submitted 6 days ago by MuteDog@lemmy.world to c/homebrewing@sopuli.xyz

22 comments fedilink hide all child comments

On Friday I brewed up some tree beer using Leyland Cypress boughs in the strike and sparge water as well as in the mash vessel. OG was ~1.050 and I split the boil to brew up a saison and a pale ale with galaxy and sultana (denali) hops. The saison is fermenting with a wild yeast culture I captured from my neighbor's raw honey and the pale ale has Framgarden kveik. They're both fermenting at 87°F/30.5°C

The Leyland Cypress gives the beer a pleasant evergreen/christmas tree flavor that's a bit citrusy and not too overwhelming. I've brewed with this tree a number of times and thoroughly researched it so I'm fully confident that it is not toxic. I don't measure the amount of tree I put in the beer, basically just put branches into the kettle until it's annoying to try to add another one.

top 22 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 days ago

tree beer

"Yes?"

[-] FellowEnt@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago

Tried This a few years back and I like a strong flavor but it was too much. Mayne because they used the whole tree!

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Pine can be pretty intense (if it actually was a pine tree). Spruce can also get pretty resiny if you're using mature branches, this is why most people use the new growth tips. I've yet to try Noble Fir, which is what we typically get for our Christmas tree, maybe one of these years.

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

I've got a bunch of bark for birch beer and sarsaparilla. I need to get back into it

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

There's a good article about brewing with birch on the Brewing Nordic website

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

hey, you answered the question i was thinking about last night in bed: what if i didn't want to make soda? thanks!

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

LOL it didn't even register in my brain that birch beer and sarsaparilla might not be fermented alcoholic beverages

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

I spent like a year trying to get a good root beer recipe. If it didn't taste like mint soda, it tasted like licorice juice. Leave the anise and mint out and it tasted worse tho. It may be my white whale

[-] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 7 points 6 days ago

I've brewed with this tree a number of times and thoroughly researched it

https://www.hunker.com/13428793/leyland-cypress-toxicity/

https://poisonousplants.massey.ac.nz/plantToxins/isocupr.html

No. Just no.

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I knew some armchair researcher was going to post this crap. Toxic to ruminants does not equal toxic to humans. All parts of the Poderosa pine from the needles to the inner bark were/are a staple food of native Americans. Isocupressic acid is not toxic to humans.

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pinus+ponderosa

[-] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 10 points 6 days ago

Hey, I am just skimming through and see that you are saying that the ponderosa pine is edible, while making beer from the Leland Cypress . These plants are similar looking, but different species completely.

Here are a few more sources that advise that it can be toxic to humans.

https://myplantin.com/plant/6556

https://plantura.garden/uk/trees-shrubs/cypress-trees/cypress-trees-overview

https://www.thespruce.com/leyland-cypress-trees-2132063#toc-common-problems-with-leyland-cypress

Also note that a book on plant toxicology was referenced in the Wikipedia article.

I can't say whether there would be any effect on you from making a beer from it, but I am concerned that you had said it was fine because the ponderosa pine is edible. I would consult a specialist before drinking any more of this brew.

[-] Coolcoder360@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

I don't mean to insert myself in some "armchair researcher" discussion, but Leyland Cypress is from the family Cupressaceae, not Pinaceae like the Ponderosa pine.

So how does the Ponderosa pine being edible prove anything about the leyland cypress? They are in the same class of pinopsida, but diverge and have different orders, families, genuses, and species below that.

You'd be better off comparing the leyland cypress to other cypresses than to ponderosa pines for edibility I think.

[-] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 3 points 6 days ago

I did. Made the same argument, too.

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

Yes, I'm aware that they are completely different species. If you read the sources that Stickyfingeritchybum (ew, btw) posted they're talking about the toxicity of Isocupressic acid in cattle and sheep, this acid occurs in both Leyland Cypress and all parts of Ponderosa Pine. Therefore since natives ate Ponderosa Pine as a staple food (apparently the inner bark is sweet and was considered a dessert) we can conclude that Isocupressic acid is not toxic to humans. This acid is also quite high in common juniper which is what is used to brew Maltøl and Sahti and is the primary botanical in Gin. Additionally, the only reported toxic effect of this acid on cattle and sheep is inducing abortion; Pregnant people aren't advised to be drinking alcoholic beverages to begin with so kind of a double moot point.

I appreciate people being concerned for my health, but seriously, I have actually researched this beyond just googling and finding an article that ONLY talks about this being toxic to cattle and sheep and makes no mention of human toxicity. I've been brewing and drinking beers with this tree for nearly 10 years with no ill effects. Farmhouse Maltøl and Sahti brewers have been putting Isocupressic acid (via juniper) into their beers for thousands of years.

[-] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

we can conclude that Isocupressic acid is not toxic to humans.

Well, no. We can say we don't know. The toxicity profile on various sites say we don't know. Most likley because no one thought to do it. https://hmdb.ca/metabolites/HMDB0253626

You are inferring its safe. Not the same thing as being safe. That's your business. Enjoy your cattle morning after pill beer. Just don't tell people it's safe and "I did the research".

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

Well since people have been eating it for millennia in juniper, and juniper is GRAS, I'm going to conclude that it's not a concern, you can conclude otherwise if you want. I won't ask you to drink the beer.

Did you know that hops are toxic to dogs? are you sure you still want to put them into your beer?

[-] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Reasonable points.

You should call it "Cows walk of shame" or "Moo's Morning After" possibly "You can Defetus".

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

LOL, those all sound extremely unappetizing

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

Fetus Punter Porter?

[-] jode@pawb.social 6 points 6 days ago

Theres a local dog friendly brewery by me that does a fantastic "sproose" beer for winter. I have yet to have a pint of this years batch.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 days ago

uh nah. You can do this with spruce needles, it was the original sprite but in Quebec they call it Spruce Beer.

[-] MuteDog@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

I've done it with blue spruce and doug fir as well, but I prefer the flavor of the cypress.

this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2025

63 points (100.0% liked)

Homebrewing - Beer, Mead, Wine, Cider

2797 readers

1 users here now

A community dedicated to homebrewing beer, mead, wine, cider and everything in between. If it ferments, bring it over here.

Share recipes, ideas, ask for feedback or just advice.

Some starting points for beginners:

Introduction to Beer Brewing

A basic mead primer

Quick and diry guide to fermenting fruit - cider and wine

Brewing software

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

SpiderShoeCult@sopuli.xyz

plactagonic@sopuli.xyz