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Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:06 pm
by MatthewRichard
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
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:49 am
by jacinthebox
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
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 9:50 am
by jacinthebox
Maybe some can answer, does nine locks use watermelon juice or a flavor extract.
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:33 pm
by MatthewRichard
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.
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 10:55 am
by Mac_Brew
I am curious, do you buy the watermelon juice or press it out?
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 6:22 pm
by jacinthebox
I've always pressed my own with real fruit. 4 cups is a good starting point imo.
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 10:53 pm
by MatthewRichard
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.
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 7:32 am
by Bowserm
If there is any sugar in the melon, it’s going to ferment out regardless of first or secondary
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 9:42 am
by Mac_Brew
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.
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 9:55 am
by sgrhyno
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.
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:37 am
by jacinthebox
melon does add sugar...but also water. I add them after about day 5...let condition for another 10 days then keg
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2018 1:47 pm
by MatthewRichard
awesome. i will be giving this a go very shortly ! Thanks for all the helpful insight.
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 4:24 pm
by Mac_Brew
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.

Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed May 02, 2018 8:50 am
by sgrhyno
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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Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 10:13 am
by PMackie
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,
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Thu May 03, 2018 4:39 pm
by jacinthebox
One large...or 3 mini
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 9:10 am
by PMackie
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!
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 7:28 am
by jacinthebox
I'm glad it turned out ...cheers
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 12:29 pm
by MatthewRichard
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 !
Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:58 pm
by Halifax_Jeff
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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Re: Watermelon Blonde
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 2:31 pm
by PMackie
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.
Sent from my smartphone
I am guessing they do use extract, since the one I made with real is much fresher tasting and not as sweet tasting.