Figs and Dates in Barley wine

[gauzzastrip]

I have some figs and dates sitting in the secondary on a barley wine.
Would it be better to let it age there for awhile (3+ months) with the figs / dates? Or rack them to a keg after a few weeks or a month force carb / bottle and let it age in bottles?

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

I have some figs and dates sitting in the secondary on a barley wine.
Would it be better to let it age there for awhile (3+ months) with the figs / dates? Or rack them to a keg after a few weeks or a month force carb / bottle and let it age in bottles?

I would think racking off the fruit after a few weeks would be the better option. I imagine that after a certain point, the fruit has given all it's going to give, but I have no clue what point that is. So I would err on the side of caution.

My $.02. I could be completely wrong and often am.

[imahokie]

I have some figs and dates sitting in the secondary on a barley wine.
Would it be better to let it age there for awhile (3+ months) with the figs / dates? Or rack them to a keg after a few weeks or a month force carb / bottle and let it age in bottles?

Haven't done the fruit option, but my barleywine aged in secondary for 6 months, bottles for 6 months. Now 4 months later (17 months after brewing) they are starting to shine. Recommend skipping the force carb and just sprinkle some more yeast and add bottling sugar, then bottle and store.

[gauzzastrip]

I would think racking off the fruit after a few weeks would be the better option. I imagine that after a certain point, the fruit has given all it's going to give, but I have no clue what point that is.

That was what I was thinking as well. I guess I'll just have to give it a taste a few weeks a row and see how it's going (oh darn!)

[brewinhard]

I would let the beer sit on the figs and dates for at least 1 mos. Then I would rack the beer to a keg for extended cold storage if possible. When the time is right, you can either rack to a bottling bucket or carb the beer directly in the keg. I always prefer to secondary in a keg as it can purged of oxygen in the headspace pretty effectively.