Cherry Beer

[TheAmazingGonzo]

Afternoon all, I did my first brew with a Grainfather recently and had good results with an American IPA, but looking to do something with fruit next. I've never done anything with fruit before but got the taste for a cherry Kriek that Tesco does and wanted to try and replicate that. I've been told it can take years to produce an authentic Kriek, which I don't really want to do, so was wondering if anyone had any suggestions, or recipes for a similar cherry beer that they'd had success with using a Grainfather?

 

[prog99]

You could kettle sour and add cherries during fermentation.
Is the Tesco kriek a sweet one?

 

[Dutto]

I've often used Lowicz Cherry Syrup in PA's and Lagers.

It gives a discernible taste even after fermentation.

 

[TheAmazingGonzo]

I've often used Lowicz Cherry Syrup in PA's and Lagers.

It gives a discernible taste even after fermentation.

Thanks, and at what part of the process is this added?

 

[TheAmazingGonzo]

You could kettle sour and add cherries during fermentation.
Is the Tesco kriek a sweet one?

Sorry, you lost me at kettle sour, this isn't something I've heard of before?

Relatively new to grain brewing, so not sure.

The Tesco Kriek isn't particularly sweet, I've tasted sweeter, it's almost wine-like.

 

[Horners]

I asked a similar question recently. See here:

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/cherry-belgian.82317/

Not attempted my brew yet, hopefully it will be this weekend.

 

[Brew_DD2]

Sorry, you lost me at kettle sour, this isn't something I've heard of before?

Relatively new to grain brewing, so not sure.

The Tesco Kriek isn't particularly sweet, I've tasted sweeter, it's almost wine-like.

Which one is it? If it's the Bacchus Kriek that they have sold for a few years now, I would consider that very sweet for the style. The only other Kriek I have seen for sale in a supermarket is Boon Kriek in Waitrose. Even that is quite sweet, but far more tart than the Bacchus.

 

[Horners]

For what its worth, I am still umming and ahhing about the recipe but this is ml latest draft:

Hold the Cherries
Method: All Grain
Style: Fruit Beer
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 13 liters (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 28.5 liters
Boil Gravity: 1.028 (recipe based estimate)
Efficiency: 75% (brew house)
Calories: 196 calories (Per 355mL)
Share: <EMBED>

Original Gravity:
1.060
Final Gravity:
1.011
ABV (standard):
6.51%
IBU (tinseth):
18.99
EBC (ebcmorey):
14.14
1.5 kg Belgian - Pilsner 37 1.6 25.6%
360 g German - Carapils 35 1.3 6.1%
500 g Torrified Wheat 36 2 8.5%
3 kg Cherry, Montmorency 3.55 0 51.2%
500 g Belgian Candi Sugar - Amber/Brown (60L) 38 23.04 8.5%
5.86 kg Total
Saaz 2.5 Boil 60 min

Yeast : Safale Belgian 256

 

[dad_of_jon]

you can make a low abv beer then pour a bottle of cherry brandy liqueur 20% in.
or try brewferm kriek, it all depends on how much cherry hit you want?

 

[prog99]

Sorry, you lost me at kettle sour, this isn't something I've heard of before?

Relatively new to grain brewing, so not sure.

The Tesco Kriek isn't particularly sweet, I've tasted sweeter, it's almost wine-like.

It'd be good to find out which one.

Kettle souring is a quick way to sour a beer (there's a few ways but one is to sour with lactobacillus before you boil) - the method is explained in this recipe https://beerandbrewing.com/sixth-street-sour-recipe/ (which his great BTW)

 

[TheAmazingGonzo]

Which one is it? If it's the Bacchus Kriek that they have sold for a few years now, I would consider that very sweet for the style. The only other Kriek I have seen for sale in a supermarket is Boon Kriek in Waitrose. Even that is quite sweet, but far more tart than the Bacchus.

Yeah, it is the Bacchus one, I thought it was sweet, but not overly so, I have tasted sweeter cherry beers. Although, I'm sure our individual palates have a lot to do with it.

 

[TheAmazingGonzo]

It'd be good to find out which one.

Kettle souring is a quick way to sour a beer (there's a few ways but one is to sour with lactobacillus before you boil) - the method is explained in this recipe https://beerandbrewing.com/sixth-street-sour-recipe/ (which his great BTW)

It's the Bacchus Kriek. Thanks for the info on this.

 

[TheAmazingGonzo]

For what its worth, I am still umming and ahhing about the recipe but this is ml latest draft:

Hold the Cherries
Method: All Grain
Style: Fruit Beer
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 13 liters (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 28.5 liters
Boil Gravity: 1.028 (recipe based estimate)
Efficiency: 75% (brew house)
Calories: 196 calories (Per 355mL)
Share: <EMBED>

Original Gravity:
1.060
Final Gravity:
1.011
ABV (standard):
6.51%
IBU (tinseth):
18.99
EBC (ebcmorey):
14.14
1.5 kg Belgian - Pilsner 37 1.6 25.6%
360 g German - Carapils 35 1.3 6.1%
500 g Torrified Wheat 36 2 8.5%
3 kg Cherry, Montmorency 3.55 0 51.2%
500 g Belgian Candi Sugar - Amber/Brown (60L) 38 23.04 8.5%
5.86 kg Total
Saaz 2.5 Boil 60 min

Yeast : Safale Belgian 256

Many thanks for this. I'd be doing this in a Grainfather Connect, is there anything else I should be aware of and do you know how I could convert this to use in the app?

 

[TheAmazingGonzo]

you can make a low abv beer then pour a bottle of cherry brandy liqueur 20% in.
or try brewferm kriek, it all depends on how much cherry hit you want?

Thanks for the info, seems like a good alternative

 

[Horners]

Many thanks for this. I'd be doing this in a Grainfather Connect, is there anything else I should be aware of and do you know how I could convert this to use in the app?

To be honest mate Ive not brewed this yet and when I do it will be experimental - its just the work in progress of combining several ideas, thoughts etc.