Mad Elf Ale Clone

[downwithmilton]

I'm brewing a mad elf ale clone which is the first beer I have ever made using fruit. I am going to add 2 lbs of sweet cherries and 2 lbs of sour cherries during secondary fermentation. My question is should I buy fresh cherries and pit them or buy canned cherries that are already pitted? If I go with the canned cherries should I buy them packaged in syrup or water?

 

[Oldsock]

I like fresh cherries, pits left in. I'll usually freeze them first to help breakdown the cell walls, then defrost in the fermenter before racking the beer onto them.

Good luck.