Maple Beer Group Brew?

[HawleyFarms]

So I'm curious, with it nearly being time for sugaring season to start, are there any brewers here who'd like to do a group brew / beer exchange with maple beer? Any beer styles would be included as long as maple sap, syrup or extract was used to create it.

I, for one, think it would be a fun group brew and exchange to see what type of brews are made this time of year with maple products.

If there is anyone interested PM me and we can set something up where (just an idea) everyone comes up with their 2 best maple based brews and sends 2 of each to the participants. I can't imagine we will get a lot of people involved but if the numbers do start to rack up before the brewing starts we could knock it down to 2 bottles of the best you can come up with.

What do you guys think?

 

[HawleyFarms]

No takers on the idea of a maple group brew?

 

[grathan]

I will probably do something this year. Be neat to swap out.

 

[HawleyFarms]

What are you thinking? Maybe set up a date that brews must be made by and then set up a date they need to be shipped by?

I thought there would be a little more interest as i've seen a few brews lately with maple besides my own. Maybe this thread should have been started in the General Beer Discussion section instead of Recipes/Ingredients.

 

[grathan]

I don't have the trees. Nor recipe. I do have a gallon of syrup left from last year, but probably wouldn't use that.

I would think that if I can get sap I would brew. But even then there is a chance that it won't come out good, would it be worth shipping? I just shipped a beer to a guy in Texas and it cost $30 for just the shipping fees for a single bottle. So if your talking a bunch of people signing up and me shipping two bottles to each of them at $30 a pop for a beer that I don't feel is worth sharing then it gets depressing instead of exciting.


I still have 2 batches (8 gallons) left from last year that never got drank. It's a learning process using sap. There are difficulties to overcome and the lack of a solid recipe that worry me.



That said. I would like to share, but have an option to back out if things don't go well.

 

[HawleyFarms]

That seems like an outrageous price to me. Who are you using for shipping? I'm going to be shipping UPS ground this week to a fellow HBT member, 6lb package of 4 bottles with delivery confirmation and its only going to be $15 and some change.

 

[HawleyFarms]

Sorry mistyped, it will be $16.82

 

[HawleyFarms]

Either way, i'd be more than happy to leave it up to participants of the brew. I think it could be fun just seeing how a maple group brew could turn out.

 

[joerose]

Yeah, when I shipped to Hawley it was 21$. I'd be in and have already contributed lol

 

[grathan]

I've confirmed access to sap this year. Got asked what Brix I would like.. time to start pondering. Last year I used RO filtered boiled down to 1.084. I also sat on it a couple weeks before brewing and it got syrupy in the fridge.

It was tough to mash with because I heard that sap is high in PH. So I dumped in malt extract in one batch. It was like maple sugar candy. Like a dessert-style sipping beer.

I wanna go lighter on the sap this year, but use more grains. Probably some dark grains as well.

 

[HawleyFarms]

Sounds great guys. Maybe I should do an edit of the first post so people see what this is all about. I'm thinking this is simply a group brew with the option of an exchange between participants welcome. Brews can be made with sap, syrup and extract or a combination of the three. Sound about right?

 

[HawleyFarms]

I think this weekend I am going to start either a smoked maple amber ale recipe or a maple centennial blonde. Anyone want to join in? I'll post the recipe I decide on by tomorrow night.

 

[IrishinPA]

I just saw 55gal of sap on Craigslist for $25. Gonna pop on it and looking at making a maple lager or maple saison

 

[madscientist451]

Yeah, I saw that same craigslist post, never thought of using the sap in a beer.
When the sap goes "sour" is it because of lacto?

 

[IrishinPA]

Not sure. I sent an email and see about it. Want some if it's still good? Not sure WTH I'd do with 55 gals, but easier than tapping my own right now.