.

I'll let you know how it all works out. - N_G