National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Brewing Communities => Liffey Brewers => Topic started by: admin on April 06, 2014, 07:02:06 PM

Title: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: admin on April 06, 2014, 07:02:06 PM
Looking for sour cherries for a kriek, and I read this. Nearly in tears here!

"the native cherry tree, Prunus avium, naturally produces rather small and sour cherries. These cherries are not usually harvested in Ireland, typically being left to the birds"

http://www.theapplefarm.com/cherries.htm
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 07:03:50 PM
Loads of them about the place.. So these are perfect then?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 07:06:26 PM
You want it sour cherries of some sort. If it's for barrel project #2 2014 then you can buy tins of them.

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 07:11:51 PM
Fairly pronto? Have you checked when they normally enter the process?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 07:22:54 PM
There's plenty of them around palmerstown.. We use to eat them as kids.. If it's the same ones.. They won't be about till the autumn
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 07:25:38 PM
Just had a look there and there the same ones.. Woodfarm acres in palmerstown is lined with them.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on April 06, 2014, 07:28:15 PM
Quote from: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 07:25:38 PM
Just had a look there and there the same ones.. Woodfarm acres in palmerstown is lined with them.
Seriously? along the street?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on April 06, 2014, 07:47:59 PM
Quote from: Tube on April 06, 2014, 07:05:54 PM
Also will you pick me up another bag of wheat?
I've loads of flaked barley if you want some. Will be using it instead of wheat in a lambic in about 2 weeks.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 07:50:54 PM
https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=woodfarm+acres+palmerstown&hl=en-IE&ll=53.353314,-6.378894&spn=0.000002,0.001629&gbv=2&hnear=Woodfarm+Acres,+Dublin,+County+Dublin&gl=ie&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=53.353314,-6.378894&panoid=EtjYlCC3DMZe1zxmY_bWKw&cbp=12,313.37,,0,6.31 (https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=woodfarm+acres+palmerstown&hl=en-IE&ll=53.353314,-6.378894&spn=0.000002,0.001629&gbv=2&hnear=Woodfarm+Acres,+Dublin,+County+Dublin&gl=ie&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=53.353314,-6.378894&panoid=EtjYlCC3DMZe1zxmY_bWKw&cbp=12,313.37,,0,6.31) this is one of the trees I've eaten them off...The next area to palmerstown in cherry orchard so there probably left over from the time the area had orchards in it...Mill lane in palmerstown has loads of them too...I'll ask the old man during the week if that what they are..everything i'm seeing suggest they are...I ate loads as a kid and always liked them
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on April 06, 2014, 07:55:00 PM
Excellent. That looks promising. Were they sour though?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 07:56:35 PM
We always ate them when they were deep red almost black as they were too sour when they were red
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on April 06, 2014, 08:01:51 PM
Very interesting. I'll be meeting up with you for a dawn raid in Aug/Sep.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 09:03:04 PM
Unripe cherries and sour cherries are not the same thing. Normal cherries can be medicinal once fermented out.

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 09:16:00 PM
Quote from: Tube on April 06, 2014, 09:08:28 PM
Jeez lads we could make an all-Irish kriek, and call it kraic for the, eh,

Just check the variety. If you've ever thought that cherry flavour is very artificial growing up, well that's actually sweet cherry extract, it just is artificial tasting once the sugar is gone. That's why sour varieties are chosen.

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on April 06, 2014, 09:17:25 PM
I agree Eoin. How can one tell if they're sour cherries or just unripe sweet cherries when you're picking them?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 09:26:23 PM
I'd say research.... The Germans have Sauerkirschen. Let me come back to you on that.

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 09:34:00 PM
Right talking to a mate there and the tree I showed you was wrong this is the one we ate from all the time https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=woodfarm+acres+palmerstown&hl=en-IE&ll=53.354442,-6.381657&spn=0.000006,0.006518&gbv=2&hnear=Woodfarm+Acres,+Dublin,+County+Dublin&gl=ie&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.354379,-6.381564&panoid=ksvDPpLSJoEG_xsTB7xefA&cbp=12,49.15,,0,-5.1 (https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=woodfarm+acres+palmerstown&hl=en-IE&ll=53.354442,-6.381657&spn=0.000006,0.006518&gbv=2&hnear=Woodfarm+Acres,+Dublin,+County+Dublin&gl=ie&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.354379,-6.381564&panoid=ksvDPpLSJoEG_xsTB7xefA&cbp=12,49.15,,0,-5.1) but there are loads of them in the estate..the ground would be littered with the stones..I got a list of identifying features so I'll know for certain next week.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 10:28:49 PM
Quote from: lordstilton on April 06, 2014, 09:34:00 PM
Right talking to a mate there and the tree I showed you was wrong this is the one we ate from all the time https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=woodfarm+acres+palmerstown&hl=en-IE&ll=53.354442,-6.381657&spn=0.000006,0.006518&gbv=2&hnear=Woodfarm+Acres,+Dublin,+County+Dublin&gl=ie&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.354379,-6.381564&panoid=ksvDPpLSJoEG_xsTB7xefA&cbp=12,49.15,,0,-5.1 (https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=woodfarm+acres+palmerstown&hl=en-IE&ll=53.354442,-6.381657&spn=0.000006,0.006518&gbv=2&hnear=Woodfarm+Acres,+Dublin,+County+Dublin&gl=ie&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.354379,-6.381564&panoid=ksvDPpLSJoEG_xsTB7xefA&cbp=12,49.15,,0,-5.1) but there are loads of them in the estate..the ground would be littered with the stones..I got a list of identifying features so I'll know for certain next week.
Being on an estate suggests sassanach imports, could be good. Steal those Bastards.

