As the warm embrace of summer envelops us, it's time to indulge in the vibrant flavors that perfectly capture the essence of the season. When it comes to crafting refreshing beers that embody the spirit of summer, citrus fruit purées have become an exciting ingredient of choice for brewers in the US and Canada. These purées, derived from luscious fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and more, infuse beers with a burst of tropical, tangy, and zesty goodness.
Wheat Beer
Wheat beers, such as American Wheat or Belgian Witbier, often have a light and refreshing character that complements citrus flavors. The citrus notes can enhance the beer's natural fruity and spicy characteristics.
Recommended Purées:
Orange Purée: Orange is a classic citrus flavor that complements the light and refreshing nature of wheat beers. It can add a pleasant citrusy aroma and a hint of sweetness to the beer.
Lemon Purée: Lemon is another common citrus fruit that works well in wheat beers. It provides a bright and tangy flavor that can enhance the beer's crispness and refreshing qualities.
Grapefruit Purée: Grapefruit offers a slightly more bitter and tart citrus flavor compared to oranges or lemons. If you enjoy a slightly more pronounced bitterness and a touch of tanginess in your wheat beer, grapefruit purée can be an excellent choice.
Tangerine Purée: Tangerines are known for their sweeter and juicier profile compared to other citrus fruits. Using tangerine purée in a wheat beer can contribute a delightful combination of sweetness and citrus flavors.
Sour Beer
Sour beers, such as Gose or Berliner Weisse, are known for their tartness and acidity. Citrus purées can contribute an additional layer of tanginess and brightness to these beers, resulting in a refreshing and zesty flavor profile.
Recommended Purées:
Lime Purée: Limes have a distinctively tart and tangy flavor that pairs well with sour beers. The vibrant acidity of key limes can contribute a zesty and refreshing character to the beer.
IPA (India Pale Ale)
IPAs are known for their hop-forward profiles and citrusy hop varieties. Adding citrus purées to an IPA can intensify the citrus character, creating a vibrant and aromatic beer.
Recommended Purées
Grapefruit Purée: Grapefruit is a popular choice for IPAs due to its bitter and tangy flavor. It can intensify the citrus notes already present in many hop varieties, creating a bold and refreshing profile.
Orange Purée: Orange purée offers a sweet and citrusy flavor that pairs nicely with the hop bitterness of an IPA. It can contribute a pleasant citrus aroma and a touch of sweetness to balance the hops.
Tangerine Purée: Tangerines have a sweeter and juicier taste compared to other citrus fruits. Adding tangerine purée to an IPA can enhance the fruity and aromatic aspects of the beer, imparting a vibrant citrus flavor.
Citra Hop Purée: While not a traditional citrus purée, Citra hops have a strong citrus character resembling grapefruit and lime. Utilizing Citra hop purée or incorporating Citra hops during the brewing process can infuse the IPA with intense citrus flavors.
Fruit Beer
Fruit beers are specifically designed to showcase the flavors of various fruits. Adding citrus purées to a fruit beer base can create a harmonious combination of fruitiness. This style offers flexibility in terms of the base beer, ranging from lighter styles like blonde ales to darker options like stouts.
Recommended Purées:
Passion Fruit Purée: While not a citrus fruit, it has a unique and tangy flavor with tropical notes. Adding passion fruit purée to a fruity beer can contribute a delightful tanginess and a burst of tropical fruitiness.
These are just a few examples, and the choice of citrus purée for a fruity beer ultimately depends on the desired flavor combination and the base beer style. Feel free to experiment with different combinations and proportions to create the desired fruit-forward profile.
As always, it's advisable to start with a smaller amount of the citrus purée and adjust to taste during the brewing process to achieve the desired level of fruitiness and balance in the final beer.
Cheers!