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Author Topic: Will it ferment?  (Read 4568 times)

Offline oscarvan

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Will it ferment?
« on: December 18, 2010, 02:03:40 am »
So lets say that I have a secret ingredient that I want to incorporate into my beer. It's a liquid boiled from water and plant matter, but aside from the flavor aspect I suspect that it contains sugar, but I don't know what kind of sugar, and whether they are fermentable......

How does one proceed? The only thing I can think of is to put it in an erlenmeier and introduce some yeast and see what happens, but there has to be a better way.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2010, 02:06:33 am by oscarvan »
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Offline tygo

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2010, 06:46:46 am »
Strain the liquid out and test it with a hydrometer.  If there are dissolved sugars you should be able to see that.
Clint
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Offline stlaleman

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2010, 07:29:10 am »
That will only tell you if the liquid has dissolved solids in it, does not have to be sugar.
Unless this mystery thing taste outlandishly sweet, or you add a huge amount, why worry? Add it, record your gravity and let it go!

Offline tubercle

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2010, 08:31:43 am »
Make a tincture
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Offline bluesman

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2010, 08:34:24 am »
Do a FFT (fast ferment test). Compliments of Kai. You'll need about 8oz to do the test. Measure the starting gravity and conduct the test.

http://www.braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fast_Ferment_Test
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Offline maxieboy

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2010, 10:28:38 am »
I've tried it and it's not worth it.  Drink a beer and smoke a joint.

 ;D
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Offline Malticulous

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2010, 11:45:08 am »
You may need to mash it first. I doubt that green leafy substance has any starch in it.

Offline euge

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2010, 12:12:26 pm »
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline oscarvan

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2010, 04:24:08 pm »
Who said anything about green leafy substances?

OK, can do a fast ferment test, especially wit bread yeast as per the article, I got plenty of that..... any suggestions on how much bred yeast per volume?

Not finding much info on how to do a tincture.....
Wooden Shoe Brew Works (not a commercial operation) Bethlehem, PA
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/WSBW/WSBW_All_grain_Setup.html
I brew WITH style..... not necessarily TO style.....

Offline a10t2

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2010, 04:41:40 pm »
OK, can do a fast ferment test, especially wit bread yeast as per the article, I got plenty of that..... any suggestions on how much bred yeast per volume?

It doesn't really matter. The idea is to pitch an overwhelming amount of yeast and get the fermentation finished as quickly as possible. In a sample that's a few ounces, even a gram of dry yeast would be more than enough.
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Offline tubercle

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2010, 05:45:40 pm »

Not finding much info on how to do a tincture.....
 

  On a high level, soak in vodka, strain and use the vodka which is now infused with the plant goodies.

 For example, take 5 or 6 mint leaves and crush. Cover with vodka and leave for a couple of days. The liquid is tincture of mint.
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Offline tygo

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2010, 05:49:19 pm »
The liquid is tincture of mint.

Hmm, off topic, but I bet that would be nice for a mojito.

Clint
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Offline euge

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2010, 06:44:37 pm »

Not finding much info on how to do a tincture.....
 

  On a high level, soak in vodka, strain and use the vodka which is now infused with the plant goodies.

 For example, take 5 or 6 mint leaves and crush. Cover with vodka and leave for a couple of days. The liquid is tincture of mint.

Better if the "mint" was 100% dry before soaking and ground to a fine powder. For best extraction 2 gram per 1oz of high proof alcohol such as Everclear. Strain through coffee filter.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

Offline oscarvan

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2010, 02:23:29 am »
Ah, OK....get the tincture part. Will report back on the fast ferment.
Wooden Shoe Brew Works (not a commercial operation) Bethlehem, PA
http://www.woodenshoemusic.com/WSBW/WSBW_All_grain_Setup.html
I brew WITH style..... not necessarily TO style.....

Offline ipaguy

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Re: Will it ferment?
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2010, 12:00:08 pm »
If you really want to take it up a notch use one of these with the Everclear:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soxhlet_extractor
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