Spruce Tips in beer

[vtchuck]

Some of the more interesting beers that I have tried use spruce tips as a flavoring
agent. I understand that you should use fresh, new growth spruce tips harvested in the spring.

In my area, there are red, black and white spruce that grow natively...as well as planted blue spruce.

White spruce, also known as cat spruce is kinda a local flatlander vs. native (woodchuck) joke, because
white/cat spruce is a beautiful, well formed tree that appears to be a perfect Xmas tree, but when you
bring it inside and it warms up, it smells like cat piss.

Blue spruce is very strong flavored and is not recommended for brewing.

So that leaves red and black.... and I'm looking for recommendations from those who have experience with
using spruce tips in brewing. TIA

[ohiobrewtus]

This is an ingredient that I've never brewed with. I don't think I've ever even had it in a beer. Maybe split a batch and try both?

[vtchuck]

This is an ingredient that I've never brewed with. I don't think I've ever even had it in a beer. Maybe split a batch and try both?

I'm trying to find a source near me. I have blue and balsam fir growing on my property. Harpoon made a 100 Barrel version using 200 lbs of hand picked Norway spruce from a
local state forest, but my online research indicates that other varieties may be better. Then I have to be able to identify the different varieties in the field.

Really.... retirement gives me way too much time to tilt at these windmills...

[yetavon]

A local Brewing company had some in growlers....in a word...NASTY...but got some great reviews. http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/craggie-antebellum-ale/104535/
from what I understand its what the colonist used to bitter the ales due to no hops.

[Steve Urquell]

Here's Harpoon showing harvesting tips. Can you tell which one's they are using?


http://youtu.be/pdfkbkxBzME

[vtchuck]

Here's Harpoon showing harvesting tips. Can you tell which one's they are using?


They used 200 lbs of hand picked Norway spruce from
Downer State Forest. I guess I may go with that

[zoebisch01]

I used them in an Ale I made a long time ago. It came out quite good and reminded me of Cola in a way. It was something like 3 oz at flameout that I used. It was a combination of new growth Blue Spruce and Hemlock tips (the tree not the plant or I wouldn't be here typing :D). The recipe was like a high gravity brown Ale (1.095 realm) that fermented down pretty well and was a bit dry. I think I still have a bottle around.

[vtchuck]

So while I was brewing, I went into the back yard and picked fresh norway spruce tips.
packaged 4 oz & 6 oz bags with the Foodsaver and tossed them in the cellar freezer.

Plan on brewing a holiday beer in the fall.

It'll probably end up being one of my "special" beers that never go away... I still have half a keg
of raspberry milk stout from Christmas. Before that it was a Bourbon Oak Vanilla Porter and Raspberry Wheat.

And it looks like my Maple Sap Bock will meet the same fate. Its delicious but the ABV is pretty high and a pint or two
will send you for a loop.