Just brewed my first batch tonight!!!

It is an addictive hobby. Welcome

 

Awesome, glad you enjoyed it. I do a similar idea (imperial gumballhead), and it's always a crowd pleaser. Now don't rush the fermentation!

 

and don't forget about temperature control! Don't let it get too hot

 

As a beer temp that's good, just keep in mind the difference between ambient temp and beer temp. With my beers I have observed the temp of my beer is usually 3 to 5 degrees above ambient when it is at its most active. With bigger beers the temp difference could be greater.

 

For most ale yeasts that's fine for the wort temp.

 

Are you planning on making the barrel aged version? I heard it was fantastic. That's half the joy of homebrewing, doing something wild and then trying to convince your friends that its the best beer ever.

 

Damn, all you need to do now is add Brett, bottle it in 750's, and wax the tops (bubblegum pink would probably be best). Should trade for those whales you said you were chasing.

 

I hope your sanitation is spot on then, especially with all of that fruit in the fermenter. Nothing worse then an infection to kill your first batch of beer and dreams of becoming a master brewer. Well, maybe bottle bombs are worse, they may kill more then just your dreams. Flying shards of glass are not your friend.

 

Welcome to a time consuming hobby. Let us know when you find a good clone recipe for cherry rye.

 

Freezing does absolutely nothing for sanitation. If it did they wouldn't preserve germs and bacteria in liquid nitrogen. What it does is causes ice crystals which pierce the cell walls and release more juice. Flash pasteurized frozen fruit or purée is the safest way to go. Or waiting until primary fermentation has started dying down to ensure that there is a strong colony of brewing yeast.

 

Cold crash, gelatin, or isinglass

Saying 6oz of hops is like saying I drank 4 beers, what's my bac?
It all depends on when they were added, % alpha acid, boil size, etc