Serviceberry

[Joewalla88]

It's fruit season where I'm at, and I recently picked a couple pounds of Serviceberries. I was thinking about throwing them in a beer. Anybody ever use these before? Just thinking making a fruited farmhouse, but would like to hear what anyone else's experiences might have been with these berries.

 

[Joewalla88]

It's fruit season where I'm at, and I recently picked a couple pounds of Serviceberries. I was thinking about throwing them in a beer. Anybody ever use these before? Just thinking making a fruited farmhouse, but would like to hear what anyone else's experiences might have been with these berries.

No one's brewed with serviceberries? That surprises me.

 

[day_trippr]

Never saw them mentioned here.
And I had never heard of them (or their many aliases) but just learned they are hardy enough to grow in New England, fwiw...

Cheers!

 

[Joewalla88]

Never saw them mentioned here.
And I had never heard of them (or their many aliases) but just learned they are hardy enough to grow in New England, fwiw...

Cheers!

I don't know much about them. Learned about mostly from foraging subs, and reading about edible berries around where I'm at, PNW. They're pretty sweet. Look like Blueberry on a cherry stem. Well, I'll make something and report back

 

[pvtpublic]

I've only been able to find the time to make wine out of them and I must say they make GREAT wine. The wine profile is in between blueberries and grapes. So if you're planning on doing a beer I'd recommend brewing up something with blueberries in mind. If it were me, I'd freeze them IOT rupture the cells better, then carefully make a syrup. Use the syrup in the finished beer to taste, and the leftovers for pancakes!

 

[Joewalla88]

I've only been able to find the time to make wine out of them and I must say they make GREAT wine. The wine profile is in between blueberries and grapes. So if you're planning on doing a beer I'd recommend brewing up something with blueberries in mind. If it were me, I'd freeze them IOT rupture the cells better, then carefully make a syrup. Use the syrup in the finished beer to taste, and the leftovers for pancakes!

Thanks for the idea. They're in the freezer right now. Didn't think to make a syrup.

 

[pvtpublic]

My thoughts on flavored beer is just that - make the beer and then add non beer flavors

 

[pvtpublic]

I would also really like to get updates from you. Serviceberries are probably the best fruits out there!

 

[IslandLizard]

I'd freeze them IOT rupture the cells better, then carefully make a syrup.

How would you carefully make that syrup? Slow simmer?

 

[hottpeper13]

Bring them to ~180* add the sugar and stir until the grit sounds no longer using a potato masher to crush and then strain them if adding at packaging, or as I do, put the whole thing in the fermenter

 

[pvtpublic]

You'd have to stir it constantly like you would for jams or making candy in order to keep it from burning to the pan. It doesn't have to be a consistency like maple syrup, and I should also add not to boil it, you lose aromatics.

 

[Joewalla88]

I took your advice and heated them up a bit, mashed and stirred them. Added them after primary ferment was through. It was a farmhouse ale of sorts. It turned out nice. Like someone said earlier they add a little wine and blueberry type thing. It's good. I might add a little more next time though, but I don't remember how much I added this time so who knows.

 

[rhys333]

I think serviceberry is another name for saskatoon berry. Very common in Canada. They taste awesome in pies, so I imagine they'd work well in beer too.

 

[pvtpublic]

I think serviceberry is another name for saskatoon berry. Very common in Canada. They taste awesome in pies, so I imagine they'd work well in beer too.

Yup, and juneberry, too

 

[Joewalla88]

I think serviceberry is another name for saskatoon berry. Very common in Canada. They taste awesome in pies, so I imagine they'd work well in beer too.

Yeah, it's the same think. It's good. Wish I had like 1 more lb to make it really punch through, but it's good.

 

[pvtpublic]

It's good. Wish I had like 1 more lb to make it really punch through, but it's good.

That always seems to be the case with them. I always want more of their flavor no matter how much I have

 

[Lampy]

Resurrecting this thread: I found some serviceberry trees and picked 1.5lbs, came back the next day and the birds had cleared them out. So I decided to make roughly ½gal wine (mead) using frozen/thawed/mashed berries and 1lb honey. Just pitched the yeast and will try to remember to update this topic.

 

[pvtpublic]

That sounds awesome!