Sour cherries: in season?

[PhillyBrewer]

I want to add sour cherries to my 1.5 yr old Flanders red. When are they in season and available to purchase? Would 6 lbs be enough for 5 gallons? How long does it need to sit on the fruit?

[Juan De Fuca]

Here in Michigan I think they are usually ready in July. The season for tart cherries is short. I believe there are some good frozen sources if you aren't interested in going the canned/puree route. I haven't tried doing that with a Flanders Red yet, so I don't have any advice to offer there. Good Luck

[dstar26t]

You could use dried cherries too. They pack more punch per pound.

[Ironman]

I've had good results with dried cherries.

[NHBrewer]

All the dried cherries I have seen have been packed in safflower oil to keep them from sticking. Has this had any ill effects on anyone using dried fruit? I have 60 gallons of Oude Bruin that I would love to get some onto some fruit especially sour cherries. Since I have been unable to locate a sour cherry source in NH I will have to be buying dried or frozen. Thanks for the information.

NHB

[brewinhard]

I want to add sour cherries to my 1.5 yr old Flanders red. When are they in season and available to purchase? Would 6 lbs be enough for 5 gallons? How long does it need to sit on the fruit?

I like to really blast the amounts of fruit in my beers. I typically use about 2# per gallon of fruit for my sours (and regular beers). I also like to split my batch to get two beers for one. I rack half into a keg (or bottle half) plain and rack the other half onto the fruit for 4-6 mos. aging time. It is always fun to compare the two and see which you like better for future endeavors.

[spiderwrangler]

All the dried cherries I have seen have been packed in safflower oil to keep them from sticking. Has this had any ill effects on anyone using dried fruit?

I haven't used them, but my gut says avoid safflower oil packed ones...

[NHBrewer]

OK so it seems sunflower oil instead of safflower but it makes me weary as well

http://www.paysonfruitgrowers.com/unswe ... rries.html