Fruit Beer Succulent Strawberry Blonde

[Bluelinebrewer]

Just kegged a slightly modified version of this on Saturday and had a taste. I brew 10 gallons with a buddy and we split into two 5 gallons. Both loved the taste right out of the fermenter, and we are usually IPA drinkers. Wife loved it too and said she can't wait until its carbed, she doesn't usually like the stuff we make. Awesome thanks guys!!!

Good to hear! Yeah, the ladies tend to like this one! How'd you modify the recipe? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[Chavi]

It's finally ready and delicious!!!

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

It's finally ready and delicious!!!

Nice!!! Looks great!

 

[fyouberg]

There isno mention of priming sugar in your recipe. Do the strawberries provide that or should it be added at bottling time?

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Add it at bottling like you would for any other beer.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Add it at bottling like you would for any other beer.

What he said...

I did have something happen on my latest batch that I've never had happen before... After adding the strawberries, I let it set for a week at about 60*, which is what my basement is at right now. I was concerned about a strawberry volcano, so I left it in the basement. I didn't see any blowoff activity for the entire time it was down there, but I did get a big whiff of CO2 one night while taking a "smell sample". I racked off the strawberries, and put it in a tertiary and let it set for a week at about 68*. I noticed airlock activity for the entire week! Even when I went to cold crash, it was still popping bubbles every 10 seconds or so. I took a hydro reading and it was at 1.008, which is what it was when I transferred to the tertiary.. So, I assume I'm good to go. I can't imagine whatever sugars were added to the mix wouldn't be fermented out in a week... sure hope I don't have bottle bombs!!

 

[vhanley]

It is a long time... Probably way too long. I'd say a week is plenty good enough. The first time I brewed this, I got busy and just didn't have time to bottle, so it ended up being there for a month. The second time I brewed it I only left it in for about two weeks, but I think you could get away with a week. Maybe some other guys will chime in on this...

Son of a $%^!!!! Ok, need a few opinions on this one. Like I said before I adjusted. Wanted a more muted flavor so went with 5 lbs instead of 8 and went fresh instead of frozen. Didn't blend, just chopped myself....MISTAKE! There's not even a hint of strawberry flavor and I racked to the tertiary a week and a half ago. I'm considering buying a bag of frozen and racking onto them and leaving another week or two. Thoughts?

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Son of a $%^!!!! Ok, need a few opinions on this one. Like I said before I adjusted. Wanted a more muted flavor so went with 5 lbs instead of 8 and went fresh instead of frozen. Didn't blend, just chopped myself....MISTAKE! There's not even a hint of strawberry flavor and I racked to the tertiary a week and a half ago. I'm considering buying a bag of frozen and racking onto them and leaving another week or two. Thoughts?

If you want to add more berries, i cant see what it would hurt. Just treat your terrtiary as your secondary and start over. The beer is finished. At this point all you are trying to do is add strawberry flavor. Make sure everything is sanitized and be very carefule not oxygenate the beer with the additional transfers.

 

[cossacks19]

Good to hear! Yeah, the ladies tend to like this one! How'd you modify the recipe? If you don't mind me asking.

Nothing to different I just had a few different hops that I needed to use. Off the top of my head I think I used a little Cascade. I made sure the ibu's were about the same though.

 

[cossacks19]

I usually get pretty clear beers but this one I don't think it will ever clear up. I assume its the berries, is that correct?

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Yeah, it'll clear up. The berries do seem to add a little haze. You might try gelatin, I've just recently started using it and I've seen awesome results. Matter of fact, I added gelatin to my all-grain batch of strawberry blonde today!

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

If you want to add more berries, i cant see what it would hurt. Just treat your terrtiary as your secondary and start over. The beer is finished. At this point all you are trying to do is add strawberry flavor. Make sure everything is sanitized and be very carefule not oxygenate the beer with the additional transfers.

Sound advice! I don't see how it could hurt anything.

 

[vhanley]

If you want to add more berries, i cant see what it would hurt. Just treat your terrtiary as your secondary and start over. The beer is finished. At this point all you are trying to do is add strawberry flavor. Make sure everything is sanitized and be very carefule not oxygenate the beer with the additional transfers.

Good, that's pretty much what I figured, just wanted to confirm. Gracias!

 

[BadDeacon]

Need some opinions. Ok, bad planning. SWMBO was out of cider and I started a batch. It's still rocking along. My strawberry blonde has been on the berries for 1.5 weeks. And is showing no activity. Should I go ahead and bottle and condition there??? If so, should I cold crash it?

I think the cider has at least a week left on it. I don't have any other vessels to rack into other than my bottling bucket.

Thanks!

