Chestnut Beer

[Ron Terpstra]

Being new to this forum, I havent been able to see talk of this before, but has anyone done a chestnut beer, right from picking them off the ground (with gloves), peeling, mincing, drying, and extracting the sugars?
Ron

 

[thylacine]

Short thread link below states the brewery in Beechworth (Vic 2008) had a chestnut beer.

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...showtopic=26753

 

[Ron Terpstra]

Short thread link below states the brewery in Beechworth (Vic 2008) had a chestnut beer.

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...showtopic=26753

Thanks for that thread - didnt help much.
I have found one recipe from the USA. Seems chestnut beer is a bit of a hit with the low GI crowd.
There is also a brewery in Corsica, France which is well known (in Corsica) for their chestnut beer.
The main question I have at the moment is in extracting the sugar, where i obtain the enzyme from - 1. by either mashing with barley, or 2. buying enzyme liquid and mashing that way. If I was to mash 1kg barley, how much sugar would I expect to extract?

 

[brettprevans]

you can buy chestnut extract, paste or whatever from middle eastern grocery stores. I happened to go to one of my fav middle eastern bakeries in brunswick (melb) on the weekend and was browsing all their groceries and say heaps of it. Nut suppliers/wholesalers might also have some. The Nut King in Brunswick does. they have all sorts of 'peanut butter' but made with other nuts. so like almond butter, walnut butter, mixed nut butter. its good stuff.

 

[himzol]

I was in Beechworth in July, just missed out on the chestnut beer. Did see it listed and asked about the way it's done.
I was told they use a chestnut meal in the mash... didn't really have a chance to ask much more, the place was really busy.

Here's a thought though, why not send Ben an Email (or phone him) and ask him what the conversion rate is? I've always found him very easy to talk to.. (pretty much stray off course every ski trip)

The other thing to do is experiment with a known recipe, add the meal to the mash at known quantities and see what your extraction rate is, if any.. (it may just be a flavour thing)

Himzo.