No substitute for lemons?

[FatKebab]

Hi all, I've made a wherry with added lemon essence (the kind in the little bottles in the cake isle of pretty much any supermarket), but it's been a failure as far as lemon flavour goes. It just sits on top as an oil and doesn't impart any flavour.
I've used real lemons and limes to great effect in my brews but the essence just doesn't seem to want to play.
Unusable ingredient or am I doing it wrong?

Kind of a warning and question post in one, any info would be appreciated.

Cheers.

P.s. A wherry with two real limes chopped and chucked in the fv makes a huge amount of difference and gives you a really fresh, very sessionable drink.

 

[bobsbeer]

Not used it in a beer, but I have in wine. You need to use the zest. It is also where the oil is but as it's not concentrated it is more soluble.

 

[graysalchemy]

A citrus aroma/flavour in beer is usualy impated from hops particularly the american "c" hops, citra cascade and chinnock. Dry hopping with one of these would be better.

Incidentally adding anything with oils plays havoc with your beers head as well.
:thumb: