I had reserved some yeast from the wedding witbier, and had zested the lemon the day after I received it from Kevin, then stored the zest in the freezer until brewday. When I cut the lemon open to see how it did in the juice dept, it was actually not that juicy...but loaded with seeds. Two of these seeds has actually already germinated inside the lemon. I'd never seen that before, and I've cut in to my fair share of lemons. Thinking all circle of life and what not, I decided to plant the two germinated seeds, and see what would come of it. That was about two weeks ago. Today, one of those seeds had broken through the soil, and has two small glossy lemon tree leaves. Cool!
Back to the beer: Using ingredients and spices I had on hand, I decided to make a spiced Belgian ale, and ferment it around 65F to start, then let it ramp up the temp to allow the wit yeast to express phenols, and to ensure proper attenuation.
Kevin's Lemon
Belgian Golden Strong Ale
Type: All Grain
Date: 6/28/2009
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Brewer: JC
Boil Size: 5.72 gal
11 lbs Pilsner (2 Row) Bel (2.0 SRM) Grain 70.97 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 9.68 %
1 lbs Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 6.45 %
8.0 oz Aromatic Malt (26.0 SRM) Grain 3.23 %
1.00 oz Hallertauer, New Zealand [7.00 %] (60 min) Hops 19.5 IBU
0.60 oz Coriander Seed (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1.00 oz Orange Peel, Bitter (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
2.00 gm Lemon zest (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
3.00 gm Cardamom (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
3.00 gm Cumin (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1.00 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1 lbs 8.0 oz Sugar, Table (Sucrose) (1.0 SRM) Sugar 9.68 %
1 Pkgs Belgian Witbier (Wyeast Labs #3944) [Starter 255 ml] Yeast-Wheat
Est Original Gravity: 1.084 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.082
Est Final Gravity: 1.021 SG
Measured Final Gravity:
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 8.35 %
Actual Alcohol by Vol:
Bitterness: 19.5 IBU
Est Color: 6.3 SRM
1 lbs 8.0 oz Sugar, Table (Sucrose) (1.0 SRM) Sugar 9.68 %
1 Pkgs Belgian Witbier (Wyeast Labs #3944) [Starter 255 ml] Yeast-Wheat
Est Original Gravity: 1.084 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.082
Est Final Gravity: 1.021 SG
Measured Final Gravity:
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 8.35 %
Actual Alcohol by Vol:
Bitterness: 19.5 IBU
Est Color: 6.3 SRM
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I'm looking online to find a citrus plant that has the same leaf pattern as the one growing in my backyard. I want to know what citrus plant is growing there. We just bought the house and didn't know to ask. I came across your blog and read what you had to say about your friend's lemon tree in hopes to learn something about mine. Instead, I got a chuckle out of your statement, "thinking all circle of life, and what not...". Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI hope the tree is doing fine and in turn you shared some of those new lemons with your friend.
BTW, my husband brews his own beer and I will share this recipe with him. ;)