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on April 06, 2014, 10:40:52 PM
Quote from: Tube on April 06, 2014, 10:35:02 PMPeople were honest and worked hard.
Ah... The good old days ;D
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 10:41:30 PM
Quote from: Tube on April 06, 2014, 10:35:02 PM
The article I linked to suggests native cherries are sour, and 30 years ago when those estates were built there wouldn't have been the quick fix mentality there is today. People grew stuff back then, and didn't import everything. People were honest and worked hard.

Anyway, if they're imports, it's just a case of locating natives. It reminds me of native apples, most of which are being eaten by the birds rather than making their way into tasty alcoholic beverages. An odious waste. (odious is correctly pronounced o-jis)

I'd consider long time imports as native at this point, if they're right, they're right. To be honest I didn't really know we have native cherries.

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 10:46:30 PM
Quote from: Tube on April 06, 2014, 10:44:42 PM
Ah yeah, that'd apply to people alright.

But not native is not native. Minks for example. There was a break out from a mink farm in Co Roscommon a good few years back, and there are minks living in the wild now, but they're still not native, and they're still dangerous little bastards.

Longford isn't that wild.

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 10:49:58 PM
But once the minks are out there's not a lot you can do. Anyway wild cherries... We have some?

Sent from my HTC One

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: DEMPSEY on April 07, 2014, 10:19:19 AM
The breakout in Roscommon I believe went along the line of,"what would happen if we left this gate open". ;)
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 07, 2014, 10:23:00 AM
Sour Morello cherries according to Wiki, the Germans call them Schattenmorellen, so they should be easy enough to get.

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 07, 2014, 10:23:44 AM
On another note, Blanchardstown/Tyrrelstown is full of raspberry canes, the whole place...thousands of them.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 07, 2014, 10:30:19 AM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cherries-Dried-Morello-Sour-W-S/dp/B0050B93QQ/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1396863003&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=morello+cherrries

There's an option, the kilo is quite expensive though.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 07, 2014, 10:39:26 AM
Quote from: Tube on April 07, 2014, 10:35:32 AM
Did a bit more reading

Prunus avium (i.e. the native one) is known as many things, one of them is "sweet cherry". Prunus cerasus is sour cherry. An analogy seems to be eating apples vs cooking apples.

Not unheard of to use P.  avium in beer:
http://beerandbrewer.worldsecuresystems.com/_blog/News/post/Fruit_Beers_Trend_Continues_with_Birra_Del_Borgo_(Italy)_Prunus/

Try it in your small batch, but sweet is not the way to go. I had a cherry coke yesterday after having posted to here, just to remind me what medicinal sweet cherries taste like....yuck.

If you want native fruits then I'd suggest Framboise or Blackberry is the way to go personally.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 07, 2014, 10:39:52 AM
Unless we have native peaches here, which I doubt sincerely....
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 07, 2014, 10:48:04 AM
Quote from: Tube on April 07, 2014, 10:44:10 AM

Cherry coke is puke! First time I drank it I got a chest infection. Dunno if it's related...

Well the taste of cherry coke is sweet cherry extract....
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Will_D on April 07, 2014, 11:01:13 AM
Quote from: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 10:49:58 PM
But once the minks are out there's not a lot you can do.
We on the posh side of town have a cunning plan to insulate our mash tuns with mink fur lined jackets!

How posh is that?

Re sour cherries:

You can buy sour cherry juice in health food shops - its super concentrated and super expensive (like €23 for 0.5 L IIRC)

or

Phone some Polish shops - they may have them in small tins

or

Phone Musgraves or other the large catering food suppliers - should have them in 5 or 7 kg tins for a fair price.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on April 07, 2014, 11:26:09 AM
Quote from: Will_D on April 07, 2014, 11:01:13 AM
Quote from: Eoin on April 06, 2014, 10:49:58 PM
But once the minks are out there's not a lot you can do.
We on the posh side of town have a cunning plan to insulate our mash tuns with mink fur lined jackets!

How posh is that?

