Old brewing recipes

[stargazer]

Fancy a glass of Witches Delight?
According to the legends, this was made the women of Roughlee, Lancashire, to keep away evil spirits.

Take 4 oz. of mistletoe herb, 4 oz. wood betony, 4 oz. valerian and 4 oz. of motherwort.
Take 3 gallons of water, 6 lb. of sugar, 2 lb. chopped raisins and boil together for one and a half hours.
When lukewarm pour this liquor over the herbs and add a little honey. Then add the yeast and let it do its groovy thing for a week. Strain well and bottle, fit the corks loosely. After one week, hammer down the corks and leave for one month.

According to my book " A wineglassful of this vintage three times a day will buck you up and act like a charm."
I haven't had a chance to make this brew (yet) and it is quite an old book so read up on the ingredients first before you make it, it looks like this would be powerful stuff!

[gregorach]

Yeah, I'm not sure that I'd want to be the first to try that one...

[Green Aura]

Mmm, mistletoe is poisonous isn't it?

And valerian is a powerful sedative - maybe that's how the kept away evil spirits, by knocking them out

[jim]

Dear Green Aura,

Mmm, mistletoe is poisonous isn't it?

And, from what I've heard, an hallucinogen too! Mind the pink elephants!

Love and Peace
Jim

[oldjerry]

Long -term it's probably no worse for you than some of that sh--e lager they sell in my local.(And you won't be paying any tax!!).

[stargazer]

I know, it does sound a bit dodgy!! I bought mistletoe herb in the brewing / health food shop near my dads so it can't be to bad, cost a whole 35p. I'm going to make this, will let people know the effects, if i survive

[supergenius]

I think it's mainly the mistletoe berries that are poisonous, although i suppose the whole plant will contain some of the toxins. but then again, most toxins have a beneficial effect in the right dose!!

[Andy Hamilton]

Mistletoe has been used in cancer treatment and the celts used to use it for protection (what ever that means), but brewing hmm not sure? I would certainly at the very least phone up a local herbalist and ask their opinion. Central Scotland - Napierwould be a good one to try.

[stargazer]

That is the ingredients ordered, oblivion is on the way.

[troutrunner]

That is the ingredients ordered, oblivion is on the way.

Any news

[MKG]

Betony is reputed to be a treatment for drunkenness. Ironic to find it in home made plonk.

Mike

[stargazer]

I have made it at last!! Smells very herbal and nice and knocks your socks off!! I haven't left it for a month yet, think it might be a killer once it has matured. On the other hand, my wee dog (age 16) has an enlarged heart and as both mistletoe herb and the motherwort are good for hearts I gave him a little bit when it was half brewed and still sweet. He went very frisky and demanded to go for a walk! it hasn't made me frisky though

Yes, feeling weird now, buzzy head and weird throat, that was after about 2 tablespoons of it

There are more recipes if anyone fancies any, are you brave enough?

[Stonehead]

I've made some interesting old brews over the years, albeit not the medicinal ones. Nettle ale has quite soporific qualities, as anyone who's come to one of our barbecues will know. Mangel ale is fairly good according to the OH, who's my resident expert on ale. Treacle ale is an acquired taste. Elderberry wine is very good—like a well aged port. Spiced potato wine verges on lethal. Parsnip wine leaves people cross-eyed. Liquorice vodka blackens the tongue and anything more than a couple of small shots has rather dire laxative effects…

But I always find myself going back to scrumpy. Oo-arr.

[dan-dan]

Stonehead.... MORE, MORE ;o)))

Details needed for Spiced potato & Parsnip

Barry

[Stonehead]

Stonehead.... MORE, MORE ;o)))

Details needed for Spiced potato & Parsnip

Barry

Many of them are on my blog. I'm gradually working may through the old posts to build an index of recipes, making them easier to find. The index, for all recipes and not just booze, can be found at:

http://stoneheadcroft.com/recipes/