I'm going to brew my first strawberry melomel and I was just wondering what people thought about using juice versus real fruit. What are the best methods for both? (in your opinion) Does using either or change any thing else in the brewing process?
Hum?wayneb said:Hey, Oskaar!
Those of us out here in the vast mid-continent wish we could get our hands on ANY fresh strawberries for longer than a two-week season. Let alone the small red "baking" ones!! :sad5:
Oh right, that'd make sense. I often look for frozen, because the local "supermarket" are robbing f***s when it comes to fresh fruit that's out of season (actually they're robbing f***s when some stuff is in season i.e. currently "new season" blueberries are at £2.99 per 200 grammes or about 5.50 $US per 8 oz. Except I don't know who's new season it might be - other than King bloody Midas > ).wayneb said:Sure, frozen are available, but they're nothing like fresh -- especially the small ones that Oskaar mentioned. The flavor is especially intense!
I've just looked at that wikipedia link you posted and damn the picture looks very like what we in the UK would call "Black Berries" or "Brambles". Even the leaves and plant stems look the same i.e. they grow here wild, but the stalks/stems of the plant grow in a very tangled mess and the spines are denser and sharper (seemingly) than "normal" red raspberries.Black raspberries are a variety of rubus (related to European red raspberries) that occur naturally throughout much of North America. Here's a good reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_occidentalis
They are yummy!!
That looks excellent Oskaar,Oskaar said:
No we have blackberries here in addition to the black raspberries. Black raspberries are related to the red raspberries and have a similar but unique taste. Blackberries and red raspberries are cultivated commercially but it is difficult to find black raspberries in a store. However across much of the continent you can find them in the wild.fatbloke said:I've just looked at that wikipedia link you posted and damn the picture looks very like what we in the UK would call "Black Berries" or "Brambles". Even the leaves and plant stems look the same i.e. they grow here wild, but the stalks/stems of the plant grow in a very tangled mess and the spines are denser and sharper (seemingly) than "normal" red raspberries.Black raspberries are a variety of rubus (related to European red raspberries) that occur naturally throughout much of North America. Here's a good reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_occidentalis
They are yummy!!
I wonder if this is a case of "two nations, divided by a common language" ?
Yes I spotted that when I was looking through the various bits of the wikipedia link i.e. same family of fruit but different. It's got me wondering what the actual difference in flavour between red rasp's, black rasp's and black berries might be. Because the black rasp's don't seem to be available - but if it's like a raspberry like flavour, but a blackberry "looking" fruit then it might be a case of mixing red rasp and black berry juice to try and emulate that.CBBaron said:No we have blackberries here in addition to the black raspberries. Black raspberries are related to the red raspberries and have a similar but unique taste. Blackberries and red raspberries are cultivated commercially but it is difficult to find black raspberries in a store. However across much of the continent you can find them in the wild.
Wonderful fruits that I have spent many an afternoon collecting, mostly for cobbler or fresh eating.
fatbloke said:Yes I spotted that when I was looking through the various bits of the wikipedia link i.e. same family of fruit but different. It's got me wondering what the actual difference in flavour between red rasp's, black rasp's and black berries might be. Because the black rasp's don't seem to be available - but if it's like a raspberry like flavour, but a blackberry "looking" fruit then it might be a case of mixing red rasp and black berry juice to try and emulate that.
I'll have to look at the recipe in Ken's book again and see how I can substitute it/them.
regards
fatbloke
CBBaron said:Wonderful fruits that I have spent many an afternoon collecting, mostly for cobbler or fresh eating.