how to tell when fruit is done

[Forrest-hunters]

I brewed the Bell's May Ale and it called for 2 pounds of blue berries. After 2 weeks of fermentation I add frozen blue berries to my secondary and racked on top of them. They are all now floating and I would like to know how to tell when to bottle.

 

[Chris1272]

Take a gravity reading today and then in about 2-3 days if it has not moved then it is safe to bottle. Also take a sip of your sample. Does it have the blueberry character you want? if so and fermentation is done the bottle.

 

[hulkavitch]

+1

 

[Forrest-hunters]

Is it normal for the blue berries to float at the suface of the carboy though? I was told because I froze them I did not need to puree them or anything else.

 

[cbehr]

From what I've been reading on adding fruit you get the most flavor/aroma from crushing or adding a puree but it is not necessary. I wouldn't worry about them floating either.

 

[Chris1272]

The berries float because the yeast convert the sugars in them to ethanol and co2 the has gets trapped in the fruit and it then floats.