mfp03001

Recipes 

So recently I came up with the idea of trying to make some homemade hard ice tea. But I have not seen any threads on here about it, which was my first sign it might be a bad idea...

Basically my plan is to dissolve some sugar in water; boil it for a little while add some yeast and nutrient (not sure what kind yet) and let that ferment. Then rack it, heat it up, add some tea bags and let them steep, and maybe some honey or sugar to sweeten it. Then bottle it.

I just wanted to get some peoples options on this to see if this is a good idea or dumb/unsafe for some reason. Or just a waste of time and I should go buy vodka and add that to tea. I thought it might be interesting to try.

Thanks

krops13

Recipes 

The process in experiments like this is half the fun. If it were me I would try doing some vodka and sweetener of your choice in your tea first. Tea is kind of bitter by itself and with the perceived bitterness that alcohol will bring to the tea I think some unfermentable sugars will be necessary to help balance the bitterness. Don't forget to add some hops to your fermenting tea/sugar water if you decide to do it. Hops inhibit botulism spores from growing. And that's some more bitterness to fight. If I were to do this I would ferment the tea already made with the sugar in it. Possibly a lager so that the tea flavor isn't to covered up. Then when I serve/drink it I would back sweeten it if there was no carbonation. If you plan to carbonate it might take some practice to get the right amount of unfermentable sugars.

__________________
Translation: Relax don't worry have a home brew and don't be a ****!
California Common Pint

mfp03001

Recipes 

Well thanks for the input I would not have thought of the hops that's probably a good idea. I was not planning on making it carbonated so I could just sweeten it to taste afterward sounds like a good idea for at least the first batch. I think I am going to just try one gallon first to see how it goes, I'll probably do that pretty soon.

Mike1983

Recipes 

If you are doing an iced tea and you are going to sweeten it later then I would recommend a simple syrup or something along those lines. Regular sugar just won't dissolve, take it from a southern sweet tea addict that has had to live up north.

__________________
Sláinte

krops13

Recipes 

Blue agave syrup dissloves is cold liquids and is mighty tasty.

__________________
Translation: Relax don't worry have a home brew and don't be a ****!
California Common Pint

Cliff897

Recipes 

I would give some thought to starting with caramelized cane sugar and make a pot still and make rum.

mfp03001

Recipes 

hmmm interesting idea can't say I have ever had that before.

Whiskey

Recipes 

Sounds like an interesting experiment. You may want to figure out the fermentation, and then back sweeten afterwards.



Same here brother, what you do is order your "Sweet Tea", when the waitress looks at you like you just spoke to her in Latin and then replies with the standard "I can bring you some sugar packets"; as calmly as you can ask for the unsweetened ice tea with no ice, a glass of ice, 10 packs of sugar and a cup of hot water. Mix the sugar in the hot water until dissolved and add to the tea to taste. Then add your ice.

Yeah it's anal, but sometimes I just want a damned sweet tea.

__________________
Insert catchy signature here....

mfp03001

Recipes 

Oh I have heard of sweet tea before, I dated a girl who was originally from NC for like two years. Can't say I was ever fond of it though... I met the Blue agave syrup I never ehard of though I suppose that's what they make tequila out of.

Anyway I think I'll take the consensus and try back sweating it.

BendBrewer

Recipes 

Why heat it back up? Why not just 'dry hop' it with the tea bags?

__________________
CarPort Brewery
JCMAC Farms Garden