Preserving spruce tips for later brews

[TasunkaWitko]

We've got some really nice spruce tips popping here, and I've got a recipe for a spruce-tip ale (inspired by Benjamin Franklin, no less), that I'd like to try.

The thing is, I wanted to hold off on brewing it until around September or October.

Is there a "best" way to preserve the tips until then? Vacuum-sealing/freezing? Drying? Freezing them in a block of ice? Something else?

Any advice would be appreciated - thanks!

Ron

 

[BrewerE]

I have some that I vac-pac'd and froze.

Have not used them yet though...I'd imagine they will be a little soft b/c of the ice damage, but who cares? That's how they get after you chuck 'em in any way.

 

[TasunkaWitko]

Sounds good to me - getting soft is probably a good thing, as the freezing should expand the cells and help the good stuff release.

I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. This recipe looks to be a good one, and sounds like a great winter ale.

 

[TasunkaWitko]

My son is actually ordering the ingredients to make this in the next couple of weeks, so when he collects his spruce tips (from a tree in our yard), I'll have him get a few for me, and will vacuum seal/freeze them.

This should be an interesting one....

 

[bstacy1974]

Resurrecting an old thread. With spring right around the corner, I'd like to collect some spruce tips for use later this year. How did vacuum sealing and freezing work? I was thinking a shot of vodka and vacuum sealing, with storage in my keezer.
Oh, and how was the beer?

 

[TasunkaWitko]

Sad to say, I haven't yet brewed the beer. I do have the spruce tips though; I collected quite a few on the rocky Mountain Front last spring, and they are currently in the freezer sealed up. My son used a few of them for a beer and it turned out well. I am also considering some sort of mead, as well.

As for the Vodka, I am not so sure. It's worth a try; maybe a side-by-side comparison?

 

[BrewerE]

Resurrecting an old thread. With spring right around the corner, I'd like to collect some spruce tips for use later this year. How did vacuum sealing and freezing work? I was thinking a shot of vodka and vacuum sealing, with storage in my keezer.
Oh, and how was the beer?

Vac-seal and freeze works just fine.

Don't know what you'd put vodka in there for...don't need it (and I'm not sure it would totally freeze)