I wanna do a cherry wheat beer but I want to use 100% cherry juice instead of the extract that comes with the kit....how do I go about doing this and when do I add the cherry juice and how much do I add?I'm doing a 5 gallon full boil.Can I add it to secondary and if so how long will I leave it in secondary?
Cherry wheat question
- Thread starter rave808
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You have a couple of options with this. You can add it to the secondary or the bottling bucket. Since you are doing cherry juice, and I don't know much about your background, I'm worried about refermentation in the bottle, I would do it in the secondary. You'll also probably have to add it to taste. I'd leave it in the secondary for a week or two to see if it referments.
Also, and this is a side note. Before adding your cherry juice, I'd reduce your cherry juice to concentrate it. That way you get more flavor without messing up your volume.
Also, and this is a side note. Before adding your cherry juice, I'd reduce your cherry juice to concentrate it. That way you get more flavor without messing up your volume.
rave808
Well-Known Member
Yeah I'm very new to homebrewing so I'll add it to the secondary do I add it right after i transfer my fermented beer to the secondary also I was gonna use like 100% juicy juice type juice but you say concntrated would work out better?
Hey bud, no. I'm suggesting that if you want do you cherry juice, you can reduce the juice yourself. Just put the juice on the stove and on a real low heat. Depending on how much juice you have it could take 20 minutes to a couple of hours.
There are some people that like to add it right away to make sure everything mixes better, some people like to add it at the end. I would maybe try a combination of the two to see what works for you? Personally, I think it's just a matter of opinion. I would also be open to the possibility of using your extract at bottling time, just in case you don't get that cherry flavor that you are expecting. At least that way you'll end up with a beer that is what it "advertises" and then adjust your process from there.
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Yup, sounds good to me. I think even if you mixed your cherry juice and corn sugar together then added everything to the bucket (and gently stirred), you'd still be OK!
The only thing that I would have a concern about is the sugar content of the cherry juice with making bottle bombs. But if you take a gravity reading of your cherry juice (or concentrate that you make), measure volume amounts, use brewing software like Beersmith or Promash and calculate everything out, it will turn out fine.
The only thing that I would have a concern about is the sugar content of the cherry juice with making bottle bombs. But if you take a gravity reading of your cherry juice (or concentrate that you make), measure volume amounts, use brewing software like Beersmith or Promash and calculate everything out, it will turn out fine.
Nope, these are basic brewing skills that even if you don't understand, you should still practice. Using a hydrometer is something that you should do regularly. The sooner you are familiar with it, the faster you will progress. We can walk you through the "complex" calculations with it. We were all there once.
rave808
Well-Known Member
ok thanx there is so much to learn but very excited when i learn more and more about brewing.I read alot of books but once I saw some you tube vids etc. It started to make sense of what ive been reading
Cool! Keep asking questions, even if it seems silly, and take the advice for what it is.