Re sour cherries:

You can buy sour cherry juice in health food shops - its super concentrated and super expensive (like €23 for 0.5 L IIRC)

or

Phone some Polish shops - they may have them in small tins

or

Phone Musgraves or other the large catering food suppliers - should have them in 5 or 7 kg tins for a fair price.

A domestic but non-native supply...


Posh? All fur coat and no knickers more like....
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Will_D on April 07, 2014, 08:40:05 PM
Posh, posh,  POSH you say!

I'll tell you what Posh is:

A wild mink, stuffed with wild cherrys (dangerous unless the mink is dead first), slowly roasted/toasted/smoked over a dried spent grain fire.

The spent grain bed is from a well known Irish whiskey distillery.

We all wear our locally trapped mink waistcoats embroidered with the NCB logo.

All washed down with a local spirit drink

Now thats POSH
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: DEMPSEY on June 03, 2014, 12:49:10 PM
Don't know if these are any use but Aldi have jars of morello cherries from Hungary. Cheap too. :-\
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: nigel_c on July 03, 2014, 11:55:23 AM
Any more developments on this? What weight per L of cherries have people used? I have a sour on about 6 months now and am thinking of splitting it up into demis and adding different fruits for a few months.

Of course getting another batch on the go ;)
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 03, 2014, 12:02:25 PM
I'm still waiting on a price.. He said no bother getting them when they come into season but still no price
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on July 03, 2014, 02:15:34 PM
Any idea when season is? Would imagine it's not far off now.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 03, 2014, 02:39:41 PM
Two weeks ago he told me they would be coming into season next month which is July. I'll be down with him next Tuesday and I'll sit over him till he gets a price.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on July 03, 2014, 09:42:55 PM
Nice one. Thanks.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Will_D on July 03, 2014, 11:55:09 PM
Should we start a wish list (to get an idea of scale of the buy) ?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on July 04, 2014, 10:16:40 PM
I got 3kg of fresh sour cherries this evening.

(http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/Botswanatrip/IMAG0686.jpg)

I can ask if there are any more, but I doubt it.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 04, 2014, 10:21:24 PM
We're did you score them?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Eoin on July 04, 2014, 10:28:14 PM
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/Botswanatrip/IMAG0686.jpg

I'll have to install the pretty url's package, that damned photo didn't show up before. Not working with image tags.
Got them from somewhere in North Westmeath, but not sure as they were a present.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on July 04, 2014, 11:01:35 PM
Are they wild Irish cherries?
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: nigel_c on July 09, 2014, 10:37:12 AM
Not local I know but I'm thinking of going with something like these.

http://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk/dried-cherries/
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: Will_D on July 09, 2014, 11:12:13 AM
Well Googled Nigel!

I wonder what the ratio of dried to fresh would be? 1 part dried to 2 fresh maybe?

Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: nigel_c on July 09, 2014, 11:15:51 AM
Well I just ordered a KG so I should have some to spare if you/d like some to try out.
Planning on breaking my batch of sour down next week into demis and doing a bit of experimenting.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: nigel_c on July 09, 2014, 02:01:16 PM
And they have been dispatched already. Good service.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 19, 2014, 01:05:40 PM
I was down in the market yesterday and still no joy on the sour cherries... He had plenty of sweet.. I'm not holding my breath on the sours .. Like the last few times now he'll give me a call with a price
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on July 19, 2014, 02:51:48 PM
Quote from: nigel_c on July 09, 2014, 02:01:16 PM
And they have been dispatched already. Good service.
Did those cherries come with or without the stone?

They might be best bet at this stage.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 19, 2014, 03:28:16 PM
With stones...they were delicious   
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5563/14504589817_281438c7af.jpg)
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: nigel_c on July 19, 2014, 03:48:37 PM
without stone.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 19, 2014, 05:51:45 PM
The one I had from that box had a stone
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 31, 2014, 03:06:13 AM
I've given up on my source..he's giving me the runaround every time I talk to him...anyone check these out for a price? (http://www.pallasfoods.eu/apps/foodbook/product/F19Z)..I'm going to take a walk around palmerstown on Monday and see if there are any on the trees yet
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: DEMPSEY on July 31, 2014, 10:32:51 AM
I will check the fat ass boulevard in Celbridge. Saw a guy yesterday picking some sort of red fruit and putting it in a basket.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: imark on July 31, 2014, 11:26:35 AM
Feet on the ground...making kriek with provenance.
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on July 31, 2014, 09:48:26 PM
Now is the season for wild Irish cherry...i'll be down in Dublin on Monday so i'll have a walk around the estate and see...I've done a bit more research and they are diffinetly the ones we ate as children
Title: Re: Local source of sour cherries for kriek?
Post by: lordstilton on August 13, 2014, 12:00:13 PM
Went for a scout yesterday and were too late...birds got them all.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/14877129116_e3d71cefff.jpg)

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5573/14899784602_de33749264.jpg)