Plum Beer Goodness

Plums in beer. I know, right? It sounds like it would be horrifying. It isn't. In fact, it's really delicious. this plum experiment was testing what the heck I would do if I planted a plum tree and found myself with fifty to one hundred plums to dispose of before they go bad. Plum beer is one strong possibility.

Plum wine, as I'm sure we are all aware, is a delicious thing that comes to us primarily from the east. Plum wine is synonymous with Asian cuisine, Sake, and bottles in stores with pandas on them. It's a sweet, dessert wine, and very good for dates with wives and lady friends. It has a light, fruity flavor, and often comes very pale white.

Plums in beer, then, has to deal with the lightness of plums. I don't think plums would withstand an Oatmeal Stout Porter. In fact, I don't think it would withstand a strong Belgian yeast, with all those distinctive aromatics.

With the lightness of plums in mind, I put together a very simple American Wheat Ale, with Safale US-05, and three equal additions of Willamette hops for a low IBU of about 15. This was 60/40 Red Wheat, and 2-Row, brewed in a bag. Once the beer was brewed, I threw it on top of two cans of Oregon Plums from the bakery section of the grocery store.

On bottling day, I couldn't help but notice the delightful and aromatic fruitiness of the plums. This is not necessarily a beer drinker's beer, in the same way that plum wine is not necessarily a wine-drinker's wine. But, it is sweet and delicious and mild and fruity and clean. The weather's turning to spring here in the Hill Country, and I know I'll be appreciating this brew after mowing the lawn, while nibbling on the first tomatoes of spring from the garden (which are also already flowering here in the sunny southwest!)

A plum tree, then. Perhaps I shall find a place for one in the yard. It will be difficult, though, as I have an Asian pear tree, a fig tree, two peaches, and a pomegranate. Also, I have a muscadine and two grapevines. Oh, and there's blackberries. Any plum I might or might not do in the months to come will be in the front yard, or not at all. There's simply no room in back with my little orchard already quite full!