Christmas Tree Beer...

[Cuke]

Has anyone ever used their Chsristmas tree to make Spruce Beer?

There's something on the Guardian website about it at the moment http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/allotment/2011/jan/06/allotments-gardeningadvice

Just wondered if anyone had tried it, or had any comments to make about what one of the commenters on the piece had to say about Christmas tree's being prayed with nasties which you may not want to put in a drink....

[OllieC]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about them being prayed at - prayers don't work because God isn't real... Sorry, funny typo!

I don't know how desperate I'd have to be to make beer out of a Christmas tree though... Why not try some mud cake from the back garden while you're at it?! 

[Bugloss2009]

sounds horrible

why not have an ordinary beer whilst sucking on a toilet freshener? 

[grannyjanny]

I think there was something on TV about it last year. Possibly Grow Your Own Drugs, James Wong's programme.

[ipt8]

Many large commercial growers spay against the spruce aphid but I do not know if the residue would still be on the tree. I would not risk it.
I read about making spruce beer using the fresh shoots in the spring, assuming you can find spruce trees and ones that are not in a christmas tree plot

[Joe11]

They made spruce beer on one of HFW's programs, if i remember correctly he made it with his gatherer dude, i think according to them it was nice but agree it sounds horrid lol

[hippydave]

mmmmmmmmmmmm beer

[Vinlander]

Surely spruce beer is made from spruce sap?

I think you can find the recipe in any good brewing book and it involves waiting for spring and treating the spruce tree similar to a rubber-tapper.

I have tried it and it's sort of an alternative to hops but a bit more heady - it gave me a headache almost as bad as stella.

Cheers.

[ipt8]

I have read that you use the young spruce shoots at this time of year.

[Uncle_Filthster]

The Williams Brothers brewery make a beer with spruce, it's not bad but piney/sprucey things always remind me of cleaning products.

Heather ale (Fraoch) on the otherhand is simply gorgeous!