To each his own but fruit doesn't belong in beer

[chumprock]

Grabs a Fruli and subscribes to thread...

 

[Photopilot]

As a rule I am not a fan of wheat beers. But I think they are better with some fruit in them. I guess it just appeals to my feminine side. Not that I would choose a fruity wheat very often with a Hop Bomb or Stout as an option.

I just made an Apricot Wheat that I find is a nice summer brew. I have some apricot left over I may have to make a Apricot IPA. I can always give it away but I think I might like it. I already have more beer than I know what to do with.

 

[bigolbigbelly]

Samuel Smith's Organic Cherry is an old ale with sour cherries added after fermentation. I tried it and could not believe how good it was.

 

[RKW]

What's that old saying: I never met a beer I didn't like.

I was merely referring to beers, if you could call them that, where the fruit overpowers the malt, water, and yeast to the degree that you cannot in good faith call it a beer.

Well if you would have started there I think you wouldn't have devided the crowd so much. TBH the initial post seemed sort of combative for no reason. I think, as most of the posters have pointed out, there are good fruit beers out there and there are beers that are so fruity that they are only beer in the strictest sense of definition. Oh well, everyone is entitled.... I hope you do go and try some other fruit beers and if you still don't like them I hope at least you decide that those of us who have found good taste in those bottles aren't as effeminate as you once believed.

 

[AnOldUR]

Once got food poisoning at a Mexican restaurant. Couldn’t even look at Mexican for a couple of years without feeling nauseous. A Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat (the best I could do at the airport) did the same thing to me with fruit beers. Well, I’m back to loving Mexician food, but still have mixed feeling about anything other than grain and hops in my wheat beers. I know it’s a mental thing. Just kegged my second batch of an American Wheat that has a really nice citrusy, apricot nose and finish. Wonderful beer that made it to the second round of NHC. For now, just don’t list the words fruit and beer on the same label and I’ll be fine.

Thanks Sam






edit:

I have a Kriek on tap right now that I would drink over almost any other beer I've brewed.

Hate to admit my ignorance, but had to Google "Kriek." Now that sounds tasty. I may be back sooner then I thought.

 

[GRHunter]

I am no fan of fruit beers either. But my wife is ... so every third batch I brew is a fruit beer. They are a pain in the arse to brew, and they're expensive too. I just chalk it up to the price of peaceful brewing in my house.

 

[SteveM]

I once had a Belgian raspberry beer that a friend had brought back from there. I didn't bother to save the can so I don't know what it was, but it was more like a raspberry soda, no more beer-like than a Mike's Hard Lemonade.

But I've also had really good raspberry ales. Manayunk Brewery makes an exceptional black raspberry ale (only available on tap there, and not all year) that got me trying to come up with something like that.

The raspberry gives a sort of a sharp sweetness that is a nice counterpoint to the hoppy bitterness of the beer. If you are curious, try my recipe, but be warned - it took me a few tries to get it just right, and it's so much work that mostly I don't bother any more.

 

[snowveil]

Has no one in here ever had weyerbacher's Raspberry Imperial Stout?

That beer is phenominal....the raspberry flavor does nothing but compliment the otherwise solid stout behind it.

I don't think anyone should restrict their brewing to just four ingredients....just because the fruit beers you've had have been mass-produced recipes designed for people who don't generally like beer doesn't mean there aren't tons of valid uses for fruit in your own brewing.

Homebrewing is all about experimentation IMHO...brew what you like and have fun with it. Those steenkin' Germans and their Reinheitsgebot have got nothing on me! (said 4 hours before I start brewing a Rye Pumpkin Stout)

 

[ndsgr]

Redalert, mission accomplished. I am officially intimidated by your masculinity. I bow to your prowess.

Maybe the thread should have been titled: "I have huge man parts! I swear! I will prove it by calling anyone who likes fruit beer a woman." Well, I guess that might have been too long.

At least us "women" don't get headaches because of a little fruit in the beer...

 

[billc68]

Seems like Raspberry, is THE fruit to use. We have a raspberry Zinfandel bottled righ tnow and I am making a raspberry mead when they berries are ripe. I may save some of the juice and try it in a glass of chocolate stout, I already have on tap and see what it is like... YES I said a chocolate stout, I am no COMPLETELY against trying something different.

