Gorse flowers

[Firefly]

Got me thinking of adding it to a stout. I do love the coconut smell it gives, but it would be interesting to see if you get any of the flavour characteristics coming through. Keep us posted MM.

[Matt12398]

It's always been called gorse down here in Cornwall as far as I know.

[jaroporter]

gorse wine is lovely, though given the pain i went through picking it i wanted anything i put it in to be a guaranteed good result! i think the scent of gorse is quite delicate so wonder if boiling it would be a problem, or if you could extract flavour from it like that.. ? kinda like flavour and aroma hops.. ? loving the idea of a golden gorse ale. the sun is out but i really don't want to go pick them!!

[Clibit]

Could you use gorse the way heather is used in Fraoch?

[McMullan]

I think they can be treated as hops. Add them anywhere between mash and keg. Way back in the pre-hop days all manner of local botanicals were used, apparently. In terms of no hops, I've only done a juniper ale so far, but it aged into a really nice beer. Very different, but nice.

[Clibit]

I wonder what these folks did?

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/cromarty-w ... on/276601/

- Cromarty Wild Bush Gorse Flower Saison.

[Notlaw]

I'd love to know how that would turn out. That smell of gorse is incredible; I can really see that going well.

I'd looked into getting some bog myrtle to maybe try a fraoch, but it was bloody expensive stuff!!

[Clibit]

I'd love to know how that would turn out. That smell of gorse is incredible; I can really see that going well.

I'd looked into getting some bog myrtle to maybe try a fraoch, but it was bloody expensive stuff!!

Bog myrtle grows in the Trough of Bowland, apparently, Notlaw.

http://www.herbal-supplement-resource.c ... le-img.jpg

[Notlaw]

Bog myrtle grows in the Trough of Bowland, apparently, Notlaw.

http://www.herbal-supplement-resource.c ... le-img.jpg

Ooh, I was just through there on Saturday to see if it was dried out enough for the bikes. I'm all over that now. Loads of gorse as well obviously... the place reeks of it!!

Cheers for that Clibit.

[Clibit]

Heather, gorse and bog myrtle all grow in the same kind of locations - peaty heathland - I think.

[jaroporter]

I've only done a juniper ale so far, but it aged into a really nice beer.

any recipe secrets or tips you could give for that? i'd like to experiment a bit but it'd be cool to have a tested base to go from

[lord.president]

If you play golf as badly as l do,you become immune to gorse spikes after a while!

[ManseMasher]

I think it's called 'broom' here in Cornwall. Coconut flavour? Not for me thanks! Did you get scratched hands?

I used a pair of abseling gloves with reinforced leather palms, so I was fine! Still squeezing broken tips out of my legs though. The resultant soup is quite cloudy still, but I have never been overly bothered about cloudy beer (pewter tankard sorts that out). If the aroma coming from it is present in the finished article, I think this could be a pleasant surprise! I'll let you know how it goes, and if it's any good Mr McMullan sir, I shall send you one....

[stumpyb]

I made a gorse beer about 5 years ago. It turned out really well and made it again but cant remember what it tasted like. Have not brewed for a few years due to lack of time but will dig out the book and see when I added them. Im sure I added the flowers straight into the boil but cant remember the timings.

[jaroporter]

broom is similar to gorse but without the spikes. i've read it's likely we got the word for the sweeping device 'cause people used to tie the branches in bunches to sweep with. heather was used in the same way, which may explain why i've [not often] heard heather called broom also..