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Dogfish Head Black and Blue clone

Ok folks, I have recently finished my 10th batch of beer and all is going quite well AND I helped talk a co-worker into making his own beer as well.

I have been going off of my LBS'es house recipies for the most part with great success. After having a couple of bottles of Dogfish Head's Black and Blue, I'm looking to make a clone or a close copy. It is a Belgian Ale, 10% alcohol, with blackberries and blueberries.

If I take my LBS'es house Belgian Double which is 6.x ABV and add 3 lbs of blackberry and 3 lbs of blueberry puree from a can, will I end up with too much fermentables and kill off my yeast? Should I use only half a 3 lb can per berry type? I use Wyeast smack packs in a starter with a magnetic stir plate and oxygen prior to adding the yeast already, so I think I have the ability to create a high gravity ale. I just don't want to waste 5 gallons of beer because my venture into the unknown went bad.

I'm up for comments and suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

Reply to
Tpeters
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I wouldn't worry about having too many fermentables killing off the yeast.

What I would worry about is the final flavor and getting the right amount of puree in the beer. It won't hurt the yeast if you use too much or not enough for flavor.

And if you want it on the sweet side, you'll want to either use an extract that has some unfermentable sugars left in it or, if you're doing an all-grain brew, mash your grains at close to 160 degrees F. That tends to yield a less fermentable, sweeter beer.

If you use too much, you can always dilute it somewhat, add some boiled wort with more extract in it, and allow it to begin the fermentation process again. You'll end up with more beer that way, of course.

Reply to
donhellen

Just a follow up - I started with my LHBS's Belgian Dubbel minus the candi sugar. After heavy fermenting had slowed down I added 1 can of Blackberrry Puree and gave let the yeast activity repeak then slow back down a bit. Then I added 1 can of Blueberry puree. Once the yeast started to slow down a third time I racked it to the secondary which is where it is now 3 weeks to the day from boil date. For the last week or so activity is quite slow but the air lock still has a bubble about once per 2 minutes.

I'm guessing about a month total before I bottle this. When I racked it over I gave it a taste and it isn't bad at all.

Both times I added puree I also put some pect> Ok folks, I have recently finished my 10th batch of beer and all is

Reply to
Tpeters

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