Fruit Beer Succulent Strawberry Blonde

[bcmeyer]

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

Lol.... Damnit... oh well. I guess it will still turn out alright. Think I'll just lose some bottling volume?

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Oh yeah, it'll be fine! Yeah, you might lose some, but, just gives you an excuse to brew some more!! Lol

 

[bcmeyer]

Excellent! Thanks! Ya I will definitely have to do it again. I hope it doesn't turn out too cloudy.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Excellent! Thanks! Ya I will definitely have to do it again. I hope it doesn't turn out too cloudy.

I think you'll be fine. Cold crash and add gelatin if you can, that works miracles!

 

[BadDeacon]

You'll be fine even if some of that break material makes it into the secondary. It will compact down over the next 2 weeks before then.

 

[KurtisCummings]

Anyone else's strawberries look like this in secondary? This is after 3 days.

 

[jwolf99]

Has anyone done BierMuncher's popular Centennial Blonde with strawberries?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/centennial-blonde-simple-4-all-grain-5-10-gall-42841/

Recipe is very similar except it's got some extra carapils in place of the wheat and uses Centennial hops (obviously) instead of Saaz.

Thoughts?

 

[Brewing_Between_Games]

Anyone else's strawberries look like this in secondary? This is after 3 days.

Yep....every time. May not look very good but adds great taste!

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Anyone else's strawberries look like this in secondary? This is after 3 days.

Every time!! Its a beautiful sight!!

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Has anyone done BierMuncher's popular Centennial Blonde with strawberries?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/centennial-blonde-simple-4-all-grain-5-10-gall-42841/

Recipe is very similar except it's got some extra carapils in place of the wheat and uses Centennial hops (obviously) instead of Saaz.

Thoughts?

It would probably work. All you really need is a real light base beer to add the strawberry flavor to. Try it and let us know how it turns out!

 

[jwolf99]

One other question. I'm planning on making a two gallon batch of this over the weekend. What would you suggest for my starter (how much water + DME and how much of WLP001 should I use)? Thanks

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

One other question. I'm planning on making a two gallon batch of this over the weekend. What would you suggest for my starter (how much water + DME and how much of WLP001 should I use)? Thanks

Not sure. I've never used a starter on this beer, or any other for that matter, and its always turned out fine. I'm sure some others will chime in!

 

[jwolf99]

Not sure. I've never used a starter on this beer, or any other for that matter, and its always turned out fine. I'm sure some others will chime in!

Actually, I've never used one either (beer or wine) and have never had a problem. Normally I just drop the yeast (dry or active) into a 1/2 cup of warm water 30 mins before pitching. But this is the first time I'm using WLP001 and most recipes that use it seem to use a starter. Plus White Labs website recommends it. But I would just as well pitch it my normal way so as to save a step.

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

FWIW, I always make a starter, for every beer. Even when I am using S-05. Mostly, because I can. It will help the yeast start quicker with the less strain, but I have made this beer many times by just dumping a packet of non-rehydrated S-05 into it, or just smacking a pack of 1056, with great results. I enjoy making starters, so I do, but it is not required to make a good beer.

 

[SupervisingChildren]

I made this for the 3rd time today, but realized I completely forgot to buy Saaz. Did 1oz cascade @60 and 1/2 oz citra at 10. Bavarian wheat dme 2lbs at start of boil and 1lb @20mins. Also added 1/2 tsp yeast starter. A citrusy strawberry blonde it is! OG was 1.07.
Bottled batch #2 of this on friday, and bottling Apfelwein tonight!... a busy beer weekend

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

I made this for the 3rd time today, but realized I completely forgot to buy Saaz. Did 1oz cascade @60 and 1/2 oz citra at 10. Bavarian wheat dme 2lbs at start of boil and 1lb @20mins. Also added 1/2 tsp yeast starter. A citrusy strawberry blonde it is! OG was 1.07.
Bottled batch #2 of this on friday, and bottling Apfelwein tonight!... a busy beer weekend

Im interested in knowing hiw it turns out with citra. I have thought about changing up the hops but never do. I think citra would be a fine addition!

 

[MetallHed]

Didn't read the entire thread..

I'm making a strawberry wheat and have 5 lbs of frozen strawberries to add. Has anyone cold crashed their beer, added the strawberries, and kept it at about 40-42F to prevent the yeast from fermenting the fruit's sugars?

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Didn't read the entire thread..

I'm making a strawberry wheat and have 5 lbs of frozen strawberries to add. Has anyone cold crashed their beer, added the strawberries, and kept it at about 40-42F to prevent the yeast from fermenting the fruit's sugars?

I've never tried that. I've always been skeered of bottle bombs. But, if you're kegging, that could be a different story. Btw, at 5 lbs, I don't know if you'll get as much strawberry flavor.

 

[MetallHed]

I've never tried that. I've always been skeered of bottle bombs. But, if you're kegging, that could be a different story. Btw, at 5 lbs, I don't know if you'll get as much strawberry flavor.

Yep, I'm kegging so I'm not worried about bottle bombs. I'm just worried about tartness. I might step up the amount of strawberries but I don't want an overpowering liquid strawberry flavor.

Also, has there been any known problems with getting the strawberries out of a carboy opening? I know that a bucket is recommended but mine are out of commission.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Yep, I'm kegging so I'm not worried about bottle bombs. I'm just worried about tartness. I might step up the amount of strawberries but I don't want an overpowering liquid strawberry flavor.

