Which Blonde goes better with fruit?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:56 am
by Dubba_Brew
So... my wife wants a good beer with some juniper berries in it and we've kind of decided on a blonde. The question comes down to which style? What would go better with the juniper berries in it... a Belgian Blonde or the Light Hybrid Blonde? Either way, I'm probably going to start with either base recipe from BCS. I'm leaning towards the Belgian, but my wife is thinking the other.
Looking for some thoughts from anyone that's done something similar (not necessarily with the juniper berries). I vaguely remember Tasty doing something along these lines, but I could be wrong about the style.
Thanks for the help... cheers!
Re: Which Blonde goes better with fruit?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:08 pm
by BigNastyBrew
The one who brings her own melons to the party.
Re: Which Blonde goes better with fruit?
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:15 pm
by Dirk McLargeHuge
BigNastyBrew wrote:The one who brings her own melons to the party.
+1
Re: Which Blonde goes better with fruit?
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:28 am
by Sent From My iPhone
Dubba_Brew wrote: I vaguely remember Tasty doing something along these lines, but I could be wrong about the style.
Not sure if he's used Juniper or not. He adds peach flavoring to his Dortmunder.
Re: Which Blonde goes better with fruit?
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:56 am
by BDawg
As a frame of reference, Rogue's Juniper Pale Ale is a nice, crisp, clean beer with a nice refreshing piney touch to it.
This was one beer that I never thought i'd like very much, but was very pleasantly surprised when I did. It's now my goto beer when I'm at Rogue and want something "sessionish" (for Rogue). This one and their Juniper-Juniper (Juniper Pale aged in one of their Gin Barrels) are the only 2 juniper beers I've had.
Based on my tasting those two, I think the Juniper will probably clash more than complement the phenols in a Belgian Blonde, so I'd suggest you try it first with the Light Hybrid Blonde for her.
Just my .02-
Re: Which Blonde goes better with fruit?
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:01 pm
by Pseudolus.
I had good success adding pomegranate to Jamil's Belgian Blonde recipe. I did it twice, the second time backing off on the hops and the specialty grains a bit (but sticking with the Belgian yeast). I liked it better the second time - less in there to clash with the fruit.
Re: Which Blonde goes better with fruit?
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:54 am
by Quin
I brew Jamils Kolsch recipe a lot using different yeasts (Kolsch, Lager at lager temps, lager at ale temps, etc.). One brew had about a 1/2 gal left over after filling the kegs, so I put it into a growler with a handful of frozen raspberries and blueberries. It had lots of berry flavor after 24 hours, but not overwhelming.