Brewing...

Mark Harris mark_harris at riscgate.sps.mot.com
Tue Jun 6 16:17:51 PDT 1995


        Reply to:   RE>>Brewing...


Michael says:

GAH!

My brain is not working, but one of the best sources for period brews
(especially meads) is one called "Digby's" (I think it is actually Digby's
somethingorother but is usually refered to as "Digby's in my experience).

Anyone have a clue what I am talking about?

--------------------------------
Yes. See the message below clipped from my beverages file.

Stefan li Rous
Barony of Bryn Gwlad
markh at risc.sps.mot.com
-------------------------------

From: dcb at cci632.cci.com (Douglas Brainard)
Date: 21 Oct 91 13:54:38 GMT
Organization: Society for Creative Anachronism

Good day to all upon the Rialto, from Corwin of Darkwater, Guildmaster of
the Brewers Guild of AEthelmearc. Duncan of Black Diamond asks about 
methods of brewing period beer. Here are a few that I use:

Compleat Anachronist Handbook of Brewing
#5 of the Compleat Anachronist.
Society for Creative Anachronism, Milpitas, CA, 1983

  The standard SCA brewing reference. Covers a broad range of topics.

Sir Kenelme Digby
The closet of the eminently learned Sir Kenelme Digbie kt. opened: whereby is

discovered several ways for making of metheglin, sider, cherry-wine, &c.
London: 1669

  Digby has perhaps the largest collection of early ale and beer recipes I am
  aware of. Required reading for all serious historical brewers.

Hugh Plat
The Jewel House of Art and Nature
1653

  Plat has a few recipes and some novel tips and techniques.

Andre' L. Simon
How to Make Wines and Cordials - From Old English Recipe Books
New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1972

  Includes chapters on mead and ale/beer recipes. Most are out of period,
  but a few are early enough to be of some use.

H. S. Corran
A History of Brewing
London: David & Charles, 1975

  Excellent historical reference.

H. A. Monckton
A History of English Ale and Beer
London: The Bodley Head, 1966

  Another very good historical reference. 

SCUM
The newsletter of the Brewers Guild of AEthelmearc

  I think this is an excellent publication, but I admit I'm biased 8-)
  Available from the Guildmaster (me) for $4 / 4 issues.
  c/o Douglas Brainard
      45 Southwind Way
      Rochester, NY  14624

I would also suggest that you pick up one or two how-to books on brewing.
Then make a few batches based on those books. Learn some of the nuances of
the craft, and you will be much better off in your interpretation of some
of the "period recipes" that survive. For example, take the quote in my
.sig and make five gallons. I passed a few bottles around at Pennsic XX
that were based on that quote. Most people liked it (most people like
free beer, period, whether or not it's period :-) )
 
----;----------------------------------------------------------------------
   /|    Lord Corwin of Darkwater           The monks of St Paul's Cathedral
  ( {     Scribe for Brewers                brewed 67,814 gallons of ale 
   } \    Brewer for Scribes                using 175 quarters of barley,
  /   \  Thescorre, AEthelmearc, East       175 quarters of wheat, and 708
 {     }  Douglas Brainard, Rochester, NY   quarters of oats.
  \___/   dcb at ccird7.cci.com                           - Domesday Book, 1086

<the end>






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