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

Author Topic: Juniper tree  (Read 2660 times)

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Juniper tree
« on: April 30, 2017, 02:35:05 pm »
Does anyone have any info on growing Juniper trees/bushes that are suitable for brewing?

Offline Stevie

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 6858
Re: Juniper tree
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2017, 03:52:06 pm »
Check with your local university extension. Always the best place IMO.

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Juniper tree
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2017, 03:55:18 pm »
Check with your local university extension. Always the best place IMO.

That's like, probably not going to happen.

Offline stpug

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 742
Re: Juniper tree
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2017, 08:49:26 pm »
Juniperus communis, and many of it's sub species, is the standard variety used in most gin making.  If I were making gin that's what I'd look into.  As for beer, I can't imagine you would go wrong with this variety either but perhaps you could find a more unique variety in something like Juniperus occidentalis or the like.  There are many species of juniper that are suitable for consuming but there are a few you would want to steer clear of due to potential toxicity.

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11326
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Juniper tree
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2017, 06:44:36 am »
Thanks for the feedback. I am opening a distillery sometime next fall and gin is one of the spirits I will be producing. So I'd like to see if I could try my hand at growing some.

Currently I am looking to brew a traditional Norwegian Style Farmhouse ale. I just ordered Kviek and may just use juniper extract for now.

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: Juniper tree
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2017, 07:47:28 am »
Thanks for the feedback. I am opening a distillery sometime next fall and gin is one of the spirits I will be producing.



Whoa, very cool.
Jon H.

Offline reverseapachemaster

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3778
    • Brain Sparging on Brewing
Re: Juniper tree
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2017, 09:28:13 am »
Juniper sabina is toxic in all parts. Some varieties, including many that grow in the US, are safe to consume the berries but toxic in the rest of the plant.

Juniper virginiana and ashei both probably grow in your area and could be planted for berries but are toxic in all other parts of the plant.
Heck yeah I blog about homebrewing: Brain Sparging on Brewing

Offline flars

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 147
Re: Juniper tree
« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2017, 09:46:37 am »
This is a good short read.
http://www.ginfoundry.com/botanicals/juniper/
One interesting bit of information about 5 different gins produced by a distillery changing only which species of juniper berry is used.