|
 NiamhNyx
I'm NOT a 'he'
 
Registered: 09/01/02
Posts: 3,110
Last seen: 1 month, 17 days
|
 my current batch of beer
#8787733 - 08/17/08 06:20 PM (3 months, 16 days ago) |
|
|
I wrote down the 'recipe' for the current batch of beer I'm making as I made it, just sort of winging proportions of herbs. It exploded like mad for a day, then settled down and is now almost ready to transfer into the secondary fermenter.
Recipe
Boil 2 gallons water
add 3 lbs pale malt extract and boil approx. 15 mins
add:
large bunch fresh lemonbalm
3 large spigs fresh peppermint
handfull fresh lavender
2 handfulls dried borage
simmer 30 mins
add pinch irish moss
cool
split between 2 1gallon fermenters (glass apple cider jugs)
add windsor beer yeast, 1 packet each.
hydrometer reading: 1.060
I discovered after I began brewing that I was missing an airlock, so I improvised with a piece of plastic wrap with small holes cut into it. Hopefully that will work well enough...
|
NiamhNyx
I'm NOT a 'he'
Registered: 09/01/02
Posts: 3,110
Last seen: 1 month, 17 days
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: NiamhNyx]
#8788227 - 08/17/08 08:13 PM (3 months, 16 days ago) |
|
|
Update: i've transfered to the secondary fermenter and taken a new hydrometer reading of 1.020. It's at 5.2% alcohol content. I gotta bottle it up before I go on vacation, so that leaves 3 days... I think I should be able to do it by then!
|
 SFsorrow
Is Born
Registered: 11/11/07
Posts: 183
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: NiamhNyx]
#8793787 - 08/19/08 12:46 AM (3 months, 15 days ago) |
|
|
Three days? You are not giving it any time for the yeast to settle and finish the last leg of fermentation.
I've never had a herbal beer. Let us know how it turns out.
Next time use a balloon for an airlock, or get a real airlock.
|
NiamhNyx
I'm NOT a 'he'
Registered: 09/01/02
Posts: 3,110
Last seen: 1 month, 17 days
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: SFsorrow]
#8794722 - 08/19/08 09:27 AM (3 months, 14 days ago) |
|
|
The irish moss settled the yeast out almost immediately, it's clear as glass already and there's no more bubbling. To test this out I put a sheet of plastic wrap over the bottle missing the airlock and didn't put any holes for the carbon dioxide to escape and it hasn't risen at all. I think it's fair to bottle it. Normally I wouldn't rush and I would have left it in the primary a day or two longer, but no one in my house knows how to bottle properly, and if I pawn off the task i have to let them in on a cut of the beer! It tasted nice when I transfered anyways, I think it'll be a good one.
Herbal beer is all I ever make as I'm not a huge fan of the effects hops have on me. I don't like being dopey. This blend is a nice uplifting mild euphoric and the herbs all bitter the beer nicely. My last batch of just lemonbalm was quite nice indeed, and I once made a borage/mint/lavender that was probably one of the tastiest brews I've ever made.
|
trillby33
Stranger
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 29
Last seen: 15 hours, 55 minutes
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: NiamhNyx]
#8797238 - 08/19/08 04:47 PM (3 months, 14 days ago) |
|
|
The idea of herbal beer intrigues me. Honestly, I tend to hate beers, I find them to taste too much like bad bread dough. However, possibly an herbal brew would be worth trying. Any suggestions for store bought brands that I could sample before committing to making my own?
|
NiamhNyx
I'm NOT a 'he'
Registered: 09/01/02
Posts: 3,110
Last seen: 1 month, 17 days
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: trillby33]
#8797428 - 08/19/08 05:26 PM (3 months, 14 days ago) |
|
|
Hmm, there's not many beers out there that are purely herbal and without any hops, but if you can get your hands on Fraoch, give that a try. It's a heather ale based on a 16th century Scottish recipe. It's one of my favourites. The flavour might seem strange or surprising at first, but give it a chance and I think you may just like it. Of course if you don't like beer at all you might still dislike herbal beer, it doesn't taste that different from "regular" hopped beer. It depends on what you get I guess.
The same company that makes Fraoch also makes a few other herbal and berry beers, but I haven't had the pleasure of trying them yet as the liquor stores in my neighbourhood cater more to 'budget' drinkers, with little more adventurous than microbrew and maybe a small handful of belgian imports. One of these days I'm going to the liquor store's central branch. They must carry it!
|
trillby33
Stranger
Registered: 07/08/08
Posts: 29
Last seen: 15 hours, 55 minutes
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: NiamhNyx]
#8802000 - 08/20/08 05:36 PM (3 months, 13 days ago) |
|
|
Thanks, I'll check around and see if anyone around here carries it. I'm thinking maybe World Market...they're usually a bit pricey, but, they're also one of the few places I can find some things in this country.
|
NiamhNyx
I'm NOT a 'he'
Registered: 09/01/02
Posts: 3,110
Last seen: 1 month, 17 days
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: NiamhNyx]
#8803015 - 08/20/08 09:30 PM (3 months, 13 days ago) |
|
|
update: the beer is primed, bottled and shelved until labour day at least.
Final hydrometer reading: 1.015
Final alcohol content: just shy of 6%
Cross your fingers it'll be tasty! Either way it'll get us drunk. 
|
NiamhNyx
I'm NOT a 'he'
Registered: 09/01/02
Posts: 3,110
Last seen: 1 month, 17 days
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: NiamhNyx]
#8867582 - 09/02/08 06:33 PM (3 months, 14 hours ago) |
|
|
Update: first sample yesterday:
This is the best beer I've ever made! I will definitly make this recipe again and I encourage anyone interested in herbal beers to make a batch of this and let me know how it turns out!
|
CptnGarden
Tabaquero
Registered: 05/13/04
Posts: 9,831
Loc: the microbial layer
|
Re: my current batch of beer [Re: NiamhNyx]
#8868148 - 09/02/08 07:30 PM (3 months, 13 hours ago) |
|
|
right on man 
|
|
login or 
register to post messages and view our members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, encrypted messages, file attachments, board customizations, and much more!
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