Also, has there been any known problems with getting the strawberries out of a carboy opening? I know that a bucket is recommended but mine are out of commission.

I don't see any issue with it in that case. Not sure if it would have any effect on the taste or not. I cant imagine it would. Yeah, 8 lbs definitely gives it some tartness!

I've not heard of any issues. I'm sure you'll get them out, one way or another. Might be a slow and tedious process getting them in though!

 

[MetallHed]

I don't see any issue with it in that case. Not sure if it would have any effect on the taste or not. I cant imagine it would. Yeah, 8 lbs definitely gives it some tartness!

I've not heard of any issues. I'm sure you'll get them out, one way or another. Might be a slow and tedious process getting them in though!

Heh, yeah. I'll give it a shot and see what happens. This is a really cheap beer to make so I won't mind if I have to re-do it again.

I'll post back with results.

 

[jwolf99]

FWIW, I always make a starter, for every beer. Even when I am using S-05. Mostly, because I can. It will help the yeast start quicker with the less strain, but I have made this beer many times by just dumping a packet of non-rehydrated S-05 into it, or just smacking a pack of 1056, with great results. I enjoy making starters, so I do, but it is not required to make a good beer.

I ended up just pitching the WLP001 without a starter. Some minor activity noticable in the airlock after 4 hours, and it was off and running within 24 hours. A little longer than usual for me, but I attribute this to the fact that it's a 2 gal batch in my 7.9 gal primary bucket. Lots of head space.

If I use fresh strawberries (given they're in abundance locally right now and pretty sweet), should I expect any issues with the strawberry seeds? Will their density and or the whirlfloc cause them to settle out or will I need to worry about filtering?

 

[vhanley]

Didn't read the entire thread..

I'm making a strawberry wheat and have 5 lbs of frozen strawberries to add. Has anyone cold crashed their beer, added the strawberries, and kept it at about 40-42F to prevent the yeast from fermenting the fruit's sugars?

Just a heads up in case you haven't already racked on the berries. I also like a lighter amount of strawberry flavor and used 5 lbs instead of 8. The result was a level of flavor so light I could barely tasted it. I DID use fresh instead of frozen though, so that may have had something to do with it. Just a thought.

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

I ended up just pitching the WLP001 without a starter. Some minor activity noticable in the airlock after 4 hours, and it was off and running within 24 hours. A little longer than usual for me, but I attribute this to the fact that it's a 2 gal batch in my 7.9 gal primary bucket. Lots of head space.

If I use fresh strawberries (given they're in abundance locally right now and pretty sweet), should I expect any issues with the strawberry seeds? Will their density and or the whirlfloc cause them to settle out or will I need to worry about filtering?

've never had a problem with seeds, but I would be concerned about bacteria from fresh berries. How do you intend to "sanitize" them? The beauty of frozen, is that you just open the bag and pour them in!

 

[jwolf99]

've never had a problem with seeds, but I would be concerned about bacteria from fresh berries. How do you intend to "sanitize" them? The beauty of frozen, is that you just open the bag and pour them in!

I was going to wash them up well followed by a quick soak in StarSan. Idea from this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/strawberry-blond-recipe-ideas-intergalactic-only-94502/

 

[MetallHed]

Just a heads up in case you haven't already racked on the berries. I also like a lighter amount of strawberry flavor and used 5 lbs instead of 8. The result was a level of flavor so light I could barely tasted it. I DID use fresh instead of frozen though, so that may have had something to do with it. Just a thought.

Thanks for the tip! I'm definitely going to get some more berries now. I haven't brewed it yet, but I do have all of the ingredients (minus a few extra lbs of berries).

I wonder how much the flavor is impacted in regards to fresh v. frozen..?

 

[vhanley]

've never had a problem with seeds, but I would be concerned about bacteria from fresh berries. How do you intend to "sanitize" them? The beauty of frozen, is that you just open the bag and pour them in!

I've never sanitized them per se. I do wash them thouroughly, cut the tops, then cut them into 8ths....ie. half, half then half again. Haven't had a problem w/ seeds either. After they've been cleaned and cut I just pop them into a freezer bag, stick them in the freezer and dump them straight from there when it's time.

 

[vhanley]

I wonder how much the flavor is impacted in regards to fresh v. frozen..?

I'm not entirely sure. My understanding is that there is a stronger flavor from frozen, probably from whatever processing they go through prior to packaging, but don't quote me on that.

On the sanitizing part, one thing I didn't mention is that I'm extremely picky with my fresh berries. If there's even a hint of bruising or "nastiness" on them, I dump that berry. Mainly because I'm just not sure what's gotten into a "gushy" area or how well I can clean that.

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

I will say, if you are going with frozen, spend the money for Dole. Don't buy the cheap, off-brand crap!

 

[MetallHed]

I'm not entirely sure. My understanding is that there is a stronger flavor from frozen, probably from whatever processing they go through prior to packaging, but don't quote me on that.

On the sanitizing part, one thing I didn't mention is that I'm extremely picky with my fresh berries. If there's even a hint of bruising or "nastiness" on them, I dump that berry. Mainly because I'm just not sure what's gotten into a "gushy" area or how well I can clean that.

The packaging says that they were picked and immediately frozen so I'd say it's on par with anyone else I suppose. I guess there is an added value and elimination of doubt when you do the picking yourself and freeze them. We will see!

I will say, if you are going with frozen, spend the money for Dole. Don't buy the cheap, off-brand crap!

Have you had poor results with off-brand frozen berries?