Experimenting with flavors?

[Rukula]

As far as i know, you can add loads of different weird things to the blend to make the beer special. But experimenting can easily lead to the result tasting horrible. I read about a guy adding some anise, but it turned out tasting so much anise that it was undrinkable. :sick:

So basically. I think this is really interesting, but I'm worried about wasting high amounts of beer because of weird/gross flavors..

What have you tried to add to make your beer taste special? And if you use this regularly in your blend, how much do you add?

I know about the Anise and Citrus peel. but when adding stuff like the citrus peel, don't you have to make it bone dry first? For the optimal flavor to come out?

Discuss! :

 

[robsan77]

dont think dryness affects flavour from peel. Good on you for the experimenting, the future of beer is in your hands. I like to divi up 5 gallon brews into 1 gallon demijohns if i am experimenting. If crazy flavours are added to the boil then get yourself a gallon pot and do it on the stove. I like to keep some regular so i can compare so maybe pull off 1 gallon to boil on the stove with something mad but do 4 gallons standard. Just get creative :thumb:

 

[mtvessel]

I read somewhere that someone added two jars of malt extract from holland and barrett to their brew and it was undrinkable, also some have added half a jar or a few spoonsfull and enjoyed the taste. ?

 

[user 2461]

Rukula,

As a starter for 10 you might wanna try a book called the Homebrewer's Garden by Joe and Dennis Fisher. Its all about home grown things you can put in your beer, herbs, home grown hops, barley wheat etc. there are a few recipes in the back, I havent tried them yet but in clude things like honey and basil beer, Maple syrup, Dandelion to name a few. It also shows you how to dry your own hops and roast you own malt. There is also whole heap of information of the different herbs and flaviurs that work well in beer- indeed have worked well for 100's of years in some cases.

As with most good brewing book this one is from the US so a bit of recipe conversion needs to take place.

ISBN 978-1-58017-010-9

There are also a few good recipes in the Brown Ale book in the Claissic Beer Styles seris that might give you some inspiration.

Good luck

Vman