Fun Fermentables

Ingredients
1

I’m giving a talk next month at our homebrew club meeting on fermentables. Besides the obvious … I wanted to include stories of interesting things other members have fermented. My wildest “non-standard” was bananas in an English mild.

So I’d like to know what is the wildest thing you ever fermented…

David

ps: I’m reminded of the joke … “You know you’re a homebrewer if …”

My favorite response? You know you’re a homebrewer if you go to the grocery store and find yourself saying “I could ferment that. I could ferment that. I could …”

2

Orange juice conentrate in an IPA.

3

Not me, but there is a certain brewer/ lhbs owner, who shall remain nameless, that made a Cicada beer once upon a time.  8)

4

Yeah, I recall that!  IIRC, he said the cicadas didn’t add much!  :wink:

5

How about some fresh raisins.  8)

6

You mean grapes?  ;D

Seriously, I do know of some people who have used raisins in their ciders.

7

Sure, raisins are pretty traditional for New England cider.  They add tannins, nutrients and fermentable sugars.

8

I’m a big fan of raisins in cider, along with cinnamon. Tasty stuff!

9

I’ve gotten a couple interesting emails from my post on TechTalk. My two favorites …

Carrots in a mead with orange and lemon juice plus zest (Jim P) and
Radishes in a cream ale (Loren B)

Makes my bananas seem tame.

10

How about some spices like allspice and clove. Just use a very small amount in the secondary of a porter. One could also add some bourbon as well. If you add bourbon…Denny’s ears will be burning.  :smiley: