raspberries in the secondary

Koryb · Aug 10, 2012

I am making a Raspberry wheat , and my question is , when I put my raspberries in the secondary should they be frozen? or should I thaw them out first? I have fresh picked raspberries that I processed and froze so they would keep until secondary time. but what I am wondering is should they remain frozen and then rack onto them or should I thaw them first?

Thanks

Pappers_ · Aug 10, 2012

I would thaw them. You might also consider pureeing them in the blenders or food process

ArcaneXor · Aug 10, 2012

The yeast won't like the sudden temperature swing if you rack the beer on top of frozen raspberries. Thaw them first. I'd also sanitize the fruit, just to be safe. A rinse in campden solution will do the trick nicely.

Koryb · Aug 10, 2012

Thanks, is there any other ways to safely sanitize? I have heard of some people rinsing them in vodka too. But if they are frozen, and I thaw them to just about room temp, and put them in the secondary and it starts fermentation again, how is tha going to get contaminated? There would be no oxygen to cause a problem right?

ArcaneXor · Aug 11, 2012

Freezing doesn't kill most potential contaminants. Granted, the odds of an infection are fairly low, but I personally am religious about sanitizing everything that touches my beer after the boil.

Malichaidog · Aug 11, 2012

Just did a secondary rack with a blonde ale. I used a juicer on 5lbs of fresh strawberries and 1lb of fresh raspberries. I poured all the juice and half the pulp into a carboy and swished it with a bit if vodka cause it made me feel safer (true or otherwise). Then racked my ale on too from the secondary. I out the carboy in a 32 degree fermentation chamber to knock the yeast out and prevent a secondary fermentation. 10 days no infections. Gonna keg and carb tomorrow

Malichaidog · Aug 17, 2012

Yikes! Just kegged this beer today. Tons of flavor but I will never include the pulp again. Lesson learned= juice your fruit and rack on juice only. Pulp just wasted beer and does not add flavor, 5 gallon beer only yielded 3.5 gallons of crazy fruity beer.