🧪 Spice Tincture Guide

How to Make, Store, and Dose Your Tinctures

📋 How to Make a Tincture

  1. Prepare your spices: Break cinnamon sticks, crack cardamom pods, crush berries lightly, grate nutmeg fresh, slice ginger thin
  2. Add to jar: Place prepared spices in a small glass jar with a tight lid (4-8 oz mason jar works great)
  3. Pour vodka: Add 2-3 oz of vodka (any cheap brand, 80-proof minimum). Spices should be fully covered
  4. Seal and label: Close lid tightly, write the blend name and date on the jar
  5. Steep: Store in a cool, dark place for 3-7 days (some blends need longer - see table below)
  6. Shake daily: Give the jar a good shake once a day to help extraction
  7. Strain: Pour through cheesecloth or fine strainer into a clean jar. Discard solids
  8. Store: Keep strained tincture in a labeled jar. Ready to use!

🎄 Blend Recipes & Steep Times

Blend Ingredients Vodka Steep Time
Classic Holiday 1 cinnamon stick, 1/4 nutmeg (grated), 3-4 allspice berries 2-3 oz 3-5 days
Citrus-Forward Zest of 1 orange, zest of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 tsp coriander seeds 2-3 oz 3-5 days
Warming Winter 1" fresh ginger (sliced), 2-3 cloves, 2-3 cardamom pods 2-3 oz 5-7 days
Belgian-Inspired Zest of 1/2 orange, 1/2 tsp coriander seeds 2 oz 3-5 days
Chocolate Holiday 1 oz cocoa nibs, 1/2 vanilla bean (split), 1/2 cinnamon stick 3-4 oz 7-10 days

💧 How to Dose Your Beer

The Taste-Test Method (Recommended)

  1. Pour a small sample of your finished beer (2-3 oz) into a glass
  2. Add tincture one drop at a time, stirring and tasting after each
  3. Stop when the spice level tastes right to you
  4. Count how many drops you used for that sample size
  5. Calculate for full batch: (drops used) × (batch oz ÷ sample oz)
  6. Add calculated amount to your bottling bucket, stir gently
💡 Starting Point: For 1 gallon (128 oz), most people use 1/2 to 1 tsp of tincture. Start with less - you can always add more, but you can't take it out!
⚠️ Potent Spices: Cloves, star anise, and ginger are very strong. If your blend includes these, start with half the amount you think you need.

🗄️ Storage

Before Straining

Keep jar in cool, dark place. Shake daily. Use within 2 weeks (citrus blends within 1 week to avoid bitterness).

After Straining

Strained tincture keeps for 6+ months at room temperature. Label with blend name and date made.

🔧 Troubleshooting

ProblemCauseSolution
Tincture too weak Not enough steep time or spices Steep longer or add more spices
Tincture too strong Over-extraction Dilute with vodka before using
Bitter citrus flavor White pith included or steeped too long Use only colored zest, steep max 5 days
Murky tincture Fine particles Strain through coffee filter
Medicinal taste Too much clove or star anise Reduce amount significantly next time
💡 Pro Tip: Make your tincture 1 week before bottling day. This gives you time to taste-test and adjust if needed. Leftover tincture is great in coffee, cocktails, or your next batch of beer!
← Back to Downloads