Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Whole Star Anise  (Read 2836 times)

Offline jmcamerlengo

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 625
Whole Star Anise
« on: August 23, 2012, 07:23:08 am »
Hey guys Im doing my Christmas Ale this weekend. The recipe is 2-row some c-40, special roast and a touch of roasted barley for color and some wheat for head retention. I usually put some cinnamon ginger and orange zest into the last 5 min of the boil. Then I make a vodka tincture out of the same spices and add at kegging to get the flavor I want.  I usually use the zest of 4 oranges(10 gallon batch) and 4 cinnamon sticks and 4 cubes of candied ginger in the boil and the same ratio in the tincture. 

This year I found some great star anise from a spice market that smelled too good to pass up. Anyone have experience with this in beer? How much do you recommend? Has anyone blended it with similar spices before, how much of each?

I have considered making a separate tincture out of the star anise and dosing it at the end appropriately, but if there's some good advice out there it'd save me the trouble of making separate tinctures and allow me to add it to the boil directly as well since I like the flavor of both the boil and the tincture with my spices. I want it to blend well with the other spices and be one of those " I taste something in there and I think its anise but I cant put my finger on it" type of things.
Jason
-Head Brewer, Brewtus Brewers in the Shenango Valley. Hopefully opening a brewpub/nano brewery in the next couple years.

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10675
  • Milford, MI
Re: Whole Star Anise
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2012, 07:27:43 am »
It is potent, I think we used 2 in a 10 gallon batch.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline jmcamerlengo

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 625
Re: Whole Star Anise
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2012, 07:45:18 am »
It is potent, I think we used 2 in a 10 gallon batch.

Was that overwhelming or to your liking? Did you use any other spices with it?
Jason
-Head Brewer, Brewtus Brewers in the Shenango Valley. Hopefully opening a brewpub/nano brewery in the next couple years.

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Whole Star Anise
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2012, 08:14:17 am »
It is potent, I think we used 2 in a 10 gallon batch.

Yes, it is potent.

I think I used two in a five gallon batch.

It was too much.  I still have lots of this beer left over in bottles and mini-kegs from X-mas 2010.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10675
  • Milford, MI
Re: Whole Star Anise
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2012, 09:20:27 am »
It is potent, I think we used 2 in a 10 gallon batch.

Was that overwhelming or to your liking? Did you use any other spices with it?

It was a big porter, so there was plenty of other stuff going on to balance it. Liked it, added just a little to the beer flavors.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline jmcamerlengo

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 625
Re: Whole Star Anise
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2012, 10:08:33 am »
Thanks! Think Ill go ahead and put 2 of them in the boil for 10 gallons and 1 in my tincture. :)
Jason
-Head Brewer, Brewtus Brewers in the Shenango Valley. Hopefully opening a brewpub/nano brewery in the next couple years.