So I like kumquats and found the article interesting in the latest issue as well as the two recipes provided. In reading through the process and having never done a beer with fruit (Although I’ve read countless things about it) the process given involves adding the kumquats to the secondary for a period of time like a dry hop and then packaging but there is no discussion of an actual secondary fermentation taking place and I am assuming there would be from the remaining yeast and added sugars. am I missing something? I’m looking for some additional insight from those that know.
The article also states the kumquats can simply be added to a keg like a dry hop and again there is no mention of secondary fermentation but in this case I would think it’s a non-issue due to temperature of keg being kept cold and yeast activity being nil.
are they whole? unbroken kumquats? I imagine mostly you would get the essential oils out of the skin that way. it would take a while for the yeas to work it’s way through the peel and to the sugar inside. Also, not a lot of sugar in kumquats…
This is for the Kolsch recipe but I would still anticipate some secondary fermentation at some point, especially if this were to be bottled. If kegged it is a mute point I believe
Jonathon,
Both recipes call for the fruit being split in half to expose the flesh and the few seeds being removed as they contain pectin which might create haze issues in the final product so yes, I still wonder about the additional sugars being an issue.
I don’t think you’re missing anything. No reason those sugars won’t ferment if the beer comes to room temp. Maybe there aren’t many sugars? Or maybe the author always kegs.
So I think it was just missed by the author to mention and if brewed and not kegged it should just be assumed some additional fermentation would occur, let it proceed until complete in secondary and then package as desired.
yeah in that case I would expect a minor secondary fermentation. on the pectin point, I’m pretty sure citrus peel has a TON of pectin but as long as you don’t heat it the pectin shouldn’t cause haze.
you know, I never had a kumquat till I moved to california. but I really enjoy them. like an orange or tangerine but without all the sweetness, just wonderful aroma/flavor and touch of sour.
Here they have a cross that’s available sometimes, a limequat. it’s just what it sounds like tiny fully edible limes. yum.
I just bottled the Kumquat Wheat today. I made a two gallon batch. Got the kumquats from a friend who had a bunch she did not know what to do with. I sanitized the outside of the kumquats with starsan and then cut them in half to seed them. I then froze the kumquats until I was ready for them in the secondary. I never really saw any evidence of a secondary fermentation happening. I could see a little bubbles on the fruit but not anything I would call a krausen.
Hi guys! I have a question. The recipe calls for 2 lbs (roughly 48 kumquats) but then the explanation says to add 24 kumquats into the secondary. What happened to the other half? I’m planning to try this recipe next week (summertime here in Chile) so I appreciate your help.
I made the kumquat wheat beer last year, and it won best of show in a local comp. out of 250 beers.
I used about 1 1/2 lbs. of halved Kumquats in the secondary for about a week and one half. There was a bit of re-fermentation, but I don’t think there is much sugar in kumquats. When you slice the fruit in half, take out any seeds as they contain pectin which may adversely affect heading on the beer.
That recipe out of Zymurgy is excellent, though I also noticed the contradiction in the amounts of kumquats. A pound and one half seemed to be just right-- and I guess the judges thought so too. And I heard from a friend that was at the best of show round, and he said that they couldn’t believe they were awarding it to a fruit beer.