In my experience, if I don't get a pasteurized product, I will blanch them in as little water as possible before adding. However I'm not very experienced at using fruit as an ingredient so that it for what it's worth.
Glad to hear! I've been wanting to do a dessert beer of sorts for sometime. Do anyone you see a benefit to adding a vanilla bean or two with the raspberry to accent the chocolate?
Lots of things going on with this one, I know, but sure sounds good!
Irishbrewer; sorry for the cross posting...