Home Made Birch Beer

While scraping the bark off of logs in preparing to build the log arbor there was one log of birch which really couldn’t be used as birch just doesn’t hold up well. It was while stripping the bark off this fine piece of wood that I was hit with that unmistakable aroma.

After quietly gathering up much of the bark and scrapings I stuffed them into a large pot and brewed it on the stove for a bit then after letting it cool – I left the mixture to steep for quite sometime and added a bit of sugar. (this is not the exact process I followed but its my grandpa’s recipe and that’s a family secret).

It sat hidden in the basement for the past few weeks slowly brewing sending little bubbles through a tube into a small glass jar near by.

Earlier today an alarm on my computer sounded reminding me that the brew should be ready. After fetching the heavy jug from its secret spot in the cool basement, I strained the mixture a few times put it into a new jug and popped it in the refrigerator.

After a few hours I threw a few ice cubes in a glass and watched as the thick black brew cascaded over the ice cubes like hot molasses. Twirling the glass, I could see it gradually streak down the sides as if in slow motion and watched as the fizzy bubbles wrestled their way to the top as if struggling to break free.

Each little muted effervescent pop seemed to grab me by the ears and pull my nose closer and closer to the tar colored surface. The aroma was intoxicating. I held it up to the sun to study it for a moment. Even the intense sunlight could not penetrate the murky depths of its body.

Perfect.

My first swig was a mind-bending flashback to grandpa’s home brew – all us kids were gathered there excitedly waiting to taste the year’s first batch of summertime brew. I slowly tugged down the rest of the thick elixir savoring each gulp and then poured myself a second glass.

Ahhhhh the sweet days of summer are here.

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