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

[GregR]

None of that stuff. Water, Barley, Hops. Period.

no yeast?

 

[billc68]

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.

How can force carbing be in violation? I suppose it can be interpreted that way.

But I have to agree, since I quit using dextrose, I prime with DME and force carb. Up until very recently I have never tried clearing agent in my beer either. I tried Irish Moss once on an experimental batch and may try it again.
I have no issues personally with adding fruit or chocolate or whatever you want to your brew, but I have yet to find an additive I like.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

It always amuses me when Reinheitsgebot comes up in these threads like Germans invented beer or something.

How boring this hobby would be were there not all those other great styles to sample and brew.

 

[Chuck_Swillery]

I agree, if it doesn't suit your taste, don't drink it. I've had some fantastic fruit beers. The fruit flavor is in balance with the beer, doesn't work against it, even compliments it. I like it but that is my pallet. Some people don't and that's ok. Leaves more for me...!

 

[redalert]

It always amuses me when Reinheitsgebot comes up in these threads like Germans invented beer or something.

How boring this hobby would be were there not all those other great styles to sample and brew.

Germans didn't invent beer, they just perfected it.

 

[Bobby_M]

I was headed to Linden today and was going to bring you a bottle of Kriek but I think it would be wasted.

 

[mk78]

Germans didn't invent beer, they just perfected it.

Is the German vs. Belgian debate like the Elvis vs. Beatles debate?

I'm a Belgian Beatle I guess.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

I'm going to concur with those that feel the OP is a troll. Either that or he has a limited knowledge of beer.

 

[redalert]

I was headed to Linden today and was going to bring you a bottle of Kriek but I think it would be wasted.

Hey Bobby_M. You can drop by anytime. We've met if you remember. I came to your house awhile back for a group buy and sampled some of your brews. I believe you had either a Flanders Ale or an Octoberfest that was killer.

BTW: What is a troll?

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

BTW: What is a troll?

 

[weirdboy]

Where did you find a photo of the OP?

 

[vtchuck]

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.

Its hazy, hot and humid here and I'm enjoying an Apricot Wheat right now. I brewed it for my daughter, but much to my surprise... I like it! Its dry, not sweet and very refreshing. As the wild black raspberries are starting to ripen, I'm planning on a Raspberry Wheat. Fruited beers (or wheats for that matter) are not likely to be a regular part of my brewing rotation, but I'm glad I didn't write them off based on the commercial examples I've tried.

 

[Yooper]

Its hazy, hot and humid here and I'm enjoying an Apricot Wheat right now. I brewed it for my daughter, but much to my surprise... I like it! Its dry, not sweet and very refreshing. As the wild black raspberries are starting to ripen, I'm planning on a Raspberry Wheat. Fruited beers (or wheats for that matter) are not likely to be a regular part of my brewing rotation, but I'm glad I didn't write them off based on the commercial examples I've tried.

I've never had a wheat beer, or a fruit beer, that I liked. I'm not crazy about sours, either.

I'm not a fan, but I recognize that others like them. The funny thing to me is being called a "girl" for liking fruit beers. My friends and I do NOT like fruit beers. One of my friends is into roasty stouts, and another is a fan of amber lagers. I'm an IPA girl myself.

 

[harrydrez]

It always amuses me when Reinheitsgebot comes up in these threads like Germans invented beer or something.

How boring this hobby would be were there not all those other great styles to sample and brew.

Reinheitsgebot was one of the worst things to happen to brewing, I think it's real motivation was just to enforce taxes anyway. Having such a black and white view of things is terrible.

festina peche

The fruit flavor is what I would want in a good fruit beer, but it's missing something. It's no where near tart enough for one. It's missing something in the flavor department, I'm trying to compare it to 1809 though that might not be fair to DFH.

I'd drink it, but I don't think I'm running out to buy another 4 pack. Fruit flavor is good though.

 

[billc68]

I can't stand a wheat beer and have yet to taste a good fruit beer, however, if my palate memory serves me well, I can see a fruity wheat beer being very tasty.

 

[harrydrez]

I can't stand a wheat beer and have yet to taste a good fruit beer, however, if my palate memory serves me well, I can see a fruity wheat beer being very tasty.

My favorite beer is "beer in hand", everything from RISs to IPAs to Berliner weiss. Even if I don't love it I'll give it a shot or two; though poorly made beers are poorly made.

 

[Stuntman]

I wonder if OP thinks Jalapeno Pepper beer is not a real beer? I was thinking of doing a small gallon batch or so of it and see what the hoop pla is all about.

