Adding fruit juice to secondary?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by nicholasb, Jun 21, 2014.

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  1. nicholasb

    nicholasb Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2005 Michigan

    My plan is to brew 10 gallons of a session saison (85% pils/15% flaked white wheat/lightly hopped with goldings--20-25ibus). I typically mash long (90 min) and low (around 146-148F). I also plan to pitch WLP 565. I expect to start in the 1.045-1.048 range and finish between 1.002 and 1.006.

    I recently purchased four 32oz cartons of Ceres brand guava juice (actually, pear juice and guava puree). No preservatives, etc. It's been pasteurized. I intend to add the guava juice when I transfer to secondary.

    I've "fruited" saisons several times in the past, but have always used handpicked berries (measurable by the pound) and never juice, so I really don't know how much juice to add. I wondered if anyone has any experience in this arena and could lend any advice.

    I also wondered what you all thought about perhaps adding brett c. to the mix.

    Any advice is welcomed. Many thanks in advance.
     
  2. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Most fruit juice has a tendency to make a beer "thin"...but the Saison is pretty thin to begin with so...yeah. 32 oz should be just about right for 10 gal.
     
  3. APreacher

    APreacher Initiate (0) Jun 6, 2012 California

    565 should finish low, being a tame strain it is very tolerant when adding adjuncts. Personally I would add puree over juice for the reasoning (as mentioned above) for thinness and also for the sake of extracting true flavors. If you have proper water, your saison shouldn't be thin....No matter, I would still add a real fruit/concentrate over a juice that might contain some blend of apple/grape juice that could water down. Box/can/jar juices scare me on the cold side....
     
  4. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,336) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just read this months zymurgy. My suggestion is to go for it and see what happens. Nobody has made an exciting new beer by being conservative.
     
    jbakajust1 likes this.
  5. nicholasb

    nicholasb Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2005 Michigan

    I am going to go ahead with the plan. Good points, SFACRKnight. A couple of you guys cited thinness concerns. I wondered what you meant by that. Like leanness or dryness? It just seems like the yeast would chow down on the sugars. I sort of doubt it will have the souring effect of adding fresh wild fruit, skins and all, but I feel like it could be pretty good. Time will tell. Many thanks.
     
  6. Daemose

    Daemose Maven (1,407) Oct 3, 2011 Texas

    I think they are concerned with the water content of the juice.
     
  7. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,238) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Thinness arises from dilution of body building compounds like proteins and dextrin. The juice contains totally fermentable, sugar, in a matrix of water, but no bodybuilders.
     
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