Ok, so the next brew I'm doing is a winter warmer, now, apart from actually finding the ingredients for sale, I also have another worry. You guessed it, sterilization.
The recipe is going to include the following ingredients:
Ginger, Grated
Orange Peels (Homemade, not store bought)
Cinnamon Sticks
Whole Nutmeg
Whole Cloves
Now, i was wondering if I should worry about whether or not these ingredients are sterile. I was going to be adding them near the end of the boil. I was going to just toss them in a cheese cloth and soak them after the wort is done boiling.
Basically, what I'm wondering is what is the best way to keep infection at a minimum. One thought I had was soak the ingredients in some water with some campden, or add them while the wort is boiling. My main concern is whether either of these methods will hurt the flavor, and if they are even necessary. I've never cooked or brewed with whole spices like this and I could use some advice.
Thanks
The recipe is going to include the following ingredients:
Ginger, Grated
Orange Peels (Homemade, not store bought)
Cinnamon Sticks
Whole Nutmeg
Whole Cloves
Now, i was wondering if I should worry about whether or not these ingredients are sterile. I was going to be adding them near the end of the boil. I was going to just toss them in a cheese cloth and soak them after the wort is done boiling.
Basically, what I'm wondering is what is the best way to keep infection at a minimum. One thought I had was soak the ingredients in some water with some campden, or add them while the wort is boiling. My main concern is whether either of these methods will hurt the flavor, and if they are even necessary. I've never cooked or brewed with whole spices like this and I could use some advice.
Thanks