Using Hibiscus/rose of Sharon

[goodwood]

Hello,

I can not find a good source of drying out hibiscus. I have a Rose of Sharon tree and want to dry them out to use in a beer. Should I just go ahead and throw them in not dried?

I brewed a 100% brett beer and would most likely throw these in a secondary.

 

[WayFrae]

I think they would be fine to be put in not dried. I read a recipe for a honeysuckle mead and they used fresh honeysuckle.

 

[goodwood]

I will try that tommorrow hopefully. It's looking like rain and we prefer to brew outside in the summer. We will have downtime from brewing. I think the trick will be seeing how much I need now. haha.

 

[Stormbringer]

I'm curious how this came out. I have a few Rose Of Sharon trees and would like to make something with the flowers this year. Was thinking of a low abv false wine.

 

[goodwood]

We made a sort of tea from some runnings and it didn't taste good. Maybe the heat from the sparge brought out a vegetale character. It was not pleasant.

I would say it was a creamed corn, pasty starchy taste.

I will definitely try this again. I am starting to think they need to be dried out. I will try again this year. The plan is to have a nice funky farmhouse or kettle sour to go with these.

 

[BentBrewer]

While Rose of Sharon is a type of hibiscus, I'm pretty sure it's not got the type of flavors one expects from the tropical hibiscus. I'd suggest one hit up a Mexican grocery store, and get the dried hibiscus they use for Jamaica. Just my

 

[Stormbringer]

Thanks for the heads up. Perhaps I'll pass on using it now too many other brews on the list.