I've been interested lately in hard seltzers, or in the scope of this forum, how to successfully make both a ginger beer and a cedar beer. I've since concluded that I start with a very simple brew - 2 row and a low IBU from something like hallertauer, but really the hops are just there b/c beer needs hops.
The cedar flavoring via a strong cedar tea would come in at bottling. In this way I can add until the flavor balance I want is there. Last year I did a fail where I tried to use cedar as the hop. Yuk.
I'm about to do another experimental brew - 11L - where at bottling, half of it will become a cedar beer (6-7 bottles I'm guessing) , and half a ginger beer (a further 6-7 bottles). In both cases I'll be using concentrated teas, putting the desired amounts directly in the bottles, then topping up with my basic beer.
If it works, I'll be curious to try this 'main flavor added at bottling' technique to other flavors: berry fruits, orange, grapefruit, licorice....
I'm curious if anyone has been barking up this tree also, and what your experience has been.
The cedar flavoring via a strong cedar tea would come in at bottling. In this way I can add until the flavor balance I want is there. Last year I did a fail where I tried to use cedar as the hop. Yuk.
I'm about to do another experimental brew - 11L - where at bottling, half of it will become a cedar beer (6-7 bottles I'm guessing) , and half a ginger beer (a further 6-7 bottles). In both cases I'll be using concentrated teas, putting the desired amounts directly in the bottles, then topping up with my basic beer.
If it works, I'll be curious to try this 'main flavor added at bottling' technique to other flavors: berry fruits, orange, grapefruit, licorice....
I'm curious if anyone has been barking up this tree also, and what your experience has been.
