Raspberry Ale Recipes

RASPBERRY ALE

Steps:

• Measure out all grains using a scale. Run the grain through a mill to crack the husk and release the starch; a supplier can do this. In a 6 to 10 gallon boiling pot, with screen in bottom, also known as a false bottom, add the gypsum to 2 1/2 gallons of water preheated to 168 degrees F. Pour crushed grains and wheat into the water and stir until mixed thoroughly. Cover the pot and let stand for about one hour periodically checking the to be sure it stays between 146 to 152 degrees F.
• Have available another 6 to 10 gallon pot of water heated to 180 to 190 degrees F also on the stove, about 7 gallons worth.
• Remove grain pots' cover, sparging [spraying], and gently sprinkle the hot water over the grain mixture until you get 2 to 3 inches of water on top of the mixture. Then attach a flexible tube to the outflow of the grain pot (masher) and turn the spigot on. This opens a valve that allows drainage of the sweet liquid (wort) from the bottom. Keep a steady stream of hot water sprinkling over the mixture while allowing a third pot to be filled with the drainage (this takes about 20 minutes).
• Once you have collected about 6 1/2 gallons close the spigot and stop the sprinkling then place this pot on the stove. Bring to a boil (this takes about 25 to 30 minutes). Once brought to a boiling, start a timer, and boil for a total of 10 minutes without any hops.
• Add Willamette hops and 1/2 ounce Fuggles hops; for bittering, continue to boil. After an additional 45 minutes add remaining Fuggles hops for flavor, add the copper chilling coil to sterilize it and continue to boil.
• After an additional 14 minutes add Kent Goldings hops for aroma, stir, and immediately switch off the heat. Remove the pot containing the wort to the sink, attach one plastic tube to faucet and the copper inflow and another to the copper outflow, the other end runs into the sink, and turn on the cold water. Cool it down to fermentation temperature of 75-degrees F. This takes about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Next, the wort is transferred into a 5 gallon sterilized fermenter. Shake the container to add air to the wort. Finally the yeast is added to the fermenter and an airlock is attached. This fermenter is allowed to stand for 1 week prior to the addition of the raspberries.
• At the end of the week, take a large stockpot and add the raspberries and 1 to 2 quarts water. Bring ingredients to 140-degrees F. and allow to stay at this temperature for 30 minutes.
• Set aside and let cool. Once cooled, add this into a 6 gallon sanitized fermenter through a sterilized funnel. Siphon the beer from the previous week into the same fermenter once the raspberries have cooled. If you do not let it cool, you could kill the yeast. Attach airlock and allow it to ferment an additional week.
• At the end of the week siphon the beer off the raspberries into a third fermenter and allow to finish fermentation for 1 to 2 more weeks.

RASPBERRY GINGERALE

Steps:

• Combine the ginger, lemon peel and 3 cups cold water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of the sugar and continue boiling until the sugar completely dissolves, 1 to 2 minutes. Strain the syrup into a small pitcher, cover tightly and refrigerate until very cold, at least 2 hours.
• Combine the raspberries and the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a medium bowl. Let stand at room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Spoon some of the berries into the bottoms of 6 to 8 glasses and mash them gently with a spoon. Pour over some ginger syrup - more or less depending on how sweet you want your drink. Pour about 1/2 cup club soda in each glass, and serve with a straw.