Strawberry Basil Saison

NickMc31 2021-02-06 12:32:33 UTC #1

I've been intrigued to brew with basil, and a strawberry basil saison keeps calling my name. Anyone ever tried brewing with basil? I've read recommendations of steeping .5 oz of fresh leaves per 5 gallon batch. How about strawberries? When I brew my raspberry wheat, I add about .5 lbs of frozen red raspberries per gallon in secondary. I'm thinking strawberries will need to be more like 2 lbs per gallon. Thoughts? Any advice are greatly appreciated.

Sláinte!

squeegeethree 2021-02-06 14:21:46 UTC #2

Basil is a great herb. But like anything with flavors and aroma it has a half-life and will dwindle with time. I recommend you make a series of basil teas first to experiment with amounts. There are varieties of basil with more intensity and less vegetable matter. You might want to seek out or grow those.
I have never brewed with strawberries. IMO strawberries are all about aroma and their taste, once the sugars have been fermented out, will be next to non existent. So I think you are right about adding as much as possible.

wilcolandzaat 2021-02-07 09:16:19 UTC #3

Dont know about strawberries think there Will be not so much flav. From the strawberries. If you do use fresh ones. Mayby. A natural syrup. Might help. Most the time syrups. Got a stronger. Flavour. You might want to add them to secondary. 5 to 10 days. Before. Kegging or botteling