Ever Ferment A Beetle? I did...

[Leapsandbounds]

Hydrometer sample tasted okay but I totally fermented a beetle. Anyone else ever do the same? In my defense, I didn’t see it when I added the wort to the fermenter.

Now, for a question about ethics, should I tell people if they want some?

 

[AkTom]

Don’t tell. I’ve heard you really need about 3% beetles to be effective though. I don’t think 1 beetle will be noticeable.

 

[Ike]

We should all die so lucky...

ETA: this poll is invalid. We prepare huge vats of sugary liquid and we're TOLD not to cover (thank you so VERY much, DMS) while we do it. To paraphrase a saying from another walk of life: "there are two kinds of brewers: those who have brewed bugs, and damned liars."

 

[Sparkncode]

Dont worry all grain contains a percentage of rat wee and poop...

 

[Miraculix]

Now you have to call the beer obviously Beetle Juice!

 

[Nagorg]

Does crushing weevils count?

 

[mullet6577]

Never a beetle but I have fermented a bee before. I did an IPA that the bees in the park behind the house must have REALLY liked the smell of. After fishing several out of the wort before going to the fermenter, I found one left in the carboy.

I pretended it was the one that stung me on the ankle during the cool down and decided it was karma.

 

[JohnSand]

Serve it to beer snobs, tell them it's the only one of it's kind, special limited release. You'll be famous.

 

[jspain3]

"Brewed with scarab" doesn't sound off-putting.

 

[Miraculix]

Scarabeer!

 

[Jayjay1976]

Does crushing weevils count?

'Crushing Weevils' would be a great name for a band!

 

[Jayjay1976]

"Brewed with scarab" doesn't sound off-putting.

How about 'Scarabeo'?

If I'm not mistaken, that looks like a June bug.. Thats not a bad place to start for a proper name.

 

[jcav]

Could be a new fermentation indicator. When the June Bug sinks the beer is done!

John

 

[Miraculix]

Could be a new fermentation indicator. When the June Bug sinks the beer is done!

John

Tilt hydrometers?

For beer snobs.... Give me a beetle and I'll sort it out!

 

[divrack]

don't beleetle the ethical issues with jokes please.

 

[Leapsandbounds]

How about I just tell people it’s made with the finest malt extract and other natural ingredients? Hahaha

 

[FleEsq]

My lovebug beer is going to be ready to drink this weekend. If you don't live in Florida you may not know what lovebugs are, they all hatch at the same time live for about three days and mate for the entire time.
They hatched in the middle of my boil; thousand's of them. I got most of them out but, if you get a bottle with one in it, your going to get lucky.

 

[gunhaus]

Did you have the proper permit to harvest that beetle?

 

[Leapsandbounds]

My lovebug beer is going to be ready to drink this weekend. If you don't live in Florida you may not know what lovebugs are, they all hatch at the same time live for about three days and mate for the entire time.
They hatched in the middle of my boil; thousand's of them. I got most of them out but, if you get a bottle with one in it, your going to get lucky.

I live in South Florida and I’m very familiar with those winged car paint destroyers.

 

[Lefou]

Does crushing weevils count?

Instead of freezing my grain that had weevils, I microwaved instead. Screwed up my grain. The mash didn't go well, the wort was way under the calculated gravity, and the beer ended up thin and weak.

 

[Nagorg]

Instead of freezing my grain that had weevils, I microwaved instead. Screwed up my grain. The mash didn't go well, the wort was way under the calculated gravity, and the beer ended up thin and weak.

I think the weevils helped with head retention!

Maybe the OP's beer could be called Beetlejuice? (Dang it.. of course that had already been suggested.. But it does seem the obvious choice!)

 

[jcav]

Yea I know all about those love bugs. They fly around still attached to their mate all over and will coat the heck out of your vehicle. My neighbor has a white house and for some reason they are attracted to white and they cover the outside of the house landing on the the walls. Good luck on that Lovebug beer!

John

 

[BrewZer]

With a beetle in your beer, you could always append a famous Beatle's name to it...

 

[homebrewer_99]

"Brewed with scarab" doesn't sound off-putting.

Brewed with SCABs is...

 

[homebrewer_99]

Yea I know all about those love bugs. They fly around still attached to their mate all over and will coat the heck out of your vehicle. My neighbor has a white house and for some reason they are attracted to white and they cover the outside of the house landing on the the walls. Good luck on that Lovebug beer!

John

Two words: SHOP VAC (...with 3" of water and liquid soap (Dawn) added). THat's what I use on Box Elder bugs when they get under my siding. Vacuum until they're all gone, come back in 5 minutes, repeat. I did this for 3 days one year. Haven't had them since.

 

[Leapsandbounds]

I’m thinking Scarabaeidae IPA

 

[Leapsandbounds]

Couldn’t wait, only 5 days in the bottle carbonating. Anyways, not a single hint of beetle (not that I’d know what beetle tastes like).

 

[JohnSand]

It's subtle. You have to be a BJCP Super Master of the Universe to taste one beetle in five gallons.
Next time add more!

 

[jcav]

Yes, but it gave it great head retention!

John

 

[day_trippr]

 

[SEndorf]

 

[GPP33]

This could be the start of a new trend. My next brew will be a “Spanish FlyPA”. Each bottle will contain one Spanish fly. The first aphrodisiac spiked beer.

 

[homebrewer_99]

If your friends like it you can call them "Scarab Moochers"...Can you do the Fandango, Mamma Mia?

 

[Henbrew]

I've found a bee when discarding my yeast after bottling. The bees will sometimes fly right into my boiling wort in the fall... Beer was perfectly fine.

 

[JohnSand]

The bee had a problem. A sad and under-reported story.

 

[Desert_Sky]

I've mashed a big ass roach once. Like big azz mofo

I found it during the grain dump and didn't tell anyone and beer was phenomenal