Pros Cons, Like Dislikes, When to use, juices/fruits

Do you like using fruits or juices? does it add a lot? What are the pros and cons? When do you use them, what step? I really like wheat beers, thus the reason for asking. Thanks a lot, appreciate it.

If I'm going to use fruit...it's fresh. I usually add to the secondary. Just don't use those fruit extracts or flavorings that you can get at the grocery store or sometimes your LHBS. 90% of the time, they'll either taste like, or smell like the fruit you want. It won't do both.

If you haven't already heard it, you might listen to the "Jamil Show" podcast on Fruit Beers:

http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/The-Jamil-Show/Fruit-Beers-The-Jamil-Show-04-24-06

He covers many of the questions you ask and other information about making good fruit beers.

One thing I didn't prepare myself for when making fruit beers is how weird fruit tastes without concomitant sweetness. I made a peach wheat with 5# of fresh peaches added to the secondary. Once the yeast consumed the sugars, the beer was left with this awesome peachy aroma, but each sip had this insanely gaggy, melon-like, roundness that would have been great had there been more sugars in there. Also, the peaches added SOOOOOO much acidity - I was not expecting all that tartness.

Still, good learning experience - I'll just know to use some serious crystal and carapils next time.

P.S. Cherry extract sucks.