Chili Pepper Beer

[Morrey]

Does anyone remember a beer that was commercially produced that had a small chili pepper in the bottled beer? I know some will have liked it while others will say nay, but it was a pretty interesting taste that I only had one time. It seemed to disappear meaning it wasn't received very well by the consumer.

Anyhow, has anyone tried popping a chili pepper in a bottle of beer you homebrewed? Did you use a light, low hopped lager for your base beer? How did it turn out? What kind of pepper would be best suited?

Thanks!

 

[Spartan300man]

If I recall, the quality of those base beers was pretty bad, so the chili pepper was just covering up some bad brew. If you used a decent beer, with just a touch of the heat, I bet that would be excellent. I think a full pepper in it would be a little too much.

On a similar subject, I saw a bomber of a beer at Costco that had a red shrink sleeve on it, it was a Siracha flavor brew. Did not want to spend the $ on it, though.

 

[Sailingeric]

I did a small batch of chili English ale for my wife to use in her chili. It turned out be a decent drinking beer with a hint of heat. If you want to brew some, I would suggest doing a gallon batch to see how it comes out before scaling up

 

[zmanzorro]

My homebrew team and I brew a mean Chile IIPA with a combination of poblano, jalapeno, and habanero peppers.

 

[TasunkaWitko]

If someone asked me, I'd say that the Fresno pepper is a good choice.


I made a jalapeno saison (using a red Fresno pepper rather than a green jalapeno) that was really good. Just the right heat that came at you from the side and built up to a wonderful warmth in the finish - it was dang-near perfect.


This recipe used one pepper (chopped) per gallon, so I am not sure how that would translate to putting something in the bottle, but I am sure that it could be figured out.

 

[Morrey]

My homebrew team and I brew a mean Chile IIPA with a combination of poblano, jalapeno, and habanero peppers.

Interesting. Do you mind if I impose to ask for a recipe?

I was thinking that it may be best to add chilis in the FV so they get left behind in the racking process after imparting flavors. Add a slice of mild chili to the bottle for decoration? But, I always keg my beers so that adds another consideration.

 

[Morrey]

If someone asked me, I'd say that the Fresno pepper is a good choice.


I made a jalapeno saison (using a red Fresno pepper rather than a green jalapeno) that was really good. Just the right heat that came at you from the side and built up to a wonderful warmth in the finish - it was dang-near perfect.


This recipe used one pepper (chopped) per gallon, so I am not sure how that would translate to putting something in the bottle, but I am sure that it could be figured out.

When you chopped the pepper, did you sauté or roast to release the oils? Or just straight up into the FV?

 

[TasunkaWitko]

I tossed it straight into the wort with 5 minutes left in the boil; you can read about it here, if interested:


https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=530625


I am guessing that it would work fine in the secondary, as well - but the truth is that dong it the way I did it had a very nice effect.

 

[TasunkaWitko]

FYI - I also have the actual recipe for this mix - two recipes, actually; one is "mild" and the other is "spicy."


If interested, send a PM; I am reluctant to post it in the open forum as it is not "my" recipe.

 

[zmanzorro]

Interesting. Do you mind if I impose to ask for a recipe?

I was thinking that it may be best to add chilis in the FV so they get left behind in the racking process after imparting flavors. Add a slice of mild chili to the bottle for decoration? But, I always keg my beers so that adds another consideration.

We steam the poblano and jalapeno peppers, so it is easier to de-skin them, and then add the poblanos at around the 30 minute boil mark and secondary the rest of the peppers.

 

[Redcardbrews]

I have brewed a choco chili Porter with ancho chilis and a mango red chili cream ale that both have gotten rave reviews and repeat brew days, they both had chilis added at flameout and in a secondary fermentation. They give a good bit of heat at the back end but nothing that overpowers the flavor of the beer.

 

[GritGrind901]

I have brewed a choco chili Porter with ancho chilis and a mango red chili cream ale that both have gotten rave reviews and repeat brew days, they both had chilis added at flameout and in a secondary fermentation. They give a good bit of heat at the back end but nothing that overpowers the flavor of the beer.

I had a Chocolate Chili Stout last night that was amazing at our Brew Club meeting. It was perfectly balanced malt sweetness and heat and roast. This is a great style to explore when done properly.

 

[Morrey]

I had a Chocolate Chili Stout last night that was amazing at our Brew Club meeting. It was perfectly balanced malt sweetness and heat and roast. This is a great style to explore when done properly.

That chocolate and chili combination is hard to beat! I like the chocolate bars that are infused with chili flakes. Obviously we are using ales as a base, and I think the original chili beer I had (Cave Creek???) must surely have been a lager. Probably not a great lager either, but that can be fixed by a good home brewer.

I suppose I may try to infuse a shot of pepper in the boil, then add a pepper in the bottle at bottling time. Since I almost never bottle (keg only), I think my presentation value will be low if I simply add peppers to the keg, plus the dip tube will be stopped up for sure.

 

[Morrey]

I had a Chocolate Chili Stout last night that was amazing at our Brew Club meeting. It was perfectly balanced malt sweetness and heat and roast. This is a great style to explore when done properly.

Do you have access to share that recipe? If it is a private recipe, I understand. Thanks.

 

[enokidaki]

I bought that beer in single form many times... My cat craved it! Weird cat I know, don't worry he only got a bottle cap full.

 

[Morrey]

I bought that beer in single form many times... My cat craved it! Weird cat I know, don't worry he only got a bottle cap full.

I like cats that imbibe! That makes him/her a "cool cat"

 

[ReverendOwl]

On a similar subject, I saw a bomber of a beer at Costco that had a red shrink sleeve on it, it was a Siracha flavor brew. Did not want to spend the $ on it, though.

Sounds like the Rogue one, I'm curious to try it but being from the UK it's even more expensive as its imported. Also not sure if I want 660ml (sorry 22oz) of Sriracha beer in one sittting.