lemon balm???

[robsan77]

Has anyone ever used lemon balm in beer??? I m thinking about using some in a summer blonde for a steep at 80 maybe bittered with centinnel or cascade.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[jamesb]

No, but it sounds interesting. Keep us posted.

Don't go overboard on it though.

 

[robsan77]

I am going to brew a summer blonde but take 1 gallon off before the 20min hop addition to do a lemon balm experiment:

My passionate pale:
Original Gravity (OG): 1.040 (°P): 10.0
Colour (SRM): 5.1 (EBC): 10.0
Bitterness (IBU): 60.4 (Average)

95.24% Maris Otter Malt
4.76% Torrified Wheat

15g Amarillo (9.4% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil)
15g Centennial (11.7% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil)
15g Centennial (11.7% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil)
15g Simcoe (12.9% Alpha) @ 15 Minutes (Boil)
30g Simcoe (12.9% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Aroma)

Single step Infusion at 66°C for 60 Minutes. Boil for 60 Minutes

Fermented at 20°c with Danstar Nottingham
Recipe Generated with BrewMate

1 gallon experiment:
I will then add 3g centennial for 20mins boil and a handfull of fresh young lemon balm for 30min steep.
Not sure yet about the centennial. Might leave it out for this. Will go and make a quick lemon balm tea and make a decision.

 

[robsan77]

Actually what i will do is mash 4.7kg instead of 4kg and take 25litres to boil. Then after 40mins boil i will take 4 litres off for the lemon balm and top up with 0.5litres and top up the main batch to 25litres which should get me 23litres in the fv at around 4%.

does anyone see any potential problems doing this this way??

 

[Tony]

What a cracking idea robsan ... you have to let us know how it pans out!
:

 

[robsan77]

just had a sneaky taste after 7 days and the lemon balm test tastes disgusting :sick: maybe i used to much, maybe a steeped for too long but i dont like it. Dont think i'll try again..
on the other hand the blonde with simcoe and centenial tastes bloody fantastic! well chuffed with how that one is turning out!

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

If you want citrusy try Simcoe hops, cracking citrus taste.
BB