Adding gingerroot to fermentation tank

[scorp8669]

Hi guys,

After 7 days of fermentation, I want to put gingerroot to my tank.

What is the best way to do it and not to ruin the beer.

Thanks.

 

[birvine]

Be careful - ginger is very strong.

B

 

[Captain Damage]

I've made a lot of gingered beers. Shred it and soak it in vodka - just enough to cover - for a couple of days. Put the ginger in a hop bag and into the fermenter. Add the vodka to the ferementer too.

2 oz will give you a good ginger flavor, but if you're looking for a real sharp heat you'll want at least double that.

I put a few ounces in the boil as well, but if you've already brewed then the "dry hop" method will get you some good flavor.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I've made a lot of gingered beers. Shred it and soak it in vodka - just enough to cover - for a couple of days. Put the ginger in a hop bag and into the fermenter. Add the vodka to the ferementer too.

2 oz will give you a good ginger flavor, but if you're looking for a real sharp heat you'll want at least double that.

I put a few ounces in the boil as well, but if you've already brewed then the "dry hop" method will get you some good flavor.

This. You can make the tincture, take a measured amount of beer, add the tincture dropwise until it's where you want it, then scale up for a full batch

 

[Captain Damage]

This. You can make the tincture, take a measured amount of beer, add the tincture dropwise until it's where you want it, then scale up for a full batch

The ginger will hold on to a lot of the tincture. I'm not suggesting putting a little giinger in a whole bottle of vodka. Put the shredded ginger in a jar. Pour in just enough vodka to cover it. You're going to add everything in that jar to your beer.

Seriously, you just have to jump in and make your first batch and adjust up or down on your next batch. 2 oz as a "dry hop" is not going to burn your tongue off. Then again, some people just don't like ginger. E.g., my ginger beers are much more popular with women than with men. But this comes up all the time here. Someone who likes ginger asks about adding ginger to beer. Then someone who doesn't like ginger says "OMG be careful!!!." I even had one guy tell me that I must have been mistaken when I said I typically use 8 oz of fresh gingerroot in a 5 gallon batch, he insisted I must have meant 1/8 oz.

 

[jwags48]

yes vodka works well. What I do with vanilla is put cut beans in about a cup of boiling water for 20 mins then put the whole thing into secondary.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The ginger will hold on to a lot of the tincture. I'm not suggesting putting a little giinger in a whole bottle of vodka. Put the shredded ginger in a jar. Pour in just enough vodka to cover it. You're going to add everything in that jar to your beer.

I wasn't even close to suggesting that either....

I suggested making the tincutre and adding it dropwise to a measured amount of the beer so he can dial in on what tastes best to him. Then he can scale up from there.

So maybe instead of getting on my case because you think I'm an "OMG, ginger be careful!!!!11!" person, you should work on your reading comprehension

 

[scorp8669]

Great,

Thanks for the advice. I'll use the Vodka.

 

[MisterOJ]

The ginger will hold on to a lot of the tincture. I'm not suggesting putting a little giinger in a whole bottle of vodka. Put the shredded ginger in a jar. Pour in just enough vodka to cover it. You're going to add everything in that jar to your beer.

Seriously, you just have to jump in and make your first batch and adjust up or down on your next batch. 2 oz as a "dry hop" is not going to burn your tongue off. Then again, some people just don't like ginger. E.g., my ginger beers are much more popular with women than with men. But this comes up all the time here. Someone who likes ginger asks about adding ginger to beer. Then someone who doesn't like ginger says "OMG be careful!!!." I even had one guy tell me that I must have been mistaken when I said I typically use 8 oz of fresh gingerroot in a 5 gallon batch, he insisted I must have meant 1/8 oz.

This thread is really intriguing to me, because I love ginger too. I love Blenheim hot ginger ale. It's the best.

Being that I'm a fairly new brewer (just bottled my second batch and brewed my fourth batch) yesterday, what kind of beer would you say goes well with a bit of ginger in it?

 

[jwags48]

relax and have a homebrew you both.....omg

 

[neovox]

I've used vodka several times for spices and fruit zest. It works great. I generally use about a half cup of vodka mixed with whatever I'm adding. I let it infuse for a week or so, then strain it before adding it to the keg or bottling bucket. I've never tried it with ginger. Indecently, I just brewed a ginger beer this weekend. My plan was to add 2oz of sanitized sliced ginger to the secondary, but now I'm thinking the vodka route might be the way to go. It's worked really well for my other brews.