Fruit Beer Watermelon Wheat

[DubbelDach]

And now the fun part... I had leftover juice in another pitcher. Usually, my daughter (15 months) and I split a freeze pop at night... I decided to make a different treat tonight. Ice, strawberries, watermelon juice, and some sugar in a Magic Bullet. PS: Magic Bullets are the tits!!! Easy to clean and use... Just everything the infomercial says and worth the money! Also made a popsicle for tomorrow night!

My wife and her hitting the smoothie on the new deck:

Luckily she just started using spoons last week!

Annnnnnnnnnd the watermelon juice was fermenting within 2 hours:

 

[homebrewer_99]

Looks good. I have to try this one soon.

As for the person who wanted an extract version, just use 6 lbs of wheat DME versus grain.

Wheat DME is about 50% wheat and 50% barley.


I think I would place the watermelon in a grain sack to crush and go from there...

 

[ColoradoXJ13]

Like this post a lot, I am inspired now. Going to take 5 gallons of the wheat I made a couple weeks ago and rack to a keg, add 4-6 cups watermelon juice along with a few sprigs of mint leaves chopped in a hop bag and quickly sterilized in a bit of water. I did just the mint last year and it was really nice, I think a watermelon/mint wheat would be excellent. I'll let the watermelon ferment out in the keg (and carb the beer) and just purge or carb further if necessary.

 

[DubbelDach]

Colorado, that sounds fantastic... Watermelon usually needs a little something to go with it (thus the strawberries in the smoothie), and a touch of mint sounds pretty good!

24 hours and my watermelon juice is still fermenting like crazy...

 

[DubbelDach]

The pink watermelon strata.... Love it!

And the label.....

 

[beerbque74]

Fantastic recipe! I am still relatively new to brewing, and was wondering if there would be an issue with using a clear alcohol to sterilize the watermelon juice, to make it like more of an extract? I know I saw that the alcohol in the beer should be good, I just want to make sure I keep it clean

 

[DubbelDach]

Fantastic recipe! I am still relatively new to brewing, and was wondering if there would be an issue with using a clear alcohol to sterilize the watermelon juice, to make it like more of an extract? I know I saw that the alcohol in the beer should be good, I just want to make sure I keep it clean

I just really wouldn't.... This is my 2nd time using real juice and it's more than fine. And the beer is only about 5% abv. Just make sure you wash that melon's outside really well so that your knife cut doesn't track any crap inside and you should be fine. Sterilize anything that will touch the fruit.

But the juice is fine... We don't get infected by eating watermelon, right?

 

[DubbelDach]

Also, I mentioned I changed up the recipe a bit before... Here is exactly what I did this time:

Watermelon Wheat v.4

Notice a bit of watermelon extract at kegging... If I was going straight extract, no juice, I would have used the whole 4 oz bottle... I used an eyed-up ounce.

This is my best batch of this ever. :rockin:

 

[beerbque74]

I just really wouldn't.... This is my 2nd time using real juice and it's more than fine. And the beer is only about 5% abv. Just make sure you wash that melon's outside really well so that your knife cut doesn't track any crap inside and you should be fine. Sterilize anything that will touch the fruit.

But the juice is fine... We don't get infected by eating watermelon, right?

Thanks for the advice, I am definitely going to be trying this one out for a summer beer.

Watermelon is good for us...especially with alcohol

 

[DubbelDach]

Of all the beers I've made, this one is a pet project for me... I love the idea of watermelon in a wheat beer, and I'm secure enough in my masculinity to be an avid proponent of fruit beers. It's my summertimes mission to craft the perfect watermelon wheat.

 

[RandalG]

I'm still waiting for mine to bottle condition. Someday I'll have a kegging system.

 

[CaptKiRkLeS]

My bottles should be ready in a few days.

colorado....let us know how that mint is...that sounds gret.

 

[CaptKiRkLeS]

So I had my first Watermelon Wheat the other night. I gotta say, it was pretty good!! The watermelon wasnt real upfront, it was there though. Had a nice crisp tartness to it. Maybe a little to tart, but its only been in bottles for a week.
It is definitly a refreshing beer for these insainly hot NYC days. How's everyone else's progress?

