Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: help brewing a shandy  (Read 2745 times)

Offline jrhomebrewing

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 64
help brewing a shandy
« on: October 31, 2016, 10:05:27 pm »
I am wanting to do an All Grain huckelbeary shandy but i have never brewed something like this before. I dont even know what kind of grains to use or the amounts or how much huckleberries to add and when to add them. This will be a 5 gallon batch. Thanks for you help I look forward to brewing something different!

Offline kramerog

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2262
    • My LinkedIn page
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2016, 08:40:07 am »
Shandies are generally not brewed, Leinenkugel notwithstanding.  Shandies are usually mixed in a serving glass by adding beer to lemonade.

I've not brewed with huckelberries before.  If they are like blueberries you will need at least 1 lb/gallon for a huckelberry beer.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27137
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2016, 11:09:16 am »
Shandies are generally not brewed, Leinenkugel notwithstanding.  Shandies are usually mixed in a serving glass by adding beer to lemonade.

I've not brewed with huckelberries before.  If they are like blueberries you will need at least 1 lb/gallon for a huckelberry beer.

And traditionally, it's a soda like 7 Up.  It's referred to as lemonade in other countries.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline jrhomebrewing

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 64
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2016, 06:40:35 pm »
ok so if i wanted to brew some kind of huckleberry beer what would you guys recommend doing and when would you add the berries. They are kinda like blueberries in a way Denny.

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2016, 06:47:40 pm »
ok so if i wanted to brew some kind of huckleberry beer what would you guys recommend doing and when would you add the berries. They are kinda like blueberries in a way Denny.



I'd brew whatever base beer you want for your beer, wait around a week, then rack to a secondary on top of the fruit that's contained in a fine mesh nylon bag to contain the fruit pulp. Then wait 2-4 weeks and package. Closer to a month is better since you're using whole fruit, to give the fruit a chance to break down and give up its goodness.
Jon H.

Offline ajk

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 279
  • Foam Blowers of Indiana (FBI)
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2016, 08:59:05 pm »
Shandies are generally not brewed, Leinenkugel notwithstanding.  Shandies are usually mixed in a serving glass by adding beer to lemonade.

I've not brewed with huckelberries before.  If they are like blueberries you will need at least 1 lb/gallon for a huckelberry beer.

And traditionally, it's a soda like 7 Up.  It's referred to as lemonade in other countries.
I don't think what they call lemonade is as sweet as 7-Up, do you? I force-carbonate lemonade and use that. It makes a pretty good match for the Radlers I've had in Munich.

Offline Hand of Dom

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 372
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2016, 03:45:08 am »
Shandies are generally not brewed, Leinenkugel notwithstanding.  Shandies are usually mixed in a serving glass by adding beer to lemonade.

I've not brewed with huckelberries before.  If they are like blueberries you will need at least 1 lb/gallon for a huckelberry beer.

And traditionally, it's a soda like 7 Up.  It's referred to as lemonade in other countries.
I don't think what they call lemonade is as sweet as 7-Up, do you? I force-carbonate lemonade and use that. It makes a pretty good match for the Radlers I've had in Munich.

Denny is spot on, at least in terms of what we call a shandy in the UK.  It's half a pint or so of bitter or lager, topped up to a pint with lemonade (normal British lemonade is typically very much like 7-up, being both clear and sweet).  We have a similar drink called a lager top, which is mostly lager, but with a dash of lemonade at the end.
Dom

Currently drinking - Amarillo saison
Currently fermenting - Pale ale 1 - 2017

Offline kramerog

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2262
    • My LinkedIn page
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2016, 07:04:06 am »
ok so if i wanted to brew some kind of huckleberry beer what would you guys recommend doing and when would you add the berries. They are kinda like blueberries in a way Denny.



I'd brew whatever base beer you want for your beer, wait around a week, then rack to a secondary on top of the fruit that's contained in a fine mesh nylon bag to contain the fruit pulp. Then wait 2-4 weeks and package. Closer to a month is better since you're using whole fruit, to give the fruit a chance to break down and give up its goodness.
+1 to the above.  I recommend freezing the fruit to break it down and to kill or stun much of the bacteria.


Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk


Offline kramerog

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2262
    • My LinkedIn page
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2016, 07:06:42 am »
ok so if i wanted to brew some kind of huckleberry beer what would you guys recommend doing and when would you add the berries. They are kinda like blueberries in a way Denny.
Blueberries and cherries have mild flavors so the minimum amount for them is 1 lb/gal.

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk


Offline Village Taphouse

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2342
  • Ken from Chicago
    • The new Mayfair Court Brewhouse
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2016, 07:26:37 am »
When my wife and I went to Europe in 2013, it was very hot and we drank quite a few of the radlers (same idea, different name) that were either premade that way (a bottle or can) or mixed at the tavern.  There were lime versions, lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc. and they all tasted pretty good because they were cold and it was so hot outside.  When we got home, we decided to try to make some by mixing some Stiegl Goldbrau with 7-UP, lemonade, a mixture of both, Squirt, etc. and we could never get it quite right.  If I were to make one, I wouldn't mix it all together as a part of the beer... instead I'd make a blonde ale or gold lager and try to mix it in the glass.  The huckleberry version would just be considered a 'fruit beer', right?  Brewing with fruit can be tricky because the sugars from the fruit are going to kick up a secondary fermentation which can really dry out the beer.  Not for the squeamish.
Ken from Chicago. 
A day without beer is like... just kidding, I have no idea.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27137
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2016, 10:31:35 am »
ok so if i wanted to brew some kind of huckleberry beer what would you guys recommend doing and when would you add the berries. They are kinda like blueberries in a way Denny.



I'd brew whatever base beer you want for your beer, wait around a week, then rack to a secondary on top of the fruit that's contained in a fine mesh nylon bag to contain the fruit pulp. Then wait 2-4 weeks and package. Closer to a month is better since you're using whole fruit, to give the fruit a chance to break down and give up its goodness.

What Jon said...
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27137
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: help brewing a shandy
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2016, 10:33:02 am »
Denny is spot on, at least in terms of what we call a shandy in the UK.  It's half a pint or so of bitter or lager, topped up to a pint with lemonade (normal British lemonade is typically very much like 7-up, being both clear and sweet).  We have a similar drink called a lager top, which is mostly lager, but with a dash of lemonade at the end.

Thanks for the confirmation.  I spent several years as the only American on a rock'n'roll tour of otherwise Brit and Aussie guys and drank many shandies.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell