Flavoring With Extracts

[jimjohson]

I got a bottle of orange liqueur 20ml that, according to the label, is for flavoring 750 ml of vodka. In the interests of clarity I will put the whole label the commas will indicate a new line. The Original, Prestige, Strander, Orange Liqueur, Essence. Anybody ever use this, or anything like it? I had planned to use this @ bottling (orange wheat) or would it be better added to the secondary? Or should I use it at all?

[Dawg LB Steve]

For what its worth, we had a discussion at the LHBS about flavoring with fruit and when, with some guys that have been brewing at a semi professional level for 20-30 years and it came down to using a fruit flavored Brandy or fruit flavored liquor at keg or bottle time, simply because of wild yeasts and or bugs associated with fruits.

[mashani]

When I use fruit, which is rare, I make my own "extract" which amounts to the fruit pulverized in vodka and left to sit for some days in a jar. Add that to the beer. That or candi syrup, IE I've done candi syrup with dried tart cherries before.

[John Sand]

I've used Brewer's Best Apricot in a couple of Blondes with success. I did use a little less than prescribed. I don't like fruity fruit beer, just a touch. Better to add way too little than even a little too much. Once I added it to the fermenter after primary subsided, the other time at bottling. Both worked the same. I've also tried adding different amounts to two fermenters, which you can easily do at bottling.

[jimjohson]

Thanks y'all

When I use fruit, which is rare, I make my own "extract" which amounts to the fruit pulverized in vodka and left to sit for some days in a jar. Add that to the beer. That or candi syrup, IE I've done candi syrup with dried tart cherries before.

That's how I do my blackberry wheat, but I'm a little hesitant about adding oranges to the secondary. Not at all sure what all that acid would do the PH levels.

[ScrewyBrewer]

I'm pretty sure that the beer's buffering would prevent too big a swing in its pH when adding citric acid. Beer pH is said to be 4.3 - 4.5 when its in the glass and ready for drinking. Next time I recalibrate my pH meter I'll have to add some orange juice to a beer and record the changes.

[mashani]

I believe Fedora Dave has made beer that he likes with orange juice added pre-fermentation. If it was going to mess something up, it would mess that up.

[jimjohson]

Ok update. I just finished the first of that batch. You do get a good orange flavor but, there is a serious YUCK in the finish. I can not identify the taste(way in the back of my mouth), but I got 23 more bottles and a 2.5gal keg. I'll figure it out.

[DaYooper]

If it is a liqueur it most likely still has some fermentables in it. The LHBS carries both vodka flavorings (which usually require sugar if you want to make a schnapps rather than a flavored vodka) and extracts. I use Lorann's 1 dram extracts which I add at bottling since otherwise you are just blowing out the aroma. They are very easy to blend to get just the right flavor, and once you know how much to add you get consistent results all the time unlike fruit. Have used the orange Loranns and it is very good although hard to keep on the shelf as sometimes SWMBO likes using it in her Blue Moons when we dont have oranges in the house.

[braukasper]

I try and use essential oils at bottling instead of flavorings. Not all flavorings are meant for use in beer. A lot of flavorings are artificial and there is a reaction in the beer. I know that you can get any citrus as an essential oil. Make sure you get a food grade oil and not one for aroma therapy.

[RickBeer]

Like the Lorann oils, right?

[braukasper]

Lorann does make a few oils a lot of theirs are concentrated flavorings. I usually get mine from one our vendors at work. Amazon has a lot of them. Most brewing vendors do sell flavorings that are safe for brewing. Quite a few of the one for liquors will not work with home brew because of the active yeast in our beers.

[RickBeer]

I was referring to their Super Strength Flavors which I think are oils, they have almost 120 of them. I've used Peanut Butter and plan on trying Apricot and something else in split 5 gallon wheat batch.

http://lorannoils.com/product-education ... ur-flavors

[jimjohson]

I was referring to their Super Strength Flavors which I think are oils, they have almost 120 of them. I've used Peanut Butter and plan on trying Apricot and something else in split 5 gallon wheat batch.

http://lorannoils.com/product-education ... ur-flavors

Thanks Rick, just a quick glance thru and found 4 I want to try. Probably find lots more when I really look at it

BTW I let 2 friends try the brew and they say I'm being way too hard on it. They tasted nothing unusual

[DaYooper]

FYI Adventures carries a decent selection of Loranns.