Lemon

[pas8280]

I am looking to start experiment a little looking for a summer ale with a very pronounced lemon flavour i was wondering if anyone had actually used fresh lemons or rind in a brew and how they were used (boil or fementation) and obviously what the results were ?

[smdjoachim]

Try using lemongrass.Use 3 sticks for 19 litres in the boil for last 15 mins.And hop it with something citrusy to add to the flavour.
This recipe uses lemon rind.
for 5 gallons, 7lbs lager malt. 1 lb wheat malt. - mash. boil with 30g first Gold 8%. 20g cascade 5%ish. (alpha). late hops to kettle 20g cascade and 20g bobek - for last 10 mins of boil and transfer. brew with lager yeast at 12-14 degrees. post ferment add 50g elderflowers, 20g amarillo,20g casade and 10g grated lemon rind (make sure it is not waxed)to a sterilised vessel - 1 gall fermenting bucket? - and pour preboiled water over these ingredients at about 80 degrees C. Leave this mix for 2 hrs - dont let it get cooler than 65c. then add to the brew. nb. because you are adding back liquid brew the beer a bit stronger - try for an OG of 1053 and make the infusion about 3 litres
made just after christmas and drinking it now.a very tasty drop of summer in a glass,i will try and make it last until summer(if we get one)

[dave-o]

I have used lemongrass, and it does add a really lemony flavour. However, the flavour is a bit cloying IMO, and almost unnatural tasting.

Lemon zest (or even better, lime zest) in the last 10 minutes of the boil, is good. You need a lot of limes/lemons though. At least 10 for a 40pint batch.

[mysterio]

I've used orange zest in witbier and it works out great, the zest is where the concentrated flavour is (don't use the juice).

[pas8280]

Zest it will be i think then, probably fifty, fifty lemon and lime i like the sound of it how do you know if the fruit is waxed though ?

[smdjoachim]

simmer the lemons for a couple of minutes,any wax will melt off

[Garth]

You can also use dried lemon peel, you honestly don't need much in a 23 litre batch. It can be quite overpowering. Something like 20g -30g should be enough, then if you like it, you could up the quantity a bit next time.

[Mitchamitri]

TRY Strisselspalt hops

[Billy Hunt]

I brewed this recipe last year, next time I brew it I'm going to lower the amunt of lemongrass to 50g. Lemongrass is also what is used in Hall and Woodhouse's Lemony Cricket.

Lemon Grass Beer

Pale Malt 3270
Crystal Malt 36

Styrian Goldings 38 gr Full boil

Lemon grass 64g last 20 mins

Fuggles 7g post boil

[trucker5774]

Not quite lemon, but try cascade and amarillo hops for a good summer/citrus flavour

[Whorst]

Challenger/Cascade works very well.

[pas8280]

Whorst you might just have sold me on that last suggestion i have plenty of Challenger and just got some cascade from Borischarlton, have you tried this, if so what sort of hop schedule would best utilise both hops ?

[Rookie]

Sorachi ace hops are supposed to be very lemony, if you can find them. I have two ounces in my freezer and plan to try them in my lemon-rosemary blonde ale later this month.

[Garth]

Sorachi ace hops are supposed to be very lemony, if you can find them. I have two ounces in my freezer and plan to try them in my lemon-rosemary blonde ale later this month.

I can confirm that, they are exceedingly lemony, they're a Japanese hop. We used them for a few batches but had to go back to the previously used bittering hop as customers were not exactly complaining, but mentioning the beer had got really citrusy lately.

[kevthebootboy]

I've been watching thisthread with interest,I'm going to make a blonde ale for the summer and I think I'm going to go with the lemon grass, thanks for the insperation lads! I'll let you know how it turns out when I get round tobrewing it up.

Cheers and beers!