Blackberrys?

[CestrIan]

I have got a load of blackberrys in the freezer that have been there since last autumn.

I was planning on a blackberry stout at the weekend. Should I risk them after 6 months in the freezer?

[crafty john]

Yeah they will be fine, I use fruit that I have had in the freezer for 2 years.

[dave-o]

No worries about using them, but you might be disappointed with the results.

I made a blackberry stout for Christmas and it was nice, but there was no real blackberry taste. I'm sure they added some alcohol, but sugar could have done that. I used about 2.5 kilos in a 23l brew.

[CestrIan]

I'm going to add about 5Kg towards the end of fermentation. I've added them at the end of the boil in the past and the flavours have been subtle. When did you add them dave-o?

[dave-o]

I created a syrup with them;
-Put them in a pan with just enough water to cover them.
-Brought to the boil and simmered for about 20 minutes - until they are broken down
-Used a hand blender to reduce them to liquid and seeds (could just boil them for longer if you have no hand blender i suppose)
-Sieved them through muslin

It made a lovely deep purple concentrated blackberry juice that tasted amazing - it's a shame none of that taste made it to the ale.

I added the syrup 5 minutes from the end of the boil.

[dave-o]

*double post*

[Rookie]

No worries about using them, but you might be disappointed with the results.

I made a blackberry stout for Christmas and it was nice, but there was no real blackberry taste. I'm sure they added some alcohol, but sugar could have done that. I used about 2.5 kilos in a 23l brew.

It's easy for fruit to get lost in a stout. When I make a fruit beer I make something like a blonde or a wheat beer.

[floydmeddler]

How about adding them to secondary? I do this with honey and the honey hit is superb!