Spruce Essence / Chili Peppers

[Hoser]

Hi all,
Gonna have some fun making a Goat Scrotum Porter but I need to find a couple of recommended ingredients as per Charlie Papazian's book. Anyone know where I can find spruce eesence?

Also the recipe calls for dried chili peppers but mentions they are extremely optional. Was thinking I might just put one or two in to spice it up. Is this a bit dangerous?

Cheers,
Hoser

 

[Tanga]

The spice loving GB brewers only add 1 chilli per batch - so I'm thinking 1/2 might still be too much in a Porter. It should be subtle, just a little tingle on the edge of the tongue. I'd start with 1/4 if it were me.

No idea on the spruce essence though I'm afraid - let me know when you find out though. I'm interested in giving an old style ale a go at some point, and spruce was a favoured ingredient back before they added ye olde hops to everything. Maybe a british 'real ale' supplier?

 

[Hoser]

Cool thanks. Yeah will call around a bit to some Home Brew suppliers tomorrow re: Spruce essence but I'm thinking this is one I'll need to import from overseas. Found it on a few US Homebrew online shopping sites. Was just too keen to do it now but patience is a virtue!

As for the chilis I'll cut back considerably - maybe just a quarter.