Lemon grass beer.

Billy Hunt · Post by **Billy Hunt** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:15 pm

I've been toying with the idea of making a lemon grass brew. I was thinking of doing a similar recipe to my Elderflower brew, which was Graham's Big Lamp Bitter recipe with 50grms of dried Elderflower added to the boil. So the big question is when do I add the Lemon Grass to do the brew and in what quantities? It will be a 19 litre brew by the way.

6470zzy · Post by **6470zzy** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:07 pm

I think that you should ditch the lemon grass and just add the zest of some lemons at flame out. The aroma I think will be better and it will be cheaper to boot. Plus you will have the lemon juice to use in something else as an added bonus

Cheers.

trucker5774 · Post by **trucker5774** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:09 pm

That's an interesting one! I cook with it quite a lot, using one or two stalks in a stirfry. Based on that I can only guess, but you will want a more subtle tase, still probably about 6 stalks (bruised) and late in the boil...........guess work, unfortunately

Billy Hunt · Post by **Billy Hunt** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:30 pm

I was thinking of using lemon grass because thet's what Hall and Woodehouse use in their Lemony Snicket brew. Thanks for the replys, guys.

Mountain · Post by **Mountain** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:08 pm

It's cheap as chips from an Oriental supermarket if you have one nearby! Couple of quid for a big bunch. Don't buy it from your local supermarket.

I think 6 stalks would be about right for 23L Trucker.
Make sure you take the outer layer off and bruise the stem, give it a good whack all over with the back of a heavy knife, otherwise you won't get the essential oils out. Based on cooking with it, I would add it half an hour to 20mins before the end of the boil.
You will get a different flavour from lemongrass as opposed to lemon zest.
-
PS. My wife is Indonesian and also a chef, so lemongrass is ever present in our house:)
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Now, lemongrass and lime zest would be a good addition, perhaps with coriander seed. Hmm might try that one.

crookedeyeboy · Post by **crookedeyeboy** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:16 am

This is a great thread. Im salivating readin it. Lemongrass is my favourite ingredient...hmmm time to start experimenting!!

Mountain · Post by **Mountain** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:34 am

Get yourself across to the Asiana Oriental supermarket in Notts(Woodborough Road), they have cheap lemongrass in there.

I'm definitely up for a lemongrass brew next now:)

crookedeyeboy · Post by **crookedeyeboy** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:32 pm

Funnily enough I was in there yesterday buying stuff for a Thai paste!

Mountain · Post by **Mountain** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:25 pm

Must be a sign mate.

leigh1919 · Post by **leigh1919** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:47 am

I was really sceptical of this Lemongrass until I tasted the Spring Zing from HopBack. Very nice - but the slightly higer carbonation added to the sprtizy nature of it.

niall · Post by **niall** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:01 am

I made a lemongrass wheat beer about 18 months ago and it turned out super. I used one stalk chopped up and bashed and put in a muslin bag for the last 5 minutes of the boil, I also threw a couple of stalks of lemongrass into the keg to 'dry grass'

Recipe and photo is here - this is an extract recipe but it would be easy to convert to all grain, just replace the extract with base malt.

You could certainly use more than one stalk in the boil but I would consider adding more in secondary or in the keg if you're going that route. For these additions you could soak the chopped, bashed lemongrass in vodka or gin overnight to sanitise.

leigh1919 · Post by **leigh1919** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:31 pm

Lemongrass Wheat - now that sounds good.

Billy Hunt · Post by **Billy Hunt** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:52 pm

Thanks for the replys guys. I'm going to use The Big Lamp recipe and replace the post boil Fuggles with lemon grass and boil them for the last mins. It's going to be a real ale alcopop.

Billy Hunt · Post by **Billy Hunt** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:27 pm

Finally got around to making the brew. I'm going to call it Lemony Picket, in honour of the striking posties.

I decided to use up the odds and sodds in my beer recipe inventory.
This was the recipe for 19 litres.

Pale Malt 3270g
Crystal Malt 36g

Styrian Goldings 38 gr Full boil
Lemon grass 64g last 20 mins

Fuggles 7g post boil

O.G. 1045

crookedeyeboy · Post by **crookedeyeboy** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:19 pm

Very interested in this one, please let us know how it goes!?!?!

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Lemon grass beer.

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