Flavor/aroma hops in fruit beer, yes/no?

[rhys333]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning to brew a raspberry saison this weekend and appreciate input from those in the know on whether I should include flavor and/or aroma hops. Reading up on this, most sources caution that late hops clash with fruit and recommend using bittering ONLY. That said, a lot of homebrew fruit recipes include late additions. What's the word on this one? I'm posting my recipe below for reference. Thanks in advance!

5% ABV SAISON
80% 2 Row
10% Munich
10% Oats
Warrior @ 60 to 20-25 IBU
Raspberries @ 0.5 lb/gal (post-primary)
WY 3711

 

[rupert130]

In my fruit beers I have used late addition hops. I haven't really noticed any effect positive or negative

 

[m00ps]

Id use any hops that compliment your fruit flavor profile

 

[rhys333]

Thanks both. Do any hop varieties compliment raspberries? All i can think to do is choose a spicy noble hop to build on 3711 yeast character.

 

[rupert130]

On themadfermentationist website, he just posted an article where he dry hopped with fruity hops in a sour fruit beer. 1 oz per gallon dry hop to get noticeable hop charachter.
Citra, Cascade, Amarillo, Chinook, etc. are some of the varieties you may look at using.

 

[robert843]

I use citra at the 5 minute mark in my Mango ale. No problems.

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

Yes and no.

No if you are thinking of using a ton of flavor hops. There is no reason to go crazy with flavor hops if you are making a fruit beer, the main draw is the fruit and the beer.

Yes, if you plan to use them to accent the other flavors. You don't need a ton, if you plan to serve the beer relatively young and drink it fast, the little extra bit of flavor reinforcement will play in your favor.

 

[m00ps]

Thanks both. Do any hop varieties compliment raspberries? All i can think to do is choose a spicy noble hop to build on 3711 yeast character.

I love a combo of belma and huell melon. I use this in an IPA recipe ive been tweaking its so damn good. Tastes like strawberry gatorade. They are very soft hops to, not very aggressive so they wont take over the beer

 

[rhys333]

I love a combo of belma and huell melon. I use this in an IPA recipe ive been tweaking its so damn good. Tastes like strawberry gatorade. They are very soft hops to, not very aggressive so they wont take over the beer

I'm not familiar with belma. Will have to look into it. Awesome article btw.

 

[rhys333]

I'm brewing right now, and I've decided on going with mostly bitering hops and a small 1/3 oz mosaic addition at 10 minutes (have it in stock). I'm thinkimg this will support the raspberries without taking over. As i sit here waiting for the mash to complete I'm getting the crazy idea of adding 1 tsp crushed black pepper in the last few minues of the boil.

...perhaps too many things going on now. What do you guys think? Talk me down someone.

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

I'm brewing right now, and I've decided on going with mostly bitering hops and a small 1/3 oz mosaic addition at 10 minutes (have it in stock). I'm thinkimg this will support the raspberries without taking over. As i sit here waiting for the mash to complete I'm getting the crazy idea of adding 1 tsp crushed black pepper in the last few minues of the boil.

...perhaps too many things going on now. What do you guys think? Talk me down someone.

Wouldn't make it bad, as long as you very lightly cracked the black pepper. If you didn't add it, you could make a little tincture of black pepper and then pull samples and see how the beer tastes with a little drop of the black pepper tincture added.

 

[rhys333]

Wouldn't make it bad, as long as you very lightly cracked the black pepper. If you didn't add it, you could make a little tincture of black pepper and then pull samples and see how the beer tastes with a little drop of the black pepper tincture added.

Thanks Arkot. I ended up doing 1.5g (about 3/4 tsp), lightly cracked, in 4.25 gallons. Probably not enough to be very noticeable, but if I can get just a hint of spice to boost the 3711 yeast I'll be happy.

 

[m00ps]

my lemon pepper saison used 3g at flameout and then 3g more like a dry hop because i couldnt taste it in my sample

 

[rhys333]

Good to know. I won't be terribly disappointed if the pepper doesn't come through in this batch, but I'll keep it in mind for my next saison without fruit.