 

[TotemWolf]

It depends on the beer. Some of them I hate. Some of them I love. There doesn't seem to be an in-between for me.

 

[Teromous]

Fruit beers have their place...and that place is in my belly. I also love wheat beers. Unfortunately so many people just don't know how to make a good fruit beer. It's not as simple as throwing fruit into a beer, and most people are intimidated by it.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

I'm on another forum that has nothing to do with beer. One of the other members has just started brewing. Thus far it seems their list of beers to brew or have brewed are cherry weizen, strawberry wheat, raspberry weizen, bueberry...

But like the OP said in the subject line, to each their own. I'm too much of a hop addict to go fruit crazy. Although I do like to brew a wit now and then and I'm polite when someone gifts me with some berry something or other that they think I may like.

 

[harrydrez]

Maybe the thread should have been titled: "I have huge man parts! I swear! I will prove it by calling anyone who likes fruit beer a woman." Well, I guess that might have been too long.

Sounds like he's trying to compensate for something. Fruit beers that are well made rock, take the leather jacket off and step out of the convertible OP .

 

[boostsr20]

I agree. Fruit beers are at the bottom of by "to-brew" list, and I don't ever expect to get to the bottom of that list.

As they should be, because its really hard to make a good one. I've made a couple attempts but nothing quite matches up. There are only a handful that are made that are worth buying and even then its a one and done thing for me. Can't session with it.

I did just have a Shorts Anniversary Ale which is a Blood Orange Wheat Wine that's 11.5%. It was insanely easy to drink and very tasty. Even the wife liked it.

 

[Stuntman]

My eyes are open, thanks for the heads up on all the fruit beer (commercial) that I need to try. I have made 2 batches BrandonO's Graff (twenty gallons). It is one gallon of beer then 4 gallons of Applejuice poured on top. Graff gets better the older is gets, don't know if 1/5 beer in a batch can be called beer. I also did about twenty gallons of Wheat/Cherry, Wheat Peaches, Wheat/Peaches/Walnut. I sure liked them alot better than the store boughts I have tried (but I have not had a lot of store bought fruities).

OP says to each his own, and I agree. When I get the brew stand up (I have eight kegs) I will be trying to keep two of them full of Medelo (yes even the Especial). Some guys say it is a waste of time to brew cerveza when it is readily avaliable and cheap at the store, but that is what I want.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

FWIW, I have made a pretty tasty Blackberry Ale that was only DME, Carapils, Liberty hops for bittering, and fresh blackberries, it was damn good.

I just broke one open that I have had for over a year, and the fruit flavor really came through when the beer was allowed to warm a bit. I think the fresh fruit gives it a little more tartness, opposed to the super sweet extract/flavorings that can be added.

I think Extract alone makes a great base for a fruit beer.

Having said that, I have not tried to brew an AG fruit beer yet, I think an American Strawberry Wheat is going to be next, SWMBO is asking for a Strawberry beer. She supports me in my brewing, so the least I can do is make something she wants once in a while.

At any rate, I think fruti beers that are made well have their place, unfortunately not many commercial examples are worthy, that's my .02.

 

[Stuntman]

FWIW, I have made a pretty tasty Blackberry Ale that was only DME, Carapils, Liberty hops for bittering, and fresh blackberries, it was damn good.

I just broke one open that I have had for over a year, and the fruit flavor really came through when the beer was allowed to warm a bit. I think the fresh fruit gives it a little more tartness, opposed to the super sweet extract/flavorings that can be added.

I think Extract alone makes a great base for a fruit beer.

Having said that, I have not tried to brew an AG fruit beer yet, I think an American Strawberry Wheat is going to be next, SWMBO is asking for a Strawberry beer. She supports me in my brewing, so the least I can do is make something she wants once in a while.

At any rate, I think fruti beers that are made well have their place, unfortunately not many commercial examples are worthy, that's my .02.

I'm all grain now, and won't look back. Once you get doing AG, is it so much cheaper than paying someone to make the extract. Never did an extract fruity.

I agree on the fresh fruit though. I have a Jack Lalane juicer, it is messy and I have to run it through a few times to get all the pulp, juice. The subtle flavors of the Walnuts and Peaches were so good. I juiced the Walnuts in as well, and froze the juiced stuff, to break the cell walls down then simmered to sterilize and bring flavors out.

