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As you may know nine locks has their watermelon blonde out. I was thinking I would try it, all grain 5gal batch, as my girlfriend is a huge fan and the summer is approaching.

Anyone have any recipe ideas ? Perhaps have already done this ?

Cheers

I use my standard blonde...and add 4 cups of fresh watermelon juice (per 5gal batch) in the secondary.
Let me know if you need a grain bill

Maybe some can answer, does nine locks use watermelon juice or a flavor extract.

i was planning on using a standard blonde but i wasnt sure whether i should use actual watermelon or an extract. its my first kick with fruit so im not sure how much flavour will be infused based on fermentation/clarification length.

I am curious, do you buy the watermelon juice or press it out?

I've always pressed my own with real fruit. 4 cups is a good starting point imo.

i was thinking i would just rack to a secondary on fresh melon but you think its better to press the melon ? 4cups to a 5 gal batch? when would you add it? im scared of adding to the primary because of added sugars.

If there is any sugar in the melon, it’s going to ferment out regardless of first or secondary

Thanks. I would suggest the secondary to add it. I've made a raspberry wheat for several summers now and always added it to the secondary with great results. Just rack it right on top of it. I moved from puree to frozen raspberries to get a more subtle flavouring but that is personal taste.

Mac_Brew wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 25, 2018 9:42 am

Thanks. I would suggest the secondary to add it. I've made a raspberry wheat for several summers now and always added it to the secondary with great results. Just rack it right on top of it. I moved from puree to frozen raspberries to get a more subtle flavouring but that is personal taste.

When you do your raspberry, now much frozen raspberries do you use. I made one once, it turned out ok. I think I used 2 bags of frozen berries. I was pretty shocked to see the berries turn white as the beer leached the color.

melon does add sugar...but also water. I add them after about day 5...let condition for another 10 days then keg

awesome. i will be giving this a go very shortly ! Thanks for all the helpful insight.

When you do your raspberry, now much frozen raspberries do you use. I made one once, it turned out ok. I think I used 2 bags of frozen berries. I was pretty shocked to see the berries turn white as the beer leached the color.

I used 2 bags from Sobeys. Key is that they are IQF as I read on another thread in this forum. And yes, a bit freaky when you see the raspberries turn white! A favourite brew at our cottage in the summer.

Mac_Brew wrote:

When you do your raspberry, now much frozen raspberries do you use. I made one once, it turned out ok. I think I used 2 bags of frozen berries. I was pretty shocked to see the berries turn white as the beer leached the color.

I used 2 bags from Sobeys. Key is that they are IQF as I read on another thread in this forum. And yes, a bit freaky when you see the raspberries turn white! A favourite brew at our cottage in the summer.

Thanks! That is exactly what I did.


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jacinthebox wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 24, 2018 6:22 pm

I've always pressed my own with real fruit. 4 cups is a good starting point imo.

Going to give this a try. How many watermelons give you 4 cups. I assume it isn't a ton since there is so much liquid in just one.

Thanks,

One large...or 3 mini

jacinthebox wrote: ↑

Thu May 03, 2018 4:39 pm

One large...or 3 mini

Just an update on this, using your advice, I brewed up a 5.5 gallon batch of Blonde Ale. Let it ferment for 6-7 days, transfer it to a secondary on top of the juice from one large watermelon. It turned out friggin fantastic. It tastes just as good as the Nine Locks if not better. I brewed it light since its for my wife and friends, so only 4 percent, but really really good.

Thanks!

I'm glad it turned out ...cheers

likewise! after a week I racked mine onto 3/4 of a fresh watermelon. turned out fantastic. i will you the entirety of the watermelon next time !

I had one of the nine locks last night and I couldn't finish it.. tastes like they used a cheap extract and the flavors were competing against each other. I'd imagine a nice homebrewed version could be OK.

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Halifax_Jeff wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:58 pm

I had one of the nine locks last night and I couldn't finish it.. tastes like they used a cheap extract and the flavors were competing against each other. I'd imagine a nice homebrewed version could be OK.

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I am guessing they do use extract, since the one I made with real is much fresher tasting and not as sweet tasting.