Seaweed

[jonnyhop]

Just enjoying a bottle of Kelpie seaweed ale. Really tasty. It says on the bottle that in years gone by seaweed was used to fertilise malted barley. They have recreated this taste by “the inclusion of fresh seaweed in the mash tun.”

I live in Newcastle and regularly go to the coast of Northumberland, which has abundant seaweed. Thinking of grabbing some, giving it a good clean with warm water then putting some in a brew (in the mash). The bottle I am enjoying is a chocolate ale, but I’m thinking of an IPA. Has anyone done this? Any idea how much to put in? Is this a terrible idea?

Jonny

[lukesharpe]

That sound very interesting. To the Brew Lab Beer Boy!

[quiff]

Sounds like an interesting idea, I've never tried a seaweed beer before .
The one thing that immediately springs to my mind though is the need to be carefull about the salt content.
Salt inhibits yeast activity which can't be good in brewing

[jonnyhop]

I have been reading about brupaks pga powder which is "A specially prepared food grade propylene glycol alginate extracted from brown seaweed. Greatly improves foam production and retention in all beers ."

Anyone tried that? How much did you use?

[Invalid Stout]

Great idea! Go for it!