Straight from the pages of Brew Your Own Magazine, comes this weeks summer beer. John wanted a light a refreshing fruit beer to beat the summer heat. Along came the July/August issue of BYO. Here’ our review and comments on the Funkwerks Raspberry Provincial Clone.

This recipe comes from the great folks at BYO magazine. We both been long time subscribers, although we don’t official pimp for them regularly. We made this beer out of summer necessity not a chance to advertise.

Recipe:
4.3# Pilsner Malt
2.2# wheat malt
0.5# Carapils
0.5# Flaked Wheat
1.2# acidulated malt (added last 20 min of mash)
25oz Oregon Raspberry puree
WLP400 Belgian Wit

John brewed this one with some slight changes. He used two yeasts pitching some WY 3944 Witbier and some WY 3942 Belgian Wheat yeast. Because he had it on hand and wanted to use it up. Also we both have brewed plenty of fruit beers off and on. Tis the season for great fresh fruit so John decided to use 2# of fresh raspberries rather than use puree.

This beer was refreshingly tart with a good balance of raspberry. The beer is definitely fruity with very little witbier character. I think that acid malt and the raspberries are masking the true witbier character. I am sure though that any other yeast would not adequately support the fruit and the acidity.

The best part is how quick John turn this around. In just over three weeks, it had been brewed bottled and ready to drink. I think if you really sat on top of your schedule, you could get this done a little sooner y pitching more yeast.

So if you still think there are some hot days ahead as summer starts to slip away… this might be a salvation beer. One last hail Mary to the brewing gods for those final days of summer burgers and dogs. Give it a try and let us know how it comes out for you.

BREW ON!