Wanna get looped!

[BorisVorlauf]

Hey Folks,
I wanna do an IPA recipe and add Fruit Loops! Yes, you read that correctly. I just don't know when/how to add them. I want to preserve as much of the precious fruity cereal flavour. Would I dry-hop, or dry-loop? Or add them in while I am whirlpooling?

Thoughts?

[MitchK]

Since they're grain based I'd be worried about them being home to the same type of micro-organisms that can live in beer but I could be wrong... Only one way to find out I guess. "Dry hopping" them would definitely preserve more flavor. Keep in mind fermentation will restart because they contain sugar, and that you could always do the "soak in vodka and then dump the loops and the vodka in" trick if you don't mind bumping up the abv.

[jason.loxton]

In a processed product like that I wouldn't really worry about contamination. I'd worry more about the effects of the oils and other compounds, aside from the sugars and flavours.

Here's a discussion in BYO, but it's mainly talking about using various cereals as adjuncts, which is not really what you're after...

http://byo.com/hops/item/484-confession ... eal-brewer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Try it. What have you got to lose but a batch of beer!

[BorisVorlauf]

Thanks for the feedback so far. This batch would certainly fall under the category of 'experimental', and I will be happy to report back on the results. I will more than likely add (sparingly) to the end of the boil or whirlpool to eliminate any potential for contamination (if there might be any). I may do it as a SMaSH to more easily isolate what a fruity cereal does (flavor/aroma/head-retention, etc.). Again, its' all in the name of fun! I will likely try it in the coming weeks - but want to pound out a few other beers first.

Cheers!

[Celiacbrew]

there are a lot of starches in fruit loops, you might end up with a hazy beer if you don't mash them.

[GAM]

I don't think the flavour (artificial I assume) will be detracted by mashing. I would fear extra fermentation if added during packaging.

S

[MitchK]

Honestly if I were to do a fruit loops beer I would try to take advantage of facsimiles rather than actually including fruit loops as an ingredient. For example, ever notice how an overly sweetened vanilla forward london fog (earl grey tea latte) tastes like fruit loops? I find the starbucks london fog to be especially guilty of tasting like fruit loops.

Maybe something with earl grey tea, lactose, and vanilla beans?