Blackberries

[Azimuth]

I picked 8 pounds of blackberries last weekend and plan on brewing with them this weekend. I would appreciate any info/experiences that y’all might have as it relates to styles that would marry well with blackberries.

I was thinking of a Northern English Brown. Also, I was intrigued by the Golden Strong with raspberries that was discussed on the last Sunday Session.

I imagine big-ass hoppy beers are out of the question. Also, it’s for the holidays, so beers that need to age over 2 months are out.

Thanks for your input!

Curt

[dmtaylor]

Brown ale is a great idea. Also pretty much any Belgian style would work well. You could also go the standard safe American route for fruit beers and do an American wheat. Keep in mind the tartness of the berries. In a Belgian or a wheat, tartness is right at home. Consider whether you'd like to counter the tartness by mashing at a higher temperature such as 155 F or higher, or adding as much as 3/4 lb lactose (non-fermentable sugar) per 5 gallons.

[dunleav1]

I just did a Wheat with 5# of fresh peaches. I used a belgian yeast and it is pretty complex from the fermentation with subtle hints of peaches.

[spiderwrangler]

Not a beer, but blackberries can be killer in a cider as well....

[Azimuth]

Quick update:

I decided to go with a Blackberry Brown Ale.

After 3 days of fermentation in the primary, I transferred the beer (5 gallons) into a secondary (bucket) on top of the fresh blackberries. I decided to go with six pounds. Everything seems to be going well but I have not tasted it yet. I'll post an update after I sample it this weekend.

One thing I may do next time is put the fruit in a large meshed hop bag to avoid transferring solids when I rack the beer. At this point I'm not sure how I am going to avoid clogging when I rack the beer. Some of the berries sank to the bottom and some floated to the top. Any thoughts?

Good health,

Curt

[BarefootLion]

I just did a Wit this summer with Raspberries and Blueberries. By the time I was racking to the keg, I actually ran in into my bottling bucket first with 1/2 of a tea ball that fits over the inside of the valve.

I racked carefully to not bring much over, then filled the keg going through the tea ball as a strainer.

The keg was pretty clean when it kicked and the pints didn't really seem to have many floaters.

[scotchpine]

How did you prepare the blackberries before you racked onto them?

[Azimuth]

I picked them fresh, rinsed them with fresh tap water, then froze them until I was ready to rack.

I sanitized my bucket then added the frozen blackberries and let them partially thaw in the sealed bucket (2-3 hours at 78 degrees). I racked the beer right on top.