Cherry Wheat Decision

[JBC]

I am a nOOb (as a matter of fact, I am such a NOOb that I don't even know what it means). I bought a cherry wheat kit from Midwest that calls for 4oz of cherry extract. A few months ago I made an apricot kit from Williams that used 4 oz of apricot extract and, while it is getting better, it still tastes fake. On one hand, I don't like cough syrup. On the other hand, hope springs eternal.

I am getting ready to bottle and was hoping that you may have a few thoughts.
2oz? 0oz?, fresh or frozen in a secondary for a week or so?, ???

Thanks

 

[FishinDave07]

Thats a tough call. It all depends on what taste good to you. I'd start by mixing in a little at a time then tasting small samples.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[Jester369]

I think if you use fruit puree instead of extract, it's supposed to be much better. I read that recently in Jamil and Palmer's 'Brewing Classic Styles' book that extracts usually do taste artificial.

 

[EvilTOJ]

I would go with either fresh or frozen fruit and skip the extract.

 

[rdwj]

Frozen Fresh > Puree >>>> Extract

Always freeze fruit and dethaw it before use. The freeze / thaw process destroys cell walls and improves flavor extraction.