beer... with flowers?

[briandickens]

Anyone ever try to make a lavender beer? A friend of mine mentioned once having a beer that tasted liek flowers and i thought it wouldn't be too hard to do. My thought was to brew a pale ale and add in a lavender tea in the secondary.

Any thoughts? I want it to taste like beer but i don't want the beer to over power the flowers. or vice versa.

--brian

[Stumptown]

I've had heather beer before. I guess back in "olden times" heather was used in place of hops. That's what the brewer did -- replaced the hops with heather. It was interesting, but not something I'd drink every day. But then, hops are my favorite part of beer . . .

Note: The same brewer (Alameda Brewhouse) also makes a juniper porter and a rose doppelbock (using rose petals in some manner).

[Beaver]

Is brewing with flowers similar to gruit beer?

[fretlessman71]

Anyone tried brewing with honeysuckle?

[briandickens]

honeysuckle might make a good tasting beer. that's a very sweet flower.

[mortong]

When I was in China, chrysanthemum tea was one of the better teas I tried. It might be worth a shot.

[fretlessman71]

If I ever get around to making a mead I'm going to find a recipe for honeysuckle mead. Now THAT'D be worth the wait! :)

[sallad]

I'm going to find a recipe for honeysuckle mead.

now that sounds like an interesting experiment! my parents have a big old vine of honeysuckle.. mayhaps an experimental 1gallon batch is in order for the summer!