Cherry Wheat

[Brownbeard]

I am trying to make a cherry wheat for SWMBO. She is a big Sam Adams cherry wheat fan, and don't tell anyone but I like it too. I am looking at getting the American Wheat kit from Nortern Brewer and adding cherry extract a couple days before bottling. Any opinions on this?

[Payson]

Just curious....forgive my ignorance, but what is SWMBO?

[Brownbeard]

She who must be obeyed...The wife.

[YamahaXS]

Your wife knows you are brewing your own beer?

[Payson]

I see. Hopefully soon SWMBO will become SWTIWHII. (She who thought it was her idea initially) . At that point the sky is the limit! Stainless conical fermenters, kegerators etc...!
Good Luck!

[Brownbeard]

Wouldn't that be nice. More likely she will become SWWWINLTB(she who wonders why I never leave the basement). No advice on the recipe? I think I am gonna go for it. Worst case scenario, I have good beer to drink.

[mmmBeer...]

I think it should work for you...don't see any reason why it wouldn't. My wife wants me to do a raspberry wheat (did a raspberry ale already), I will use my usual wheat recipe and just add the raspberries for flavour.

[michaewa]

Is there an appreciable difference between adding the extract in the secondary for cherry (rasberry, etc) flavor and putting real crushed fruit in the primary?

It seems like the extract would be much cleaner and easier, but are the flavors authentic?

I'm making a Guinness clone tomorrow, and I thought I might make a cherry stout using the harvested yeast when I'm done.

[sallad]

as per recommendations i've recieved from this board, real fruit should be used in secondary as well. the fermentation process scrubs away flavors and aromas of fruits, spices and herbs so secondary is better!

i have yet to try this, but hope to make a cranberry wheat soon for a thanksgiving-type beer using this method!

[Fast_Eddy]

For this recipe I would also recommend a clean yeast. You don't want to pick something that will produce a lot of banana or clove taste.

[danno]

Brownbeard, I'd highly recommend the Oregon Fruit Purees over the extracts... much better flavor, and they're pre-sanitized, too, just dump them into your primary...

if any of you ever get the chance, New Glarus Brewing in Wisconsin makes an incredible Cherry Belgian ale.. they only distribute in-state, but if you can find it, buy a bottle. (they only come in 750ml bottles)

[paul84043]

I agree with Danno,
The extracts give me heartburn and taste "fake".
I made a raspberry wheat, used 44oz. Oregon raspberry puree in the primary (after 5 days) gotta give the initial base beer time to settle down. It still blew the airlock off....
It was fantastic!!

I would also use White labs IV (less banana flavor) or the white labs "american Hefewiezen yeast". Cleaner flavor.
I'd say go for it....

[Brownbeard]

I ordered that American wheat recipe. It comes with the Wyeast Hefewiezen. I also found out the local grocery store sells the Oregon purees.

[paul84043]

Sounds like you're set!!

I haven't seen the oregon brand here at all...

[mmmBeer...]

The raspberry ale I made we put the frozen raspberries in the primary (used them to help cool the wort) Only used 450 gm (about a pound), and it has a huge raspberry nose, and a nice balanced flavour, so I can’t imagine that much of the taste and flavour was scrubbed out by the fermentation…in fact I wouldn’t have wanted more!

[Brownbeard]

My big concern with this is I do not want it to be sweet. I have always liked the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat for that reason, it tastes like beer, with a cherry kick. An example of something I cannot stand is the Leinenkugels BerryWeiss. It is far too sweet. I am not sure how much cherry to go with.

[Beerconnoisseur]

You could try MoreBeer's cherry flavoring (FF10) at bottling. Their Berry Beer kit (KIT130) is pretty good, but uses raspberry instead of cherry flavoring. No added sugars, which is nice.