rackn

The fermentation is complete and I've started to rack the experimental popcorn/malted wheat brew.  The flavors are much more subtle now (unfortunately) but it certainly has a kick.  I'm not satisfied with the taste just yet though. 

I decided to add a bit more ground cinnamon and to give it some more time to sit.  Hopefully, it will clear up some because it is still more cloudy than I want. 




I'm planning to make some gruit here soon.  Gruit is, basically, a very old style beer/ale that uses herbs other than hops to get the aroma, flavor, and bitterness that the different kinds of hops normally add.  I've done a bit of research about the herbs that were commonly used in the past, and I have some growing right now.  I need to pick some other ones up, but it sounds like it will be tasty.

I'm also planning to make a gluten free brew.  Not sure about the ingredients quite yet, but that is partially what this previous experiment was all about....using corn.  I will need to make a recipe that eliminates the malted wheat completely.  Corn and rice are two of my reasonable options.  I know that corn is often used in mash and rice has been used for thousands of years to make alcohol...so it is possible

New Pages and Content Coming!

I am adding new sections  with recipes to the blog!

I put a handful up on a new page that are small, easy to make batches that anyone can do with stuff around the house or a trip to the store and keep it under $10.  They aren't the most 'refined' or sophisticated brews but it is great to drink something you made yourself.  If you are new to brewing, they should be pretty straight forward.  If you are a Vet, experiment with your own tweaks and alterations.  Most of these brews get better with time too.

I'm not sure how exactly to organize the recipes.  I put them on a new page, but I can't edit the page well enough for what  I want to do, it just makes one big post.  Anyone have any ideas on how to make the recipes page more accessible/organized?

Another experiment

I had a bunch of of old un-popped popcorn laying around an I got to thinking....I should try to make some alcohol with it.

Im not completely sure I can get the right starches out of the popcorn without popping it first.  But I gave it a shot.

Since it was a test, I only made about a gallon of the brew, here is recipe I used:

4 qts water heated to 140F
2 1/2 C popcorn kernals
    Hold at 150-160F for 20 min
1 C red malted wheat, lightly crushed
    Hold at 150-160F for 10 min
Boil and hold for 20 min
1 C brown sugar, 2 C white sugar, 1/2lb rasins
    Boil 10 min
Remove from heat, add  ground cinnamon, vanilla extract and some almond extract.
Then pitch some yeast in there and let it sit.

I tasted the mash before adding the yeast and it tasted like liquid pumpkin pie.  I hope it holds some of that flavor after it ferments, but I am sorta doubtful.

It has been a little over 1 week and the fermentation is slowing down so I am going to rack it and give it a taste. We shall see!