Anyone ever use fruit preserves?

Preserves typically have a ton of added sugar, and that's not what I'm really looking for when I add fruit to a beer. Is there a reason you can't get your particular fruit canned or frozen?

 

Just curious as to what fruit in particular it is you are wanting?

 

aren't you in cherry land? I've been to the cherry festival in traverse and couldn't get away from the stuff

I've added the Vintner's Harvest cans of fruit puree to beers with great success before. Generally added just as primary is dying down. Most hb shops should carry them. I've also added fruit extract as well to really accentuate the fruit, you just need to keep that addition in check because extract can overwhelm quickly.

 

Really? Can't find them anywhere? Did you try the Google?

 

I think Ikea might sell lingonberries frozen

 

IIRC, Old Sock posted about using some sort of jam or cooked preserves in an early Mad Fermentationist blog. You could ask him about it or search his blog. My recollection is that he said it imparted fruit flavors to the beer, but they were cooked fruit flavors. I have used a combination of cooked and frozen grapes in beer, but have nothing to compare to, so that's no help. If pectin is a concern, you can buy pectinase, an enzyme that breaks down pectin, and play with that. I've used it before in a mead, and it seemed to work out.

 

Pick-Your-Own...


http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Michigan&statefips=26&symbol=VAVI

 

Score 10 points for puttin the USDA Plant Database to beer use! We have them in my part of n. WI, too.

 

The database can also be used to locate counties where wild hops have been reported.

 

Fruit Puree works much better, and you can get it at most homebrew shops.

 

The price will go up after the riots smolder out. This will be a prestigious beer.

Unfortuanately, that's what we do if we want canned fruit puree. Otherwise, we usually get it from the supermarket when it's cheap. Time to try my hand at strawberry wine again.

 

Did you ever find fresh/frozen/dried lingonberries? I'm hoping to do a similar batch before Christmas and all I can find is preserves or syrup at Ikea.

 

They have dried lingonberries on Amazon for $18 a pound. That is as cheap as you will be able to buy them in the USA. Since I spent three minutes finding them, you are obligated to buy them and not complain about the price.