Holy Burning Goat Scrotum Ale Batman

March 6, 11:01 AMBeer ExaminerCharlie Papazian

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There's nothing quite as eunuch as a Goat Scrotum Ale

One of the most popular beer recipes in my book, The Complete Joy of Homebrewing is called Goat Scrotum Ale.  This beer must resonate with homebrewers, because for the last 29 years since the first book was released I’ve been hearing from homebrewers all over the world about how they love that Goat Scrotum Ale.  There's little doubth homebrewers and their friends love this eunuch-ly creative recipe.

Recently Indiana homebrewer Ben Fogt wrote me, “I have a friend who says that you'd enjoy a version of your Goat Scrotum I made last year.  I substituted a dash of smoked jalepenos and a half a dash of smoked habeneros for the six fresh jalepenos in your recipe.  It earned the name Burning Goat Scrotum.  It's a batch from last winter, but it's a stable beer.  If you happen to make it to the AHA rally in Indiana later this month, I'll send some down with one of the club guys.  Otherwise, I'll save a bottle for you.”

Honestly I can’t wait, but wait I’ll have to.  I won’t be able to make it to the Upland Brewery American Homebrewers Association Rally on March 21st, so I’m hoping Ben’s brew will eventually reach me.

The recipe from my book goes like this:

Goat Scrotum Ale

This is famous throughout the world and a fun beer to brew. It offers you the opportunity to use everything but the kitchen sink as ingredients. Despite its free style it brews a deliciously well-balanced, slightly sweet style of porter with interesting nuances. Believe it or not, all of the ingredients were traditionally used in the brewing of porter hundreds of years ago and thanks to you continue to this day.

Enjoy yourself and do not be fearful; the wonderfulness of this porter is a tribute to creativity and the adventurousness that many homebrewers develop. Relax. Don't worry. And this is certainly a session of brewing with friends that calls for having a homebrew.

(Commercial breweries eat your heart out!)   This Goat Scrotum’s for you!

Enough of the bahhhh-d commentary.  Here's the recipe.

Ingredients for 5 gallons (19 l):

5 lbs. (2.3 kg) plain dark malt extract

1 lb. (450 gm) crystal malt

1/4 lb. (110 gm) black patent

1/4 lb. (110 gm) roasted barley

1 1/2 oz. (42 gm) boiling hops (your choice)

1/4 oz. (7 gm) finishing hops (your choice)

1 c. (240 ml) brown sugar

1 c. (240 ml) blackstrap molasses

2 tsp. (8 gm) gypsum

1 lb. (450 gm) corn sugar

Ale yeast

3/4 c. (175 ml) corn sugar or 11/4 c. (300 ml) dried malt extract (for bottling)

And one or all of the following ingredients:

2-4 oz. (56-110 gm) freshly grated ginger root

1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) brewing licorice or bruised licorice root

2 Tbsp. (30 ml) spruce essence or 4 oz. (110 gm) of the new growth from a spruce tree

1-10 small fresh or dried chili peppers (very optional)

1/4 c. (60 ml) juniper berries (slightly crushed)

6 oz. (170 gm) unsweetened Baker's chocolate or baking cocoa powder

And enough homebrew for you and your friends to enjoy while brewing!

I can't help but wonder if it will ever make it to the list of “Beers you gotta try before you die.”