Irish Cherry Tree Stout

(Brewed with the Mr. Beer Home Microbrewery System)

After the success of my first homebrew experience (see Numbaah One!), I quickly decided to experiment, which is definately encouraged in the recipe book that comes with the Mr. Beer kit. This was my second brew ever, and the first recipe that I sort of came up with on my own, simple though it is. It turned out great, and encouraged me to keep brewing!

1 can Mr. Beer St. Patrick's Irish Stout Brew Pack
1 Pack Mr. Beer Booster (Comes with the St. Patrick's kit above!)
1 15 oz. can Oregon Dark Sweet Cherries
1 Packet Brewers' Yeast (included with the can of extract)
3/4 cup Molases
about a cup of table sugar or brewers' sugar (corn sugar)

Followed the basic recipe procedure included with the can of extract:
-Boil a gallon of water
-Remove from heat and add the extract, booster, and molases
-Bring back to a boil
-Remove from heat and immediately add can of cherries with liquid*
-Cool mixture to 60 Degrees Farenheit or less (I placed the cooking pot into a bath of ice and water in the kitchen sink for about 30 minutes)
-Pour the cooled mixture into the Mr. Beer fermenter and add enough cold water to bring the level to the fill line on the fermenter
-Sprinkle dry yeast on the top of the liquid, cap the fermenter loosely, and put in a cool dark place
-Wait the prescribed number of days as per the instructions on the extract can
-When fermentation is complete, prime your cleaned and sanitized 12 oz. bottles with a teaspoon of sugar each, fill to the neck with beer from the spigot on the fermenter and cap tightly.
-Your beer should be carbonated and ready to drink within about a week.

Chill and enjoy!

*I found out by reading the information with the Mr. Beer kit that it is recommended NOT to actually boil the fruit with the other ingredients, as doing so can set the natural pectin in the fruit and make for a cloudy beer. You can either puree the fruit or not. Also, when bottling a fruit beer made with the Mr. Beer system, try not to jostle the fermenter, as this will disturb the sediment on the bottom, resulting in a chunky beer!