Good Stuff Maynard!

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

I'm all grain now, and won't look back. Once you get doing AG, is it so much cheaper than paying someone to make the extract. Never did an extract fruity.

I agree on the fresh fruit though. I have a Jack Lalane juicer, it is messy and I have to run it through a few times to get all the pulp, juice. The subtle flavors of the Walnuts and Peaches were so good. I juiced the Walnuts in as well, and froze the juiced stuff, to break the cell walls down then simmered to sterilize and bring flavors out.

Good Stuff Maynard!

Same here, when I make fruit beers I freeze the fruit and puree it, (I don't have a juicer), for the same reason breaks the cell walls down and allows the yeast easier access to the sugars contained within.

I also have been brewing AG for about 1 year now, and want to brew a fruit beer to see how it comes out. I did like the extract blackberry beer though, and it was simple enought to do on the stovetop.

I also think that a fairly light/dry beer makes for a better base so the fruit flavor isn't consumed by other grain flavors.

Hopefully I'll get to brew next weekend, and If I do it will be a American Strawberry Wheat. If my results are good, then I'll more than likely only use DME for starters and gravit adjustments if necessary.

Cheers!

 

[bovineblitz]

I'm adding 3lbs of blackberries to 3gal of an american wheat tomorrow (going to roughly mush them in a pot then pasteurize), the other half of the batch is getting a mix of serrano/panca peppers.

I like fruit in a beer when it's done well... if there's sugar left over I'll hate it. Fruit beer is a love/hate thing for me, there is no in-between.

Btw, OP, we're all laughing at the size of your epeen in feeling the need to create this thread Looks like Miller got in your head

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

All is fair in love and beer.

I don't like over hopping either, but who am i to say that someone else is wrong for their personal preference?

I can't ever seeing myself putting fruit in beer, it is just not my preference. I won't be putting a pound of hops in anything either though.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Maybe I haven't tried enough fruit beers but the ones that I have tried always tasted like crap and/or gave me a serious headache. I mean if I want to drink a fruity alcohol beverage, I'll pick up a gallon of wine or some wine coolers. IMHO malt and fruit don't mix. If you think they do, drink some wine until you got a half decent buzz and then finish off with some beers until you're good and drunk. You will see what happens to you in the morning. No fruit in beers for this homebrewer.

What you said (above) reminds me of a German saying (loosely translated):

Beer then wine is fine
Wine then beer, fear.

 

[curlyfat]

You know, excluding lambics, krieks, etc., I used to agree with OP. Then what turned me around was New Belgium's Frambozen. It's a brown ale with rasberries that tastes chocolately, fruity, and not even a little bit sweet. I look for it every winter now...oh yeah, it's also a gorgeous reddish-brown color.

I have not attempted fruit in a beer (outside of orange peel) yet, but do plan to try a blackberry porter with some blackberries my parents always bring from Washingtion every summer.

 

[redalert]

Screw the BJCP. I'm a brew Nazi. Reinheitsgebot baby. Fruits are for Fruits.

 

[curlyfat]

I'm sorry, I just can't believe that you are not deliberately attempting to antagonize. The more you talk, the more I want to throw every little bit of fruit in my house into every batch of beer I have in carboys. :rockin:

 

[McKBrew]

At first I accepted your point opinion and point of view but the more you continue to crack and your insults get more pointed, I have a feeling you are trolling.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I agree as on I personally don't like fruit in beer outside BM's wit bier. Orange peel in a wit is as far as I go with fruit in beer. I prefer lime in corona, but I also prefer avoiding corona.

 

[944play]

I'm a brew Nazi. Reinheitsgebot baby.

So no priming sugar, no force carbing, no finings, no minerals, no anti-foam in your brewery? Must be a challenge to stay so pure.

 

[redalert]

So no priming sugar, no force carbing, no finings, no minerals, no anti-foam in your brewery? Must be a challenge to stay so pure.

None of that stuff. Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast. (thx GregR) Period.

 

[GregR]

when I think fruit beers, the ones that pop into my head are some amazing ones... Russian River Consecration and supplication. DFH aprihop and festina peche... you simply just aren't drinking the right fruit beers.