19 replies to this topic

[Big Nake]

In my https://www.brews-br...morning/]Summer Ale[/url] thread, I was mentioning using pepper or peppercorns as opposed to grains of paradise.  Does anyone have any direction on using ground pepper, ground peppercorns or whole peppercorns in a beer?  I would not want the beer to be a pepper bomb... just a hint in the background.  On this latest beer, I used the zest of one lemon in the secondary and I feel that amount was perfect... so the pepper would also have to be just a hint and work well with the lemon.  Thoughts?

 

[MtnBrewer]

I used 1/4 tsp. for 5 min. in a tripel and it worked out very well. That was enough to give a subtle spiciness but the pepper didn't jump out. That was very finely ground in my Turkish coffee grinder that I use for a pepper mill.

[Big Nake]

I used 1/4 tsp. for 5 min. in a tripel and it worked out very well. That was enough to give a subtle spiciness but the pepper didn't jump out. That was very finely ground in my Turkish coffee grinder that I use for a pepper mill.

Okay, good to know it's been done.  So do you think adding it to the brewpot is better than adding it after fermentation?  Adding it later could be "fresher" but possibly too strong as well.  I have to admit that I'm a fan of adding any sort of 'flavor' to secondary, if possible. 

[MtnBrewer]

That's my only data point so I can't compare it to adding to the fermenter. I was going on the theory that a certain amount of heat is required to release some of the flavor compounds. (Pepper cooked in food tastes better to me than pepper added after cooking.)

[Big Nake]

Yep, I was thinking that heat would work some magic on the pepper.  I don't know when I'm going to make this beer again but I'm considering ditching the grains of paradise and going with pepper instead.  Cheers.

[MtnBrewer]

Comparing to GoP, I'd say that the flavor of pepper is sharper. GoP is milder with a hint of sweetness. I think white pepper would be an interesting experiment as I find it to have a more earthy flavor.

[denny]

I've done this quite a bit.  If you want to sub for GOP, use white peppercorns.  About 12-15, coarsely cracked the last 5 min. of the boil.  I've used black peppercorns a few times, but they're pretty intense.  You can also use a combo of red, white, and green for a tripel kind thing.  Won't be as much like GOP as all white, but it's a nice boost to the beer.

[Darterboy]

I just threw 5 g of Szechuan peppercorns in a saison along with 5 g of coriander and the peel of an orange. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Mya]

I've done this quite a bit.  If you want to sub for GOP, use white peppercorns.  About 12-15, coarsely cracked the last 5 min. of the boil.  I've used black peppercorns a few times, but they're pretty intense.  You can also use a combo of red, white, and green for a tripel kind thing.  Won't be as much like GOP as all white, but it's a nice boost to the beer.

I liked the three pepper blend in a Wit I did a few yeas ago, need to do it again

[SchwanzBrewer]

Guy on my comp team did a Brazilian pepper wit. WAY too much pepper in secondary. Basically undrinkable. 

[Mya]

Guy on my comp team did a Brazilian pepper wit. WAY too much pepper in secondary. Basically undrinkable. 

wax peppers?

[Stout_fan]

Not sure if it helps any, but at one convention, I tasted a capsumel that supposedly had one peppercorn added to a 750ml bottle.

Not quite.

I needed ten to get the level of heat and then I had this vegetal thing going on in the bottle.

Not happy

[SchwanzBrewer]

wax peppers?

 

no, ever see the pink pepper corns? those are brazilian pepper. It's all over the place here.

[Mya]

no, ever see the pink pepper corns? those are brazilian pepper. It's all over the place here.

joke

 

Schwanz's head

[SchwanzBrewer]

joke

 

Schwanz's head

 

Mean 'ol bastage!

[Mya]

Mean 'ol bastage!

you figure it out yet ?

Edited by Mean_Mic, 21 August 2013 - 07:30 AM.

[MtnBrewer]

you figure it out yet ?

I haven't but just assumed it was some PH inside joke.

[Mya]

I haven't but just assumed it was some PH inside joke.

Brazilian,  Wax 

[MtnBrewer]

[Big Nake]