TOPIC:

I finished the last of my Westvlettern Blondes last night.

It's roughly 6 months old at this point and it is absolutely one of the most fruity non fruit beers that I've ever had. I'd LOVE to find a yeast strain that refreshingly fruity for brewing a blond this spring. The fruity flavor tastes a LOT like honeydew melon. Really great warm weather beer, I might even go so far as to say that I think it's a better warm weather beer than a good wheat beer..

It was VERY effervescent (TBN would probably complain) and resulted in a huge head that just wouldn't die (great head retention); I think high carbonation levels also helped it's perception as a "warm weather beer".


Anyone have any idea what leads to that "honeydew melon" flavor? Is it just the yeast strain?
(Anyone ever hear of a beer actually fermented with honeydew melon? Because this beer is giving me ideas...)


Adam

Also does anyone have any idea how much pectin is present in a honeydew melon? (I have a chart that I refer to that says roughly whether each type of fruit has high, medium, or low levels of pectin (to determine whether to use a pectin enzyme if a clear "brite" beer is desired) but melons are not included in that chart...)


Adam

I'm heading to Westvletern on a booze cruise mid March so will be picking up some of this for myself, and then some!!

Where did you get your particular bottle?

As for pectin issues, perhaps cut into pieces, freeze and then put the defrosted raw melon pieces into the secondary fermentor. Leave until impatience gets the better of you!!

"Ichiban":12d057y0 wrote: I'm heading to Westvletern on a booze cruise mid March so will be picking up some of this for myself, and then some!![/quote:12d057y0]

Don't forget to ring a head for your pick up number

Thanks oblivious, I check the site everyday! Judging by the pattern over the last few months I might get lucky and secure a crate of 12. Whatever happens though the cafe across the road sells the full range.

I picked my up at Westvlettern. They were only selling the 8 that day in the queue, and I didn't think that I would want to pay the shipping to get a whole crate back to Ireland so I just bought a 6 pack at the pub across the street.

You CAN buy the 12 at the pub, but not for take away; they will open the bottle before they give it to you. (I specifically asked if they could give me a 12 unopened and I was told that it was not permitted.)


I completely agree with your idea about sectioning and then freezing the melon. -I don't understand why this would help prevent pectins in the fruit from causing pectin haze, though.

Adam