Are all Fruit beers created equal?

[user 22118]

Not as much the fruit going in, but the base beer itself. In other words, if I make a peach ale and a blackberry ale, does the base beer need to change to suit or no?

Proposed recipe:

Blackberry Beer

7# 2-Row
1# Crystal 40L
1# Carapils

2oz Mt. Hood Hops (1/2 at 60min, 1/2 at 20min)
3# Can Oregon Blackberry Purree (last 10min of boil)

I think that if I like this, then I can always make it darker with some chocolate or black patent and make it into a blackberry stout. Plus I like the fact that it is lower alcohol.

 

[Trufflepig]

To me, the base beer kinda does matter. For example, blueberry+wheat ale base works, blueberry works with pretty much any wheat, whit or lighter based beer as the blueberry can be complimented by the base beer and not overpower it or vice versa. Blackberry however (to me), is usually a bit more acidic so it needs something a bit heavier to compliment the berry - so a porter with coffee/chocolate malt flavors as well as a heavier after-taste with the blackberry. I just made a persimmon belgian - the belgian yeast compliments that sweet persimmon and the spices that go into the belgian beer also compliment the sweetness and somewhat spiciness of the persimmon.

Would persimmon work with a porter - yes. It would work I think with most ales and lagers since persimmon is so versitile. A blueberry would get overpowered with a porter, but would work with lighter based beers. Just like apricot or peach wouldn't go well with a darker heavier ales, but would work when the base beer compliments the refreshing beer.

 

[user 22118]

Well i just had another thought about this, is that when I made my pumpkin porter I used a 30oz can. Will making this beer with 49oz of fruit be too much or just right on a 5 gal batch or should I bump it up to a 10gal?

 

[Oldsock]

I used ~2lbs/gal blakcberries in a Flanders Red and really liked the results (not too fruity). I doubt 49 oz will be too much in 5 gallons of wheat beer.