Rhubarb Ale

[Darren Jeory]

Hi there

I'm thinking of Brewing a blonde ale but using rhubarb in place of some cops for bitterness.

Has anyone done this before?

 

[Darren Jeory]

Hops not cops

 

[Slid]

Two years ago I added 2kg of Rhubarb to a Saison and it went quite well. Saison is not particularly bittered and neither is a Blonde, generally speaking.
On reviewing feedback from others using Rhubarb, most regretted not having used more!
On that basis I would suggest, as an approach, to go for no more than, say, 20 IBUs for bittering and adding lots of Rhubarb. Think I added them after the initial ferment.
Would suggest a Belgian yeast, possibly

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/new-year-slid-brewday.75529/page-7
Posts 128 and 129 for the recipe.

 

[Darren Jeory]

Yeah I was thinking that but I was thinking of adding the rhubarb for the last 20 mins of the boil?

 

[Slid]

What I did was wash the rhubarb, cut it into chunks, freeze it and then thaw it. Added it in a mesh bag to the FV after the first 3 days of fermentation.
3kg of rhubarb trub in the bottom of the boiler might be a pain!

 

[smcc]

I made a rhubarb saison once and it was amazing, really worked with the yeast to create a dry tangy but refreshing beer. I put some in at end of boil and a little more as a dry hop type addition. Be careful though it will turn to mush after a few mins in the boil

 

[Darren Jeory]

I made a rhubarb saison once and it was amazing, really worked with the yeast to create a dry tangy but refreshing beer. I put some in at end of boil and a little more as a dry hop type addition. Be careful though it will turn to mush after a few mins in the boil

Yeah I was gonna put it in a muslin bag

 

[Clint]

I wonder if getting through 40 pints of rhubarb ale will have the same effect as 40 bowls of rhubarb crumble...

 

[matt76]

I wonder if getting through 40 pints of rhubarb ale will have the same effect as 40 bowls of rhubarb crumble...

You joke @Clint but only a month or two ago I saw something, I think, on Jamil Zainasheff's Twitter feed about a blueberry pie sour ("Pie of the Beholder" by Moonraker Brewing) - I think they used a bit of vanilla to get the "pie" aspect which I suppose could also evoke the taste of custard you might have on your crumble.

 

[Darren Jeory]

You joke @Clint but only a month or two ago I saw something, I think, on Jamil Zainasheff's Twitter feed about a blueberry pie sour ("Pie of the Beholder" by Moonraker Brewing) - I think they used a bit of vanilla to get the "pie" aspect which I suppose could also evoke the taste of custard you might have on your crumble.

Rhubarb and custard ale....I like it

 

[Clint]

I'm on about the laxative effects....

 

[MmmBeer]

I have long considered making a rhubarb ale, I think it has a flavour that would work in a beer, but had never found a recipe to base one upon. There are lots a recipes for rhubarb gose's, sours, saisons and wit/weissbiers, but I would want to make something more akin to a Rhubarb Pie PA, with vanilla of course.

 

[Darren Jeory]

I have long considered making a rhubarb ale, I think it has a flavour that would work in a beer, but had never found a recipe to base one upon. There are lots a recipes for rhubarb gose's, sours, saisons and wit/weissbiers, but I would want to make something more akin to a Rhubarb Pie PA, with vanilla of course.

I would pick your fav IPA recipe then add some rhubarb in a muslin bag as you would a late hop addition...then maybe some more when you dry hop?

I'm gonna use a belgian ale recipe (just ordered the stuff) and do exactly that

 

[Darren Jeory]

Thats the thing I love about brewing...there are no wrong answers its what works for you...a bit of trial and error until you are happy with it

 

[H0PM0NSTER]

I wonder if getting through 40 pints of rhubarb ale will have the same effect as 40 bowls of rhubarb crumble...

Reminds me of an ill fated prune porter I brewed a few years ago.