Grapefruit into Saison

Ingredients
1

I want to add some grapefruit flavor to a saison* that has fermented out. I’m looking to use actual grapefruit and not just dry hopping that suggests notes of grapefruit. I’m thinking about a few different options but I’m not entirely sure what the best way to go about this is.

Options:

  1. Peeled, cut, frozen, thawed grapefruit into fermenter
  2. A liqueur made from the zest and vodka added while bottling
  3. Zest directly into fermenter
  4. Do option 1 and then maybe option 2 depending on flavor when bottling

(Racking onto these options in secondary is also an option)

Does anyone have any experience with grapefruit in these scenarios?

*Saison
2.5 gal
90% German Pils
10% White Wheat
1.6 oz Saaz @ 60
.8 oz Saaz @ 10
.4 oz Saaz @ 0
Wyeast 3711 French Saison
OG: 1.052
FG: 1.000

Many thanks!

2

I’d go with zest. I don’t like fermented citrus.

3

I have put zest in at the end of the boil, and juice in the secondary. I think the zest had the nicer qualities. Since you’re post fermentation, I would try a vodka extract first. Good luck!

4

I’ve used the zest in a bag, added to the keg. I feel that the alcohol really helps infuse the zest flavor into the beer. And you can pull the bag when you get the flavor level you’re after, or just leave in.

5

It sounds like your bottling. I suggest zest ( none of the white part, use a micro plane if you have one) a couple days before bottling. Maybe even a little in the priming solution while its still warm then strain it into the bottling bucket. This is a nice idea.

6

So it seems like zest is the preferred option (will definitely be using a microplane and will be cautious to not get any pith).

I’m leaning towards a liqueur as it would be easier to control the flavor and run a smaller risk of contamination.

Any ballpark ideas of where to start?

Zest of 1 grapefruit for 2.5 gallons, or…?

7

Crush the grapefruit to get rid of most of the juice and add crushed quartered grapefruits to secondary. Trust me, you will get much more than a “hint”. It works well.

8

how many grapefruits do you recommend for 2.5 gallons?

9

It’s going to depend on how much you want, but 3-4 should do the trick.