Juniper Beer

From Anne Solheim, Tromso, Norway

The recipe for this beer was given to me by my fiancees grandmother. She lived on a farm in ÿsterdalen, Norway all her life, and this beer belongs in their Christmas traditions. Of course, we could never get it to taste right. According to tradition it should be made about a month before Christmas when there is a new or rising (?) moon. (Just as a true farmer sows his seed on a new or growing (?) moon.) Anyway, here's the recipe, which uses ordinary baking yeast by the way.

JUNIPER BEER
This recipe should make about 15 litres (about 4 gal) of beer.

Pick an armful of juniper branches, berries and all.; 1/2 pck yeast. (about 25 grams) She always used ordinary baking yeast; 1-2 tbs whole cloves; 4-5 cinnamon sticks; 1 kg (2.2 lb)dark syrup; 1/2 kg (1.1 lb)sugar; 15 litres (about 4 gal.)water
Juniper branches: Remove enough twigs to fill your largest kettle 2/3 full (packed). Rinse the twigs in water first, if necessary.
Add water almost to the brim and bring to boil.
When your twigs are boiling add: (For a 5 litre (1.3 gal.) kettle): 1-2 tbs whole cloves; 3-5 cinnamon sticks
Let simmer, "boil lightly" for about an hour.
Pour the mixture through a sieve to extract the liquid into your beer making container.
Repeat.
You now have about 10 litres (2.6 gal.) of liquid.
Add enough cold water to fill your container.
Add sugar and syrup. Stir until dissolved.
When the liquid has cooled sufficiently, dissolve the yeast in a little water and add. Stir again.
Cover your jar/jug or whatever. We prefer to use our wine making glass "balloon" (we call it a carboy), which has a "yeast lock" (the fermentation airlock) which allows gas to escape, but no air in. Help me find the correct words here!
Let stand for 8-12 days, depending on how much gas, and how strong you want your beer.
Put your beer in bottles.
It is ready to drink in another 7-10 days.
You are well advised to hold the bottle over a sink or something when you open it, as it tends to bubble over violently when opened. (Especially when it gets over a month old.)
It has a spicy taste, and is sweet when freshly made, but less so when "older".
Good luck.
Rates ***