Beer with wild violets?

[Tomislava]

I would like to make a wheat beer with wild violets. I gathered violets and dried them. I'm wondering whether I should steep them after boiling for 5-10 mins like a tea, or to make a tincture and add it to the fermenter 5-7 days before bottling?

 

[Minbari]

personally would do the tea thing. definately say how it turns out. I love experimenting

 

[GFHomebrew]

You could just dry hop them once fermentation is done the alcohol produced from fermentation and the lower pH should inhibit any contamination issues.

 

[Craigerrr]

I am curious about what the flavor contribution that you are looking for might be. I've never eaten a violet, no idea what it could bring. Is it ever used in cooking food?

 

[Donoroto]

I am curious about what the flavor contribution that you are looking for might be. I've never eaten a violet, no idea what it could bring. Is it ever used in cooking food?

Tastes like it smells. Fruity i guess.

 

[Craigerrr]

Tastes like it smells. Fruity i guess.

It never occurred to me eat a violet, if you see one have a munch on one, and let me know how it tastes

 

[Josh Hughes]

Funny my dad picked and ate one today to show Sophie some flowers are edible.

 

[Sandy Feet]

Whatever works I guess. Those damn things better be sanitized somehow though. I have had Heather in Scottish Ales and wasn't it a thing to use herbs or whatever in place of hops for that style?

 

[Donoroto]

We used to get these as kids. They still make them.

Insiders know their name is C Howards, not Chowards...

 

[Ward Chillington]

Dog tooth violets are totally edible...leaves and flowers...high in vitamin c too but they taste like any other leafy green...maybe they would play well with a grassy hop in an ipa?

 

[Minbari]

We used to get these as kids. They still make them.
View attachment 24773

Insiders know their name is C Howards, not Chowards...

Does the sugar and the inverted sugar cancel out?

 

[Craigerrr]

Hopefully the OP comes back to pick up the comments and advice

 

[Tomislava]

Thanks for the advice! I brewed a wheat with 20 g of dried violets in the last 5 mins of the boil and I couldn't taste the violets at all. In fact even when I smelled them and brewed a siple tea, I couldn't sense anything. So I think they are just too weak when they are dried. I added butterfly pea though so at least the beer is purple!

 

[Donoroto]

Thanks for the advice! I brewed a wheat with 20 g of dried violets in the last 5 mins of the boil and I couldn't taste the violets at all. In fact even when I smelled them and brewed a siple tea, I couldn't sense anything. So I think they are just too weak when they are dried. I added butterfly pea though so at least the beer is purple!

As with most flower oils -including roses! - the boil temperatures will drive off most or all of the volatiles, which are the flavor and aroma. So maybe halfway through the cooling time instead?