11/2023 - Batch 4: Last time the amount of fruit was 4.5 lb in about 5 gallons, frozen, pureed with lots of pectinase added. Adding pectinase to the ingredients. Used about 1/3 of the bottle from BSG (28g total) or about 9-10 grams.
The first two batches, I tried to put in 10 lb, but it was a struggle to fit and made it quite difficult to work with. 5 lb or 1 lb/gallon seemed to work, but the berries I'm using are very flavorful. Regular store-bought ones would likely need more lbs/gallon or boosting with extract.
added pectinase, 1 oz/28g Barbe Rouge, and 5 lb strawberry puree (frozen + food processor) on day 5. Delay due to illness. I think 2 days would have been perfectly post-krausen.
3/2023
Sticking with Barbe Rouge. Newest batch is smaller, putting 5 lbs/5 gallons. This was possibly the best batch I've made.
Substituting lots of things to try out a new yeast (sundew) and hops (HBC 630). Tried Zamba as dry hop and worked. Shifting to Barbe Rouge to accent red fruit.
Added hibiscus tea to attempt 2 (Zamba) to give a more acidic note and also a little bit more color. Turned out very nicely.
Copied from: https://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/view/222855/fruity-blonde
Original Authors notes:
This has been my go to ale recipe for years. It is light, flavorful, and loved by everyone who pulls a pint. You could dry it out a bit by adding a pound of suar or maze in the boil, but it stands well on its own.I brew it at least once a month. I never shared it until now as a friend of mine entered it into a local comp and won 1st overall.
Add a little gypsum to get mash ph to 5.5
let it ferment for 14 days and keg to 3vol.