Many would say that home brewing is a very personal and rewarding hobby in which fans can make their own special beverages to enjoy. Everclear alcohol is one such ingredient that can take you quite a bit of the way homebrewing wise. Everclear alcohol has a high alcohol content and many uses in brewing, which can make all the difference in producing powerful brews of superior quality.
Understanding Everclear Alcohol
Everclear – A brand of rectified spirit produced by Luxco, with alcohol by volume ABV as high as 95% (190 proof), thus it can no longer be consumer-friendly (but still used for any other purposes than drinking – such as disinfecting or better yet: dissolving flavors!) It is a potently potent addition to the arsenal of home brewing ingredients that must be used carefully and responsibly.
The Role of Everclear in Home Brewing
Enhancing Alcohol Content
An accomplished home brewer can find a use for Everclear in brewing higher alcohol content into the finished product. You can add Everclear to increase the ABV on any brew, beer, wine, or spirits. This is especially beneficial in making stronger brews without changing the flavor much. For example, if you added Everclear to your beer, it could boost the alcohol content providing a stronger, more aggressive brew.
Flavor Extraction
Because Everclear is so high in ethanol, it works really well with extracting flavors from all sorts of ingredients such as fruits, herbs, and spices. This process, called infusion, allows you to tug desirable flavors with some Everclear and add them to your brew. This process is most notably used in the production of uncommon spirits and flavored vodkas and gins. By using Everclear, you assure that the flavors extracted are clean and unspoiled by a hint of any other flavor in what is already going to become an Extra-Boozy beverage.
Practical Applications in Brewing
Making Tinctures and Extracts
Everclear tinctures and extracts are fine tools to add to your brewing toolkit. Whether added in small amounts to round out the flavor of your brew or big enough concentrations for you to smell from miles away, find what works best for you with these long-lasting 30 ml bottles. For instance, the vanillin in Everclear vanilla extract can give your homebrew a dark base aroma.
Boosting the ABV of Beer
Everclear can be used by beer brewers to create stronger concentration without the need for more fermentation. To do this, you simply add Everclear to the wort or beer itself. But calculating the right amount is key to keep from overwhelming those natural flavors of beer and maintaining your choice flavoring (balance).
Tips for Using Everclear in Home Brewing
Measure Carefully: When using Everclear in your home brew, make sure you are as precise with it’s use. If you use too much, it will taste like really strong alcohol and if you don’t mix in enough then they won’t have any effect.
Infuse Slowly: For infusions, allow the ingredients to soak in Everclear for an extended period, typically a few weeks, to ensure maximum flavor extraction.
Balance Flavors: If using Everclear to boost the ABV, be mindful of the overall flavor balance. You may need to adjust other ingredients to compensate for the added alcohol.
Experiment and Adjust: Home brewing is an art and a science. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different amounts and types of infusions to find what works best for your taste preferences.
Advanced Techniques for Using Everclear in Home Brewing
Creating High-ABV Spirits
For anyone interested in homemade high-alcohol spirits for items like moonshine, or even other strong drinks in general, Everclear works as a logical first step with its relative purity of ethanol. You save a lot of time by beginning with Everclear and avoiding the long-distillation necessary to get such high ABV levels. This is especially handy when you’re creating liqueurs and other high-proof beverages that need a sturdy stabilizer such as this.
Enhancing Mead and Cider
Everclear is also great for mead and cider brewers. Everclear is added to these drinks that kicks up their potency while not requiring an additional sugar fermentation (which can be tricky and lead to off flavors or end up too sweet tasting). It is particularly associated with the production of fortified meads which are richer and have a fuller alcoholic profile.
Experimenting with Flavor Profiles
But if you’re riffing with new flavor profiles, there’s a reason to reach for Everclear. You can customize your brews by creating various infusions. An infusion might thematically take its inspiration from the season – cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves for a holiday infusion; berries and citrus fruit for summer. Everclear is so flavorless that the taste of these infusions seriously sings and doesn’t drown in alcohol bitterness.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Managing High Alcohol Content
One of the biggest challenges when using Everclear in home brewing is its high alcohol content, which can overpower your drink. This needs accurate calculation and exact mixing. As long as you use a hydrometer or refractometer to check the ABV during brewing, it will be easy for you to manage all your hard work!
Ensuring Consistent Fermentation
High-proof alcohol like Everclear can hinder the fermentation process if not added properly. To ferment consistently, you need to add Everclear at the correct time. Normally, it is better to add after the initial fermentation has finished as this can slow yeast activity. This way, you can preserve your fermentation profile while adding to the alcohol content.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
With its incredible strength, Everclear is subject to a whole host of laws and regulations – be sure you’re familiar with your own local as they pertain to the use and distribution. Certain U.S. jurisdictions regulate the sale or use of high-proof alcohol, which requires strictly observance so as not to go into strikes with law enforcement; And of course, it should go without saying that any drink brewed with Everclear ought to be consumed in moderation.
