Book by Dave Line

[Python15]

This is a long shot but here goes. Many years ago back in the late 70's my old man had a book by Dave Line called "Brewing Beers Like Those you Buy". In this book was a recipe for "Viking Honey Ale", not a beer you'd buy, I here you say but I think it was more of a history lesson in brew craft than anything else. Now I remember well drinking this, as does my older brother and it was very enjoyable. My older brother recently bought a copy only to find the recipe has been removed. I bought a copy from as far back as I possibly could (1994) and it was also missing here too. My question is, does anyone have the recipe for Dave Line's Viking Honey Ale?

 

[marshbrewer]

Just had a look at mine, which appears to be from 93 and it not in there.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I've got the 12th impression from 1985. It's not in there

 

[An Ankoù]

I suspect your dad had other books, too.
If it wasn't a commercial beer then it shouldn't be in "making beers like those you buy" and it's not in my copy. On p64 of "the big book of brewing" Line dismisses honey. He says it was used but modern sugars make it unnecessary, or words to that effect. I've checked wheeler's early work and even Berry's brewing book. Can't find any reference to Viking beers or honey beers.

 

[An Ankoù]

I suspect your dad had other books, too.
If it wasn't a commercial beer then it shouldn't be in "making beers like those you buy" and it's not in my copy. On p64 of "the big book of brewing" Line dismisses honey. He says it was used but modern sugars make it unnecessary, or words to that effect. I've checked wheeler's early work and even Berry's brewing book. Can't find any reference to Viking beers or honey beers.

Tell you what. I'll send an email to the Keeper of the Runes at Valhalla and ask if they've got a recipe in their library that they wouldn't mind sharing.

 

[dtashmore]

This is a long shot but here goes. Many years ago back in the late 70's my old man had a book by Dave Line called "Brewing Beers Like Those you Buy". In this book was a recipe for "Viking Honey Ale", not a beer you'd buy, I here you say but I think it was more of a history lesson in brew craft than anything else. Now I remember well drinking this, as does my older brother and it was very enjoyable. My older brother recently bought a copy only to find the recipe has been removed. I bought a copy from as far back as I possibly could (1994) and it was also missing here too. My question is, does anyone have the recipe for Dave Line's Viking Honey Ale?

I have looked through my copy but it is definitely not there either. sorry

 

[James]

Eighth impression 1982 - no sign.
This may be a false memory but I recall a recipe along with an illustration depicting someone asleep and dreaming of flowers (hops) and Valhalla - like the style in Papazian but I couldn’t find it there either.

 

[Sadfield]

I suspect your dad had other books, too.
If it wasn't a commercial beer then it shouldn't be in "making beers like those you buy" and it's not in my copy.

Or is it....?

 

[prog99]

Or is it....?

There is actually a skol recipe in it

 

[Sadfield]

There is actually a skol recipe in it

Does it contain sugar? I wonder if 'Viking Honey Ale' was a Scandinavian* recipe from the book that was either adjusted or fortified with honey.

*Or Scottish branded as Scandinavian, in Skol's case.

 

[Martin Kernick]

I've scanned my copy of Brewing Beers Like Those You Buy. Line uses blended honey in only three recipes, Tennant's Lager, Kronenbourg and Chimay.

 

[Python15]

Thanks again guys, it looks like I've inadverently started a wild goose chase. I apologise if I've wasted your time.

 

[An Ankoù]

Or is it....?

Certainly there's a recipe for Skol lager, but there's no honey in it.
Looking here and there, not many Scandinavian brewers used honey regularly except a Swedish style called Gotlandsdricka which SOMETIMES used honey and other times used sugar. that's where I'd start looking if I wanted to brew such a thing.

 

[An Ankoù]

Tell you what. I'll send an email to the Keeper of the Runes at Valhalla and ask if they've got a recipe in their library that they wouldn't mind sharing.

Got a reply early on:

Hello Ankoù
No you can't have our recipe. You've got your own. You call it Braggott!
Hope the wife and huskies are keeping well.
Happy slaying.
Gunnar Runekeeper
Menningarþjónusta Ásgarðs

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

I have the 1979 version and can't see it in there.

 

[Python15]

I have the 1979 version and can't see it in there.

Well that's that then, absolute proof that I'm wrong. Thanks again guy's for your help. Time to put this to bed!

 

[Python15]

Does it contain sugar? I wonder if 'Viking Honey Ale' was a Scandinavian* recipe from the book that was either adjusted or fortified with honey.

*Or Scottish branded as Scandinavian, in Skol's case.

As I tried to explain earlier and this is only what I've been told by my brother; he read that Dave Line was trying to explain how ale was made historically and that Scandinavians had to have had hundreds of failed attempts. I wasn't trying to push the fact that this was a commercial ale. I'll take it up with him when I speak to him on Sunday and tell him what an @rse he's made me look! He is absolutely adamant it's been removed.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

I'll check Brewing better beers by Ken Shales when I get home. Lots of honey seems like a recipe he'd use as there wasn't a lot of malt in many of those recipes.

 

[MashBag]

Not the answer to your question but.....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Mead-...&dplnkId=604dcc58-7534-4512-95e1-fec812650083

 

[Python15]

I'll check Brewing better beers by Ken Shales when I get home. Lots of honey seems like a recipe he'd use as there wasn't a lot of malt in many of those recipes.

Thanks mate, that would be really good of you!