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Need some opinions. Ok, bad planning. SWMBO was out of cider and I started a batch. It's still rocking along. My strawberry blonde has been on the berries for 1.5 weeks. And is showing no activity. Should I go ahead and bottle and condition there??? If so, should I cold crash it?

I think the cider has at least a week left on it. I don't have any other vessels to rack into other than my bottling bucket.

Thanks!

Quite the predicament!! I don't think I'd bottle just yet. I think you've got a couple of options..

1. Sanitize a strainer and get alltge strawberries out, then let it set for at least a week... Or

2. Rack off the strawberries, into your bottling bucket, clean and sanitize your strawberry bucket, and rack back into it. Then let set for a week, cold crash, bottle.

Just my thoughts!

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

I agree with Blue. The only concern with moving twice is the chance of oxygenating the beer during a double rack. So my suggestion is, unless you need it, and assuming your bottling bucket is plain old "ale pail" type bucket, sanitize it, rack into it and cold crash for a week or two. Then bottle it.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

I agree with Blue. The only concern with moving twice is the chance of oxygenating the beer during a double rack. So my suggestion is, unless you need it, and assuming your bottling bucket is plain old "ale pail" type bucket, sanitize it, rack into it and cold crash for a week or two. Then bottle it.

Agreed, regarding the oxygenation... I was assuming you were going to need your bottling bucket for your cider in a week. Besides, once SWMBO gets a taste of the Strawberry Blonde, she won't ever want cider again!!

 

[BadDeacon]

10-4! I think I'll transfer to bucket then clean the carboy then cold crash from there.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Slightly OT, but not so much.. regarding the issues with haze in this beer, here's the results of gelatin...




Before cold crashing/gelatin...




Less than 36 hours after adding gelatin..

IT WORKS MIRACLES!!

Edit: this is actually in WildGingers all grain version... But it still applies! Lol

 

[BadDeacon]

Finally got mine in the bottles tonight. Got busy and it spent 2 weeks in the fridge. Ended up with 52 bottles. Taster had a strong strawberry tartness to it. SWMBO said that it didn't even taste like beer. Pic has some condensation in it.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Finally got mine in the bottles tonight. Got busy and it spent 2 weeks in the fridge. Ended up with 52 bottles. Taster had a strong strawberry tartness to it. SWMBO said that it didn't even taste like beer. Pic has some condensation in it.

Looks good!! Yeah, I noticed my last batch had a pretty good tartness to it. Its 2 weeks in the bottle today! I figure in another week it'll mellow out nicely!

 

[SupervisingChildren]

Just checked on my second batch of my variation of this. 2 weeks in it's at 7.1%, so I'll add the strawberries and sweetener tomorrow ...

 

[davecampbell4]

I will be making a strawberry honey blonde. Have you ever tried adding strawberries to the boil?

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

I will be making a strawberry honey blonde. Have you ever tried adding strawberries to the boil?

Nope, always in the secondary. I seem to recall reading somewhere that adding to the boil isn't such a great idea.. I'll see if I can find that discussion.

EDIT: Seems to be the topic of discussion, and as with anything in homebrewing, has plenty of varying opinions!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/where-put-real-fruit-not-extract-108607/

 

[davecampbell4]

Nope, always in the secondary. I seem to recall reading somewhere that adding to the boil isn't such a great idea.. I'll see if I can find that discussion.

EDIT: Seems to be the topic of discussion, and as with anything in homebrewing, has plenty of varying opinions!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/where-put-real-fruit-not-extract-108607/

I ended up just adding it at burnout and then cooling it. From what I read at 200+ degrees everything dies pretty quickly. Also I'm hoping that because I cooled it right away, there won't be too many pectins.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

I ended up just adding it at burnout and then cooling it. From what I read at 200+ degrees everything dies pretty quickly. Also I'm hoping that because I cooled it right away, there won't be too many pectins.

Let me know how that turns out!

 

[bcmeyer]

Just brewed this! The 4 gallons definitely showed me that I needed a wort chiller and a outdoor burner. Took forever to boil and cool down. The fermenter is looking real chunky. Is this because it took so long to cool down?

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Just brewed this! The 4 gallons definitely showed me that I needed a wort chiller and a outdoor burner. Took forever to boil and cool down. The fermenter is looking real chunky. Is this because it took so long to cool down?

Chunky? Hmmmm... Did you use Irish moss or whirlfloc?

 

[bcmeyer]

Chunky? Hmmmm... Did you use Irish moss or whirlfloc?

Ya I used the whirlfloc. I attatched a picture of it. It's fine. It all settled, but my strainer didn't get a lot of the sediment. I wonder if its from not cooling It down as fast.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Wow, that's a lot! Yeah my guess would be some protein coagulants.