Spruce extract beer...

[Grimsawyer]

Hello all! Next on the list of things to try for me is a spruce beer. Bought some Spruce extract, 2oz. LHBS guy says maybe for your first one just add one oz. Good advice, but I forgot to ask when to add it. Do you add it when you start the boil or add it with the finishing hops(10 min) or to the primary before you start airation? Here's my recepie:

7# Light Malt Extract
1# 120 crystal malt (Steeped)
1oz Glacier hops for 60 min
1oz Glacier hops for 10 min
1318 London III by WYeast
1oz Spruce extract

LHBS guy says 1218 London III is one of his favorites so I figured I'd try it having almost no experiance with different strains of yeast. Though, I will use 1098 Brit Ale again by WYeast!

 

[david_42]

Add it after the fermentation is complete. You can always add more just before bottling. Maybe Joe will chime in, he's made several batches.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I would definitely add it in the secondary as david mentions, otherwise a lot of the aromatics will evaporate. I've actually got some spruce tips in the fridge from the NC mountains that I'm pondering making a beer with (you would add these during the boil). Just haven't scheduled it yet.

One thing I've read about spruce beers is that they require significant (months) of aging to get tasty, but that probably depends on how much extract you add.

 

[Grimsawyer]

Thank you guys very much for the tip(hahah, like the pun?)

... I've actually got some spruce tips in the fridge from the NC mountains that I'm pondering making a beer with (you would add these during the boil)...

How many ounces would you use for a batch of brew. How many bittering hops would you add? like 1 oz of something 4-5% ish? Do you use a finishing hop for your spruce tip beer? Tried a spruce ale from Siletz brewing and liked it alot. Can't wait to make one of my own. I actually want to go out into the forest and clip off a few spruce tips(on private property of course. I have some friends with acreage! WOOT!)
Anyhow, thanks for the advise!!

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I've seen a lot of different recommendations for how much spruce to use. I was going to go with 1 cup of tips in the boil as a first try. In terms of adjusting the hop additions I haven't gotten that in depth yet. BYO has a recipe for a spruce bock on their website that I was thinking about using as a base recipe, but I imagine there are some ale recipes out there, as well.

 

[david_42]

I wonder if you can make Douglas Fir Beer? I've got a couple acres of them.
...

Boy, ask google a stupid question: Eau de Vie de Douglas Fir

 

[PhoenixCoyote]

Hello Grimsawyer,
Please let me know how it turns out. I have been pondering making a spruce beer as well. The only kind i have had is the Alaskan Winter Ale. I liked it very much. If your recipe turns out then i might try it too. Thanks.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I believe you can make 'spruce' beer from almost any evergreen, though the results may be better with some than others. When I was looking into I found people making it with juniper tips.

 

[Grimsawyer]

Hello Grimsawyer,
Please let me know how it turns out. I have been pondering making a spruce beer as well. The only kind i have had is the Alaskan Winter Ale. I liked it very much. If your recipe turns out then i might try it too. Thanks.

I shall! Just have to get a new kitchen faucet.... mine broke, can't bottle what is in my secondary, rack what's in my primary to secondary or brew my spruce beer till I get it replaced. Store said it'd be in on thursday, kinda wondering if it's lost on a barge being dragged around the southern tip of South America on it's trip to the northwest from somewhere in iceland or something.... hehe, might be in tomorrow, if it is i'm brewing for sure :rockin: I've also kinda wondered if using tips from a pine tree would be good. I know there are some hints of pine flavors and aromas in some varieties of hops. Would be a fun few beers to play with. (or am I barking up the wrong tree, HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!)

 

[freebird]

Spruce recipe I used: (from a buddy)

1 Can John Bull Dark
3 LB Munton's Dry Dark Malt extract (plain)

2 oz Hallertau 5% bittering (60 min)

2 teaspoons spruce essence at end of boil

I did a full boil, 5 gal at end. (5.5 to start)

Used Danstar Nottingham Dry yeast

Prime with 1 1/4 cup light dry malt ext.

Ms. Denise's Pepsi Beer - got 2 L in the fridge for tonight!

 

[Grimsawyer]

Alriht, This brew is in my primary bubbling away. Made it 2 nights ago, although, I boiled my finishing hops for 5 min instead of 10. It dosn't have an overpowering spruce flavor. I am glad I only used one Oz of the 2Oz bottle of spruce extract! The wort wasn't bitter, not too hoppy either with just the right amount of spruce flavor(for my tastes). It smells kinda like pine but tastes out of this world. It almost has a minty flavor but not quite... I can't wait to rack to secondary to steal a sample from my hydrator tube!!!! I'll keep you all posted!

 

[david_42]

I remember Joe Middleton's first spruce beer. He used the recommended amount of extract and it took months to mellow.

 

[Orpheus]

The "bible" has a recipe for a spruce beer:

3.3 lbs. John Bull plain dark malt extract syrup
2 lbs. plain dried amber malt extract
2 lbs. light honey
3/4 lb. crystal malt
1/3 lb. black patent malt
1.5 oz. Cascade hopes (boiling)
.5 oz. Hallertauer hops (finishing)
1 oz. spruce essence
1-2 pkgs. lager yeast
3/4 cup corn sugar or 1+1/4 cup dme (for bottling)

Add crushed crystal and black patent malts to 1.5 gallons cold water. Remove grains when boiling commences. Add malt extract, honey, and boiling hops and boil 45 mins. Add finishing hops and spruce essence during final 2-4 minutes of boil. Sparge immediately into fermenter and cold water. Add yeast when cool.

 

[Grimsawyer]

Bottled it last night! Can't wait to crack one open and try it all carbonated!!! It was pretty tastey warm and flat. Only a few weeks to go!:rockin: