Feelix the Cat Dark Cherry Lager

Classification: fruit beer, cherry lager, extract

Source: Mike Herbert (michaelh@homebrew.wv.tek.com) Issue #441, 6/18/90

This recipe came from Charlie Papazian many years ago. This is supposed to make a lager, but I've never actually produced a lager with this recipe, only an ale. The cherries add a sweetness, but are not overpowering in a dark beer. I also tried another cherry beer called "Sinfully Red Cherry Ale" from the Spring 1984 issue of Zymurgy. This used 10 pounds of cherries and made a much lighter beer.

Ingredients:

3.3 pounds, John Bull dark unhopped malt extract
2 pounds, Munton & Fison light dry extract
1/2 cup, black patent malt
2 ounces, Cascades hops
2 tablespoons, gypsum
1 teaspoon, salt
3-5 pounds, pitted chopped cherries
1/2 ounce, Hallertauer hops
yeast

Procedure:

Steep black patent malt in 2 gallons of water bringing to boil. Strain out grain. Add extract and boil with Cascade hops, gypsum, and salt. Boil 60 minutes. Remove from heat. Add finishing hops and cherries. Steep 30 minutes. Strain into fermenter with cold water to make 5 gallons. Pitch yeast.