New Brunswick Craft Brewers Association

Beer Recipes and Food => All Grain => Topic started by: DandyMason on March 11, 2012, 08:57:10 PM

Title: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 11, 2012, 08:57:10 PM
Ive been wanting to do a blueberry ale for a while, anyone have a guess at pumphouse's blueberry ale?

Anyone have any experience with blueberries? Ive read people using 3-10 lbs of blueberries... ppl putting them in the primary, secondary... Puree them, pasteurize them... Id rather not end up with a purple beer.

Let me know whats best!
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Kyle on March 11, 2012, 09:25:21 PM
go with a very light pale ale and use blueberry extract if you really don't want a purple beer. However, the taste will be better if you use real blueberry, about 4 pounds / 5 gal batch, pureed, pasturized, and added to secondary.
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 11, 2012, 09:32:26 PM
Any idea how much extract? I assume pumphouse uses extract then? Their blueberry ale isnt purple...
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Jake on March 11, 2012, 09:57:41 PM
Just had a blueberry ale at Pumphouse about an hour ago ... so good on tap. They have a biere de garde around 7.5% that was unreal too. Scary smooth for 7.5 percent
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Kyle on March 11, 2012, 09:59:36 PM
It depends on the brand. Avoid LD Carlson branded extracts, they are really ooor quality, in my experience. I bought quite a few of them and they were all either unnoticable or awful. Generally for subtle flavour, add 1-2oz, and for something more noticable, add up to 8oz or syrup-type extracts.
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 11, 2012, 10:02:05 PM
Yeah had a couple yesterday Jake... So refreshing. Absolutely love them. Im going to get some frozen berries to put also, cant wait.

Where abouts were you Jake?

Sounds good, thanks kyle! Where abouts can I get some of that extract?
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Jake on March 11, 2012, 10:03:52 PM
I'm staying across the street from the pumphouse right now in Moncton. Home tomorrow afternoon. I've been doing 2 a days there the past couple days lol
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 11, 2012, 10:07:20 PM
hahaha Yeah they've got a pretty cool spot there, I dont blame you.
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Kyle on March 11, 2012, 10:10:15 PM
I haven't tried to find other extract manufacturers since my less than stellar experience with the first. Personally, I'd just go for the purple beer and use real berries. If you do find a good extract brand, though, let me know.
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 11, 2012, 10:11:53 PM
Yeah we will see... Whatever pumphouse is doing seems to be working. Maybe ill see if I can find out what their process is...
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Dave Savoie on March 12, 2012, 09:05:54 AM
Why not use fresh so what if its purple any extracts ive used has tasted medicinal at least with fresh you will know what you get
just sayin !!!
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Kyle on March 12, 2012, 09:46:10 AM
If Pumphouse does tell you where it gets its extract, let us know eh?
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 12, 2012, 06:26:24 PM
Yeah not sure why im against the purple beer.. Guess I just want to try to get as close to Pumphouse as possible

I e-mailed pumphouse about their blueberry ale... not sure if i hear back, but I will absolutely share if i do!
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 21, 2012, 09:14:54 PM
So I bought some raspberry and blueberry extract at scoop n save... no idea what kind of quality they are, we will see!

Do I just add the extract right before kegging? Also im thinking... 4-5 oz of raspberry and like 6 oz of blueberry... But really those are just guesses... Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Richard on March 21, 2012, 10:02:57 PM
No reason to ferment them out unless you're adding a shitload... flavour to taste ;)
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Chris Craig on March 21, 2012, 10:08:13 PM
I'm really interested in trying this.  I hope it turns out!
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Dave Savoie on March 21, 2012, 10:31:08 PM
The extract at scoop and save is gross Ive used it before
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 21, 2012, 10:54:35 PM
Yeah the blueberry is the scoop n save stuff and the raspberry is some brand name stuff... I would have went fresh berries but I really dont think im going to be too picky with the taste of extracts, and figured I would give them a go at least.

Raspberry wheat hopefully done for the weekend... and Blueberry ale brewing friday. Cant wait
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Dave Savoie on March 21, 2012, 10:58:47 PM
Be careful with the raspberry I used extract once from the states and it said to use the whole bottle and it made the beer taste like cough medicine but had I used 1/2 to 3/4 would have been very good
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 21, 2012, 11:01:18 PM
k Good to know.. I have two 100 ml bottles... Maybe just one will do!
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Dave Savoie on March 21, 2012, 11:09:26 PM
Add them to secondary also
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 22, 2012, 06:59:36 AM
Okay sounds good. I was planning on doing that but didnt know it was necessary.

Did you add yours right at kegging Dave?
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Dave Savoie on March 22, 2012, 07:16:28 AM
I bottled that batch but Id add right at kegging
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 22, 2012, 07:18:52 AM
k cool, thanks!
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 24, 2012, 02:11:44 PM
hahah added 3 oz of raspberry extract.... Beer looks like kool-aid, really really dark red color. Its drinkable for sure. Can definitely tell its extract, but weirdly that doesnt bother me that much. Next time around, I would probably try 1.5 oz for 5 gallons even....

for the blueberry ale, might go with like 4 oz.... we will see.
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: Dave Savoie on March 24, 2012, 02:15:17 PM
its really easy to use fresh berries you heat them to 180F for roughly 5-10 min then add to secondary and voila
Title: Re: Blueberry Ale
Post by: DandyMason on March 25, 2012, 02:25:47 PM
Yeah now that ive tried the extract i will give berries a try next time