Brewing with Wood....

[ksubowman]

Lets keep our minds out of the gutter people. I am wanting to try and do a unique batch of homebrew but I want to use some kind of wood/lumber. I know spanish cedar can be use or oak, but has anyone used wood in the homebrew and had some good/unique flavors. Thanks!

 

[Melana]

Ha!

 

[evrose]

There are lots of styles that use oak chips or blocks during primary or secondary to impart a woody flavor. I just bottled a bourbon-barrel English Old Ale that sat on oak cubes for a month... had a very oakey flavor on bottling. I've also done a belgian stout that was oak aged... came out fantastic.

This is done quite commonly.

 

[tootal]

We made a Rye IPA and put it in a rye whiskey barrel and it came out fantastic. We brewed 60 gallons and after it was fermented we filled the barrel. We then brewed a Rye Barleywine on ST. Pat's day so it's in the barrel now and is to be called O'Ryeleywine!

 

[unionrdr]

Seems to me someone on here used pecan wood before. common tree in the southern states. Generally oak from different countries is used,toasted to a degree or just dried.

 

[peterj]

Dogfish Head makes Palo Santo Marron using Palo Santo wood from South America. I'm not sure where you can get any of that wood, but that beer is fantastic.

http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/year-round-brews/palo-santo-marron.htm

 

[unionrdr]

Or beach nut wood. Then while you drink it,you can do the Teaberry Shuffle...

 

[firestem4]

Aw ...i like the gutter!

(sorry, i really have no knowledge so I can't add anything constructive!)

 

[Zamial]

You should look up some wood toxicity charts as some wood is really not good for you.

That being said my homebrew club is doing a wood themed comp this year and I know that there is a pecan saison a friend made and I home smoked grains with hickory wood and then toasted some chips in the oven and will be aging the beer on the chips starting under a week.

 

[November]

I've used charred pecan and mesquite besides the usual oak. I have lots of those on hand for wood turning so I figured I should try it. The pecan was especially good.

 

[unionrdr]

I thought the pecan would be good,since it's great in the bbq pit as well.

 

[bethebrew]

Mulberry will be my next smoking wood for some malt. Really tasty in the BBQ.

 

[unionrdr]

Now there's one I hadn't thought of. Mulberries in a wheat ale would be good too.

 

[MarcusKillion]

Lets keep our minds out of the gutter people.

Crap ! I had a great wood joke

 

[unionrdr]

everyone's thinkin it,so I'll say it. Uuuuh huh huh,huh...he want's to get wood...uuuhuhuh,huh.

 

[drchris83]

Are there any experiences with aging beer or spirits on toasted/charred hickory?

 

[tugbucket]

Mesquite came up the other day at lunch with the wife. Time for a porter I guess.

 

[Darwin18]

I judged a saison that used lemonwood this past weekend and it was fantastic.

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

Apple: Produces a sweet, fruity taste.Good mild wood

Alder: Not sure, used for fish in cooking so i would assume a very light woody flavor.

Cherry: Similar to apple… sweet and usually very fruity depending on the age of the wood. Tends to be mild

Hickory: Probably the most well known woods. VERY PUNGENT and strong.

Maple: Gives a light and sweet taste

Mesquite: Like hickory but less in your face. Intense smokey flavor but not as harsh.

Oak: Most popular. Subtle smooth rich woody flavor

Pecan: Gives somewhat of a fruity flavor


Some off my head and that i found online.
Apple, maple, or pecan would prob be best to experiment with.
Enjoy!

 

[Melana]

Brewing with wood still has my interest....