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**SpruceOnTap** · 11-13-2012, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLObrewer

It appears from the video that this was brewed in the spring, the tips were vacuum packed though.

The spruce tips are harvested in the spring, but we vacuum pack them on site in the forest right after they are harvested, then they are frozen. They remain frozen until they are shipped to the customer (shipped in bubble wrap with ice packs). This allows them a safe shelf life of over a year. We primarily want to make sure they are available for winter and seasonal beers this time of year.

**SpruceOnTap** · 11-13-2012, 05:29 AM

Just thought I would mention we are offering a 15% discount to HomeBrewTalk forum members. If you are interested in getting some spruce tips through www.spruceontap.com just enter hbtspruce into the coupon code and get your discount. There are a lot of recipe suggestions on there too. Cheers, and happy fermenting!

Spruce On Tap

**45_70sharps** · 11-13-2012, 06:15 AM

Interesting. Spruce is abundant here and I've thought about trying to brew something that some dirt poor S.O.B. that settled out here would have made.
I've been thinking about what fermentables, but the spruce instead of hops is an interesting idea.

When you were coming up with the amount of spruce to use, did you make a spruce tea to compare to hop bitterness?

Sounds good. I would like to taste some spruce beer. Sounds like it could be pretty good.

Teromous · 11-13-2012, 02:52 PM

It makes a nice tea as well, and it's a good way to get people out of the house for a walk in the forest

**45_70sharps** · 11-13-2012, 04:17 PM

Or I could pick them in my yard!
Actually the Spruce at my house is all kind of big. It would be a nice little adventure with my daughter to go pick some in the woods from some younger spruce trees.

**TheEndlessObsession** · 11-13-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBXBob

A couple years ago I bought a keg of Alaska Winter Ale with spruce tips, really nice! Thanks for sharing, I might just have to try doing a spruce tip ale.

Had this beer at the GABF and it really blew my mind a bit. Going to have to try and brew a clone now that I know I can get the spruce tips!

JordanThomas · 11-13-2012, 04:33 PM

Maybe I've had the wrong spruce beer... Short's Spruce Pilsner. That thing was NASTY.

Anyone else have any commercial examples of good beers with spruce?

TheZymurgist · 11-13-2012, 04:53 PM

What effect would dry "hopping" with spruce tips have? Anyone tried this? Or are they better utilized in the boil?

**45_70sharps** · 11-14-2012, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheZymurgist

What effect would dry "hopping" with spruce tips have? Anyone tried this? Or are they better utilized in the boil?

I think they could be good for any hop usage.
Bittering, flavor or aroma.

I will have to experiment.
Maybe I'll wait till spring when I can get some myself, or maybe I won't be able to wait and I'll have to order some.

Pretty cool that they are available for people without access to them fresh to try.

I'm thinking that dry hopping with them might be the ticket. Awesome aroma.

Spruce beer would be good with grouse.

**bluez28zr2** · 11-14-2012, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheZymurgist

What effect would dry "hopping" with spruce tips have? Anyone tried this? Or are they better utilized in the boil?

A spruce nips/hop schedule that I used that turned out great was:
2oz spruce nips and 1oz cluster @ 60 min
2oz spruce nips and 0.5oz hallertauer @ 10min
2oz spruce nips @ flame out
4oz dry hop 10 days.

Not over powering spruce like the shorts brewing if anyone has had that, nice mellow flavor and aroma. Great hit with everyone. Could still only drink a pint or two at a time though due to tasting like a tree lol.