Blackberry White IPA???

[BuffaloBeer1]

I have plenty of fresh blackberries waiting to ripen in my backyard. My daughters won't be able to keep up with them, so I was inspired to brew something other than a traditional wheat beer with them. I would love some feedback on my recipe below. It's for a White IPA (cross between Belgian Wit & IPA) These are the ingredients I plan on going with, but am willing to tweak amounts and time.
1) I'm curious about mash temps with a fruit beer. I was thinking 152-153.
2) Also thoughts about if this might be too hops for dry hopping.
3) Anyone have experience using Sodium Metabisulfite to sterilize fruit? It was recommended by LBHS who said he has had better experience with that instead of cooking them to maintain a fresh fruit flavor.

Thanks.

Title: Blackberry WIPA

Brew Method: All Grain
Style Name: Fruit Beer
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 5.5 gallons
Boil Size: 7 gallons
Efficiency: 70%

STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.066
Final Gravity: 1.016
ABV (standard): 6.56%
IBU (tinseth): 55.45
SRM (morey): 4.68

FERMENTABLES:
9 lb - Pale 2-Row (62.1%)
4 lb - White Wheat (27.6%)
1 lb - Flaked Oats (6.9%)
0.5 lb - Rice Hulls (3.4%)

HOPS:
0.5 oz - Centennial (AA 9.7) for 60 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.3 oz - Centennial (AA 9.7) for 20 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.3 oz - Citra (AA 13.9) for 20 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.3 oz - Motueka (AA 7.4) for 20 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.3 oz - Centennial (AA 9.7) for 10 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.3 oz - Citra (AA 13.9) for 10 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.3 oz - Motueka (AA 7.4) for 10 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.4 oz - Centennial (AA 9.7) for 5 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.4 oz - Citra (AA 13.9) for 5 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
0.4 oz - Motueka (AA 7) for 5 min, Type: Pellet, Use: Boil
1 oz - Citra (AA 15.6) for 7 days, Type: Leaf/Whole, Use: Dry Hop
1 oz - Sorachi Ace (AA 15.1) for 7 days, Type: Leaf/Whole, Use: Dry Hop

OTHER INGREDIENTS:
2 lb - Blackberries, Time: 7 Days, Type: Flavor, Use: Secondary
1 each - Whirlfloc, Time: 15 min, Type: Fining, Use: Boil
1 oz - Sweet Orange Peel, Time: 15 min, Type: Flavor, Use: Boil
1 oz - Coriander, Time: 10 min, Type: Flavor, Use: Boil

YEAST:
Wyeast - Belgian Strong Ale 1388
Starter: Yes
Form: Liquid
Attenuation (avg): 76%
Flocculation: Low
Optimum Temperature: 64 F - 80 F

 

[gwdraper4]

I did something very similar recently...I made an Orange Honey Wheat IPA. I found that a hoppy wheat beer with the added fruit really went well together. I love the ideas of blackberries, but have never used that chemical to help sterilize. Have you considered giving them a quick steam bath or adding them at the end of the boil and transfering them into the fermentor? You might have to use more, but that will keep you away from hard to pronounce chemicals! Cheers and best of luck!

Here is the recipe I used:

Recipe Specifics
Batch Size (Gal): 1.5
Anticipated OG: 1.060
Anticipated SRM: 4
Anticipated IBU: 63
Fermentation: 14 days at 68º F

Grain/Extract/Sugars (% of total weight)
Briess DME - Bavarian Wheat (75%)
Briess DME - Golden Light (12.5%)
Woodleaf Spring Honey (12.5%) *added at the end of the boil

Hops AA% (Grams) Boil Time
Columbus 12.9% 7 60 min.
Columbus 12.9% 7 15 min.
Calypso 14.3% 7 0 min.
Cascade 6.4% 7 0 min.
Calypso 14.3% 7 Dry
Cascade 6.4% 7 Dry

Other Amount
Zest from 2 large fresh navel oranges. *added at the end of the boil