Expert: Alan Ward - 1/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: This is an odd question, I'm sure.  My husband is new to brewing, and I'm a baker.  We just finished bottling our first home brew batch of beer and there is a bunch of sediment at the bottom of our bucket.  I'm wondering if I can use the sediment to bake bread to get a beer bread.  This is probably be completely off the wall, but it could prove to be interesting.

Thanks!

ANSWER: Christi,

The question is not odd at all.  In fact it is a good one.

The stuff at the bottom of the bucket is called trub.  The trub is protein and dead yeast.  It might work.

Using beer yeast is fine and using spent grain is good but I am not sure what the trub would do.  I would suggest trying it.  It will not harm you.  At the very least it will make a bread with an off taste.

I hope this helps.  To tell the truth I have never tried using the trub for anything.  Let me know how it comes out.

Alan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Alan,

Thanks for the quick response.  I tried it today and it was awful, my husband said it tasted like skunk and I had to agree.  I've found out that my husband used extracts in making his beer, apparently this makes a difference.  I've seen several posts from people who were able to make bread or a sourdough starter from spent grain.  

Thanks again!

Christi

Answer
Christi,

I am not surprised.  I was afraid that the trub would just be waste products.

As I said you can and I have made great bread from spent grain.

To do to that simple dry the grain that is left after a sparage. (This is not the trub left after primary fermentation). Then either grind it to a power or leave it hole and add it to a bread mix.  The final product is great.

I do appreciate you letting me know but I am sorry it did not work out.

Oh, you can also use the finished beer to make bread.  Simply use it instead of water.

Have a great life and happy baking.

Alan