BrotherBock
Well-Known Member
I'm wanting to make a beer that reminds me of the Minnesota woods. Something woody and earthy. A good camping beer. Spruce beer comes to mind, but that's not all that woody, more citrusy. So I was thinking about cedar and/or juniper.
We have Eastern Red Cedar and White Cedar here
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trees_shrubs/conifers/whitecedar.html
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trees_shrubs/conifers/easternredcedar.html
But according to Wikipedia:
Red Cedar: Juniper oil is distilled from the wood, twigs and leaves. The essential oil contains cedrol which has toxic and possibly carcinogenic properties. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_virginiana#Uses
White Cedar: The foliage of Thuja occidentalis is rich in Vitamin C and is believed to be the annedda which cured the scurvy of Jacques Cartier and his party in the winter of 1535–1536.[7] Due to the presence of the neurotoxic compound thujone, internal use can be harmful if used for prolonged periods or while pregnant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_occidentalis
I know I've had cedar (not cigar city, they use spanish cedar) and juniper beers with no ill effects, but maybe those were using different cedar and juniper?
Any advice on how to use these in brewing. If I can't go into the woods and grab some cedar I'll abandon the project and do something else, I'd like it to be "truly Minnesotan" as much as it can be.
We have Eastern Red Cedar and White Cedar here
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trees_shrubs/conifers/whitecedar.html
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/trees_shrubs/conifers/easternredcedar.html
But according to Wikipedia:
Red Cedar: Juniper oil is distilled from the wood, twigs and leaves. The essential oil contains cedrol which has toxic and possibly carcinogenic properties. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_virginiana#Uses
White Cedar: The foliage of Thuja occidentalis is rich in Vitamin C and is believed to be the annedda which cured the scurvy of Jacques Cartier and his party in the winter of 1535–1536.[7] Due to the presence of the neurotoxic compound thujone, internal use can be harmful if used for prolonged periods or while pregnant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuja_occidentalis
I know I've had cedar (not cigar city, they use spanish cedar) and juniper beers with no ill effects, but maybe those were using different cedar and juniper?
Any advice on how to use these in brewing. If I can't go into the woods and grab some cedar I'll abandon the project and do something else, I'd like it to be "truly Minnesotan" as much as it can be.