 

[vtchuck]

I wonder if OP thinks Jalapeno Pepper beer is not a real beer? I was thinking of doing a small gallon batch or so of it and see what the hoop pla is all about.

I recently tried a bottle of Horsehead Brewing Jalapeno Beer. Split a bomber with my son. After my first taste I started to think about how to use the hot peppers I was growing in the garden.... by the time I finished the glass, I decided it was best enjoyed in small doses. I'll save my peppers for chili.

 

[vtchuck]

I've never had a wheat beer, or a fruit beer, that I liked.

I hear you. I've tried Hefe's, Witte's, and fruited wheats and I thought they were uninteresting, bland or too sweet. Who knows... I may hate the next one I brew. But, somehow this one works. I did use apricot extract, rather than the real thing, so that might be a factor.... more a fruit flavored than a fruit beer.

 

[billvon]

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.

To each their own. I've had a LOT of fruit beers that taste like crap, but the good ones are some of the most spectacular beers I've ever had. Most recent was Hangar 24's Second Anniversary beer. It tasted like a pale ale base (in terms of color and hoppiness) with apple cider, caramelized sugar and Belgian yeast added.

Some really bad ones:
Anything by Seadog
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat
21st Amendment Watermelon Wheat
Eel River Acai beer
Almost anything strawberry or watermelon come to think of it

Some really good ones:
Lost Abbey Framboise
McMenamins Ruby
Dogfish Head Aprihop
Blue Skies Arrowhead Apricot (if I do say so myself)

 

[billvon]

Reinheitsgebot baby. Fruits are for Fruits.

So you don't use yeast? Do you go the coolship route, then?

 

[harrydrez]

Sam Adams Cherry Wheat

Sam really falls short in the fruit beer department for some reason.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

Sam really falls short in the fruit beer department for some reason.

I thinks Sam Adams is pretty overrated in general. If there isn't anything else to drink but Sammy, it is the best choice, but all in all, SA is really the alternative to BMC.

That's just my opinion, and JIm Koch, irritates me in his commercials, why the hell do you need to be in the commercials?

You pay people to brew your beer, pay someone to be in the commercial.

Ugly bastard...MHO!

 

[Blindguardian]

I had a blueberry beer once and it was the worst thing I have ever tried to drink! I took one sip and spit it out then pored the rest out in the parking lot. Fruit dose not belong in a beer IMO.

 

[redalert]

I had a blueberry beer once and it was the worst thing I have ever tried to drink! I took one sip and spit it out then pored the rest out in the parking lot. Fruit dose not belong in a beer IMO.

Thank You!

 

[samc]

Water, Grain, Yeast & Hops make the beer I drink. If I want fruit I have some with breakfast, lunch or dinner. That also goes for all the other stuff that people feel a need to toss into beer like Chili peppers, peanut butter , fruit loops, etc.

However if they want to brew it and drink it what the hell do I care?

Don't get me started on Pineapple/Ham pizza.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Second time I've mentioned it... Cantillon Fou Foune.

Also Russian River Consecration.

I'm not a (pick your fruit) wheat beer type at all, but there's room for it, selectively. Orange peel in a wit is a great example.

 

[Thakog]

+ 1 for Consecration.

Personally, I'm much less likely to brew something I can buy a six pack of. I'd rather brew what is expensive/hard to obtain/impossible to find. (Like the peanut butter porter I have going right now.)

 

[DoctorDuvel]

i'm with you, OP...though i still don't mind sampling the occasional fruit beer, but only if someone hands me one - not usually willing to purchase the stuff...

but i will try to brew a pumpkin beer later this year - pretty much the only fruity thing i'm willing to brew

 

[Mermaid]

I think the biggest problem I have with a lot of commercially produced fruit beer is the artificial taste so many of them have. I love Unibroue Ephemere, and I like a good lambic once it gets cold outside and I'm looking for something a little sweet that isn't port.

I've just had some simply awful blueberry and raspberry beers that taste like wine coolers. I also think that most pumpkin ales I've tried have to be among the most foul alcoholic beverages I've tried since my college days.

I think that a homebrewer and/or micro brewery who understands that a fruit beer should not taste like wine cooler, "kool aid", fruity pebbles, or skittles, and gets the balance right, gets an okay in my book.

Just don't make me drink anything from the liquor store with a "fruit" plus the word "ale" or "wheat beer" on the label that you yanked out of the cooler and spent $7.99 for. At least not unless I'm already drunk and don't care about the hangover.