When to boil, when to ferment

[MIbrew]

So I'm overall relatively new at this brewing thing and can't seem to find a straight forward answer to the following question:

When do I add flavorings to the boil, and when do I add the flavorings to the secondary fermentation?

I'm looking at making a summer wheat beer with flavorings (orange, lemon, perhaps a hint of raspberry) and just trying to figure it all out. Thanks.

 

[scinerd3000]

zest is usually added in the last 10-15 minutes of the boil or steeped. Fruit is added in secondary fermentation after your primary fermentation has finished. If your tallking about extracts, add them before you bottle.

 

[malkore]

Yep, generally you don't boil the actual fruit, but spices, zest, and things like that often go in the boil in the last 10-15 minutes. really delicate flavors or aromas I would add at flameout like it was an aromatic hop.

I have not done a fruit beer, but my fruit meads I rack onto the fruit going into secondary, and this often renews fermentation a bit since fruit has sugar in it.

 

[MIbrew]

I have not done a fruit beer, but my fruit meads I rack onto the fruit going into secondary, and this often renews fermentation a bit since fruit has sugar in it.

Will this temporarily increase the OG above the reading taken after primary or increase ABV due to the addition of yeast food?

Thanks to both for the straightforward response.

 

[cuinrearview]

Will this temporarily increase the OG above the reading taken after primary or increase ABV due to the addition of yeast food?

Thanks to both for the straightforward response.

Yes, ABV will be increased. The yeast will make alcohol and CO2 out of of the fruit sugar just like any other sugar.

 

[malkore]

Yes, ABV will be increased. The yeast will make alcohol and CO2 out of of the fruit sugar just like any other sugar.

and there are charts/articles online and in books that will give you a good estimate of how much gravity a pound of strawberries might add. crops vary, but they are usually reasonable estimates.