Quick question, when you pour into the glass, are you mixing in the all the settlement at the bottom? I kept it out the first pour and it was good. I know as a wheat beer it might be better swirled in. I'll have to give it a try tonight.

 

[DubbelDach]

Randal, Kirk, and Colorado... How did they turn out?

We've had a couple of nice "sit on the deck" nights recently... The wife with a frozen margarita, me with a tall cool Watermelon Wheat... LOVE SUMMER.

 

[SevenFields]

I was going to add the ingredients to my Austin Homebrew order but they dont carry Light LME, only Light DME. Im thinking about just ordering 6lbs of Wheat LME.
What do you think?????

 

[DubbelDach]

Back when I used extracts, I completely stopped using LME... So I'd choose the DME. For this one, I'd even say to use Extra Light.

 

[SevenFields]

Sorry, Posted my question in the wrong Watermelon Wheat thread

 

[CaptKiRkLeS]

Mine turned out real well. I am very pleased with it. The watermelon is a little weak but it's there. It's definitly a refreshing session beer. I'm looking forward to making this one again just with more watermelon.

The American Hef. was definitly nice. Has a nice tartness to it.

Do you rouse up the yeast when you pour?

 

[benver]

Back when I used extracts, I completely stopped using LME... So I'd choose the DME. For this one, I'd even say to use Extra Light.

I got 6lbs muntons extra light dme. would you say use that over a wheat dme?

thanks for the recipe! i'll be sure to let you know how it turns out.

 

[benver]

update: i brewed this tonight with the extra light dme.

i'm assuming this no longer makes it a wheat right? what would it be classified as?

The sample tasted delicious!

My OG was a tad lower at 1.046

Really looking forward to this one. this is only my second full boil and i am really feeling this!

thanks again

 

[DubbelDach]

A Watermelon Blonde? WatermALEon? Sorry I didn't see this sooner, I'd have kept it half extra light dme, half wheat dme... But this should taste fine. Keep us updated!

 

[RandalG]

I'm very happy with mine but I think I'll turn up the juice to 6 cups next time. The watermelon flavor is there up front but I would like it just a little more prominent. Everyone that tries it loves it. You have to admit there isn't much on the market in this style so it kind of blows people away.

DD,
So what's the verdict on 6 cups with the extract?

 

[DubbelDach]

DD,
So what's the verdict on 6 cups with the extract?

Best batch yet... I am not changing a thing for next summer's batch!

Four attempts, and I'm finally going to call it perfected and locked in.

 

[RandalG]

Best batch yet... I am not changing a thing for next summer's batch!

Four attempts, and I'm finally going to call it perfected and locked in.

That's what I figured. Will definitely upgrade the recipe next time. The problem is I don't know if SWMBO will let me wait until next summer. Oh and thanks for posting your label. I hope you don't mind if I borrow that from you.

 

[Powers]

i read through this thread and this looks like a tasty summer brew. i'd like to give it a try, but experiment with a Watermelon Wit. I have some Belgian wit and French saison yeast strains laying around in need of a project!

 

[DubbelDach]

Oh and thanks for posting your label. I hope you don't mind if I borrow that from you.

Not at all!

i read through this thread and this looks like a tasty summer brew. i'd like to give it a try, but experiment with a Watermelon Wit. I have some Belgian wit and French saison yeast strains laying around in need of a project!

Recently I had a homebrewed watermelon wit from a local homebrewer friend of mine. He added some mint to it as well. Some early bottles were too minty, but towards the end, it mellowed out to where the waterminty wit was pretty damn good!

Would love to hear other watermelon variants here! :fro:

 

[Powers]

i'll probably avoid the mint but i may add just a touch of orange peel

 

[BoxofRain]

Great recipe. I'll be making it sometime in late April. So that watermelon extract made a big difference? More sweeter now?

 

[DubbelDach]

Great recipe. I'll be making it sometime in late April. So that watermelon extract made a big difference? More sweeter now?

I think it just rounded out the flavor a bit. Gave it a little depth than just from the juice.

 

[BeerChef80]

What if you reduced the watermelon juice to concentrate the flavor?