Tobacco Beer - Adding Tobacco Smoke to Beer
Some time ago, the idea dawned on me to add Tobacco smoke to beer - after all, smoked malt is, practically by definition, the original brewing material (by semi-modern standards, that is, ignoring the use of partially baked breads as the likely original sugar source, or so the story goes). However, I made a crucial mistake - I read homebrew forum posts on the topic, in which each and every user took turns reaming the idea as either dangerous, or offputting from a flavor perspective. Needless to say, not a one had tried it.
So, to my great fortune, recently my mom (i.e. owner of MacLeod Ale Brewing Co., and as such, a qualified individual to make such an oblique request), foisted upon me the responsibility of somehow working pipe tobacco into a beer - which beer wasn't too important, so let's say a Best Bitter for the sake of argument, or perhaps a Dark Mild - something where the subtleties of the smoke come through, like a Schlenkerla, where dark malts don't threaten to steal the show, divas as they are.
In any case, here's where the plan is, and what I've learned - apparently, per this youtube video, you can use those culinary smoker guns with tobacco, and so the plan is to fill a jar with said smoke, and an oz or two of malt, shake, and taste, keeping track of time and taste for the sake of repeatability. Further trials will include attempting the same with finished beer, to see if the flavor is at all pleasant and worth pursuing (beechwood or fruit wood will act as a control). Finally, assuming all goes well, a beer will be brewed - perhaps that Dark Mild, or even a classic Rauchbier - with a smoked malt percentage somewhere between a percent or two (if the malt seems suspect or otherwise unsavory), or as high as maybe 33% or even 50%, numbers that appear to be common (sources include any website whose recipes I trust, as well as the more vetted Brewing Classic Styles, the latter suggesting 33%). Given the terrifyingly unknown amount of Nicotine in the resulting malt, tremendous caution will naturally be employed, and I'd dissuade nearly anyone from trying this who isn't down to risk their life for the sake of knowledge, in all its sundry forms, and as pertains, here, to beer. Here's hoping a single sip doesn't knock me oush