How to Make Homemade Nettle Beer

You can make homemade nettle beer easily and inexpensively from the tops of this wonderful herb. If you have nettle growing near you, why not try this recipe for a delicious brew? Nettle beer also doubles as a pain reliever for joint pain.

What You Need to Make Homemade Nettle Beer

To make homemade nettle beer, you'll need one pound of raw sugar. Make sure you use real, raw sugar not refined white sugar. You'll also need two lemons, one ounce of cream of tartar, five quarts of water and one ounce of live yeast.

The most important ingredient you need to make homemade nettle beer is, of course, the nettle. You'll need about two pounds of fresh nettle tops which can be gathered or purchased.

How to Make Homemade Nettle Beer - Step #1

The first step you'll take to make homemade nettle beer is to put one pound of raw sugar, one ounce of cream of tartar and the peel of the two lemons into a large crock or other earthenware container.

How to Make Homemade Nettle Beer - Step #2

The next step you'll take to make homemade nettle beer is to cook the nettle tops for about fifteen minutes in water. Strain the nettle tops into the crock or other container and stir well until the sugar is dissolved.

Allow the mixture to cool before adding the yeast. The optimum temperature would be around 98 degrees. A food thermometer would come in handy to check the temperature of the liquid. If you don't have a thermometer available, simply allow the liquid to cool for about five or ten minutes.

How to Make Homemade Nettle Beer - Step #3

Now, dissolve one ounce of live yeast in a little bit of water. Add the yeast/water mix to the container with the other ingredients. Cover the container with a clean cloth that's been folded over several times and allow the homemade nettle beer to ferment for about seventy two hours.

How to Make Homemade Nettle Beer - Step #4

The final step you'll take to make homemade nettle beer is to strain the mixture from the crock and bottle in clean, sterilized bottles. Cap tightly and allow the bottles of homemade nettle beer to sit in a cool, dry place for seven-eight days before consuming.

It is recommended that after seven days you place the bottles of homemade nettle beer in a refrigerator for another twenty four hours before drinking.

After only eleven days, you'll have a batch of homemade nettle beer that you can be proud of!