How To Get a Lemony Brew?

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Ballagh Brewery

How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by Ballagh Brewery » Tue May 06, 2014 3:02 pm

Hello all,

I've experimented before with real lemon and lime juice and while it worked okay I wasn't raving.

What I'd like to do is this, and I'd be glad to hear your opinions;

I'd like to get a fairly bland ale/lager kit, like a Cooper's Mexican Cerveza, and tip some lemon squash/cordial in.

How do ye think this'd go? How much spraymalt would I need to lay off, since the squash is obviously laden with sugar?

Would this be a very, very bad idea or has anybody attempted such a thing before? I'm looking for a lemonadey finish, as I've had some lovely lemon-flavoured beers over the years and my first attempt, with the fruit, was a bit... meh.

Thanks!

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Ditch
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Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by Ditch » Tue May 06, 2014 4:28 pm

Ballagh Brewery wrote: I've experimented before with real lemon and lime juice ..... I wasn't raving.
:-k You weren't raving, to put lemon in beer? Uh huh. And you're quite sure of that, eh ....?

Each time I think I've, surely, heard it all ..... Image

Seriously though; What's wrong with just keeping a bottle of lemonade or lime cordial to hand and adding a dash to ye pint, like they used to do when I drank bitter and lager in pubs?

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mozza
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Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by mozza » Tue May 06, 2014 6:49 pm

I'm with Ditch on this one! Just buy some limes/lemons and keep them in the fridge and add a wedge to your beer :)
Cheers and gone,

Mozza

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Monkeybrew
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Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by Monkeybrew » Tue May 06, 2014 6:53 pm

You could always do a bit of hop research, to find out what varieties give a lemony flavour in a brew.

It's strange how hops often get overlooked ](*,)

Cheers

MB
FV:


Conditioning:
AG#41 - Vienna Lager - 5.6%
AG#42 - Heritage Double Ale - 10.5%

On Tap:
AG#44 - Harvest ESB - 5.4%
AG#45 - Amarillo Gold APA - 5.2%

turbo 2011

Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by turbo 2011 » Tue May 06, 2014 8:38 pm

Just a newbie but why not try lemon grass I was looking at this recipe and was thinking of doing it myself you don't have to follow recipe but you could try the lemon grass it does taste like lemons and ginger more lemon I would say . I guess if you use the same hops with the lemon grass you never know I think it be better than adding pop .

RIPA-Imperial Rye IPA
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Beer Style: India Pale Ale
Recipe Type: extract
Yield: 5 gallons



Description:
Awesome Imperial Rye IPA recipe using the new Briess Rye LME. It is well balanced and delicious. Hoppy with a nice Rye flavor and lemon grass accents. 8.2% ABV

Ingredients:
6.6 lbs Briess Rye LME
2lbs Amber DME
.5lbs Crystal 40
.5lbs Carapils
.5lbs Flaked Wheat
1lb Light Brown Sugar
3oz Cascade pellet (bittering)
1oz Willamette pellet (flavor)
1oz Cascade pellet (aroma)
1oz Chinook pellet (dry hop)
2lbs Lemon Grass
White Labs California Yeast
OG: 1.075 FG: 1.014
Primary Ferment: 5 days
Secondary Ferment: 10 days

Procedure:
Steep specialty grains in 2 gallons of 155 degree water for 45 min.
Bring to boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and add LME and DME. Raise water level to 3 gallons.
Bring back to boil and start 60 minute boil.
Add 3oz Cascade hops-60 min
Add 1oz Willamette hops-20 min
Add 1oz Cascade hops-10 min
Add 1lb Light Brown Sugar-10 min
Add 2lb Lemon grass-10 min

Irish moss can be added with 15 min left.
Light brown sugar can be added to a quart of boiling water and then added or can be added straight to boil while stirring vigorously.
Lemon grass should be fresh, and tops and bottoms trimmed off.
Allow additional fermentation times if not using a yeast starter or clarifiers.

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borischarlton
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Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by borischarlton » Tue May 06, 2014 8:50 pm

Were the beers that you like clear or cloudy? That "lemony" flavour could well be the yeast

Rob

Geezah

Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by Geezah » Tue May 06, 2014 8:56 pm

2lb of lemon grass would be a tidy price in UK.

:shock:

turbo 2011

Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by turbo 2011 » Tue May 06, 2014 9:04 pm

Geezah wrote:2lb of lemon grass would be a tidy price in UK.

:shock:
I it bloody would be but you could try a little it has a very strong flavour I think 2 lbs is a bit ott a couple of sticks for 40 pint brew would be a good starting point . But like I said just a newbie and only trying to give a alternative .
Asda £3.35 100g worth a try :wink:

Lee

Ballagh Brewery

Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by Ballagh Brewery » Wed May 07, 2014 12:08 pm

[quote="borischarlton"]Were the beers that you like clear or cloudy? That "lemony" flavour could well be the yeast

Rob[/quote]


The beers were cloudy but I'd prefer mine to be clear.

I'm having a pint tonight with lemon squash in it, I'll report back.

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borischarlton
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Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by borischarlton » Wed May 07, 2014 12:27 pm

Then I would almost certainly say that flavour is the yeast. I don't know of a yeast that gives that flavour and is floculant although I know that with time in the fridge WB-06 drops out leaving a clear beer but it takes a while. The beer your after is a Kristallweizen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_beer

Rob

Belcher

Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by Belcher » Wed May 07, 2014 7:18 pm

I make my own limoncello by zesting 5 lemons and a couple of limes and steeping the zest in vodka for a few weeks (along with sugar and a vanilla bean). It is very very lemony.

I think that the lemon's oils are in the zest of the fruit and will become extracted through soaking. If you are going to try this, ensure that the lemon are unwaxed.

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CestrIan
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Re: How To Get a Lemony Brew?

Post by CestrIan » Wed May 07, 2014 7:58 pm

I use Motueka in my summer lagers. It gives a great lemon & lime bite. 20-30g at the end of the boil is enough.
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