scotchhop

#introduction - hi everyone!

brand new to this, traditionally a lurker rather than a sharer but maybe that’ll change!

my things are #plants, #mushrooms, #ferments, #sourdough, #kitchenscience - anything to do with #mould or #fungi is my jam 🍄 if that sounds like you then come say hi!

Nov 10, 2022 at 1:37amWeb
Show threadShawnNov 10, 2022
@scotchhop Awesome!! perhaps you can help me - over the 1st lockdown I created a gingerbug and had a good 9 months of great ginger beer. I eventually let it die (long story) but have unsuccessfully tried to create a new one several times and just haven't managed to get a good one going - latest one did an ok first ferment of a batch but has failed to do secondary fermentation in bottles?? TL;DR - any hints on starting a ginger bug.
Show threadscotchhopNov 10, 2022

@swamyp_kiwi I’ve never done anything flash, usually just used the Chelsea recipe - https://www.chelsea.co.nz/browse-recipes/ginger-beer/

Could the temperature be affecting it at all?

Last idea, how’s your yeast? I’ve bought a few dud packs this year - to test just prove your yeast. Add a few teaspoons of sugar to a cup of warm water (no exact measurements needed), chuck in a teaspoon of yeast. It should go foamy/bubbly within 10 mins, otherwise it may well be dead!

Show threadShawnNov 10, 2022
@scotchhop I've been using wild yeast as I find it (can) give better flavour. Unfortunately I've just struggled to restart my ginger bug. (Think Sourdough starter but for ginger beer)
Show threadscotchhopNov 10, 2022
@swamyp_kiwi ahh so cool! I’ve read about people making cider using just the natural yeast on the apples. Do you use raisins or sultanas to kick start your bug usually?
Show threadShawnNov 10, 2022
@scotchhop no I've not normally needed to. I have made wild fermented cider as well one was amazing the other time a bit average.
Show threadpruby / Tim GoddardNov 10, 2022
@scotchhop hi! All those things sound awesome - love to play with culturing and growing things myself, though I don't do routine well, so tend to lose cultures after a while. Note to self, check on the shiitake logs... :D
Show threadscotchhopNov 10, 2022
@pruby I have shiitake logs on the go too! Mine aren’t due to fruit until next winter 😅
Show threadpruby / Tim GoddardNov 10, 2022
@scotchhop Mine need a bit longer too - started January.
Show threadStephenNov 17, 2022
@scotchhop
I've just started getting into making Finnish rye sourdough. Completely new to baking in general so has been hit and miss so far... Enjoy looking for fungi went out walking. Dont know enough to identify so just enjoy looking