Raspberry Beret (Fruit Beer)

[orlando]

Next up is a fruit beer for the Summer, Last year I was in Edinburgh and found myself in a Belgian stlyle pub and was given a Raspberry beer. It was fabulous and I would like to replicate this. I'm thinking of making a relatively low OG "base" beer with just MO and low IBU's. The star needs to be Raspberry. I was thinking of getting frozen raspberries and some kind of essence to ramp this up. Has anyone got advice on how to do this. I'm particularly keen to be as "pure" as possible so no artificial flavouring.

[awalker]

If you want the beer to be pure, just get as much frozen raspberrys as possible.
I have used 1.5kilo to a demijohn and topped up with base beer before (possibly even higher), you do need a lot of fruit but its worth it.

The artificial flavourings are awful in my opinion, I have a raspberry one.
Never put it in the beer it tasted so bad.

[orlando]

I will be brewing 3.3 gallons (15 litres) so I make that around 5 kilos which sounds a lot. Don't get me wrong I want a biggish raspberry hit but still want a raspberry flavour beer not a beer flavored raspberry drink. I am convinced about the artificial flavourings.

[floydmeddler]

Be great if you could do a brew day post on it with photos of course. Interesting idea.

[CestrIan]

Sounds great! Wheat beers are very popular with raspberrys. Nice summery tipple. SWMBO loves em.

When are you going to add the fruit?

[orlando]

2nd week of fermentation. The base beer is going to be a very simple MO with a hint of crystal for sweetness, low IBU's and around 1.040 or less in strength. I basically want the raspberries front and centre.

[awalker]

I will be brewing 3.3 gallons (15 litres) so I make that around 5 kilos which sounds a lot. Don't get me wrong I want a biggish raspberry hit but still want a raspberry flavour beer not a beer flavored raspberry drink. I am convinced about the artificial flavourings.

You could be right.
Well go for half and see how it works out, I am sure it will give it a good kick of raspberrys.
Then you have a good guide if you want more or less next time.
Good luck

Next week I am finishing off some lambic on Cherries, Raspberrys and Apricots (seperate fermenters)
Hmm cant wait

[orlando]

Be great if you could do a brew day post on it with photos of course. Interesting idea.

Scheduled for next week so stick around, I'm really looking forward to it, possibly too much so I could be setting myself up for a fall. What I've read so far suggests it needs long conditioning to really get the fruit going, which is no good for an impatient sod like me

[orlando]

I found a suitable fruit for the label too

[orlando]

How do you reduce the size of pictures from Photobucket so it isn't so in your face!?

[dave-o]

Post it up on an image host that doesn't mess with your resolution, such as tinypic.com

[Cozzyb]

Mind If I ask what guide you followed/Or give me a guide on when to add this.

Would you add the fruit when you make the kit (if used a kit) and let it ferment with the fruit in, or would you add when move to secondary and leave it with that for so long?


What types of beer go with what types of fruit?

Thanks.

[orlando]

I haven't followed a recipe more a case of looking at what others have done and taking out of that what I'm looking for. My version is AG and I've decided to go for a simple beer recipe with low IBU's and low gravity with a big hit of raspberries. Best advice is to use frozen as this helps break down the cell wall making it easier to get at the sugar and flavours. I will be introducing these during the second week of fermentation and so far have decided to not rack off. This is the recipe I have come up with so far based on 15 litres. Would certianly welcome comments from those who have had a crack at fruit beers themselves.

2.750 kg Pale Malt, Maris Otter (5.9 EBC) 94.0 %
0.100 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (39.4 EBC) 2 3.4 %
0.075 kg Wheat, Torrified (3.3 EBC) 2.6 %
10.00 g Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 90.0 min Hop 4 10.0 IBUs
0.50 tsp Protafloc (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 5 -
20.00 g Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 6 6.8 IBUs
1.0 pkg British Ale Yeast (Wyeast Labs #1098) [124.21 ml] Yeast 7 -
1.50 kg Raspberries (Secondary 1.0 weeks) Flavor

[wmfd]

Orlando, did you ever brew this and how did it work out?

I've been asked to do a fruit beer for later in the the year and am leaning towards raspberry rather than cherry.

David

[trucker5774]

I'll be interested in the results of this. I fear that you will not have enough fruit in it!. My efforts in the past have been poor. The one thing I learned was the need for masses of fruit. Ever wondered why these beers are so expensive.........Fruit!!