I am a home brewer, so it's not at all surprising that I decided to watch "Brew Masters" when I saw it on Netflix. This particular episode is about 'Chicha'--a Peruvian beer-like drink that is made from masticated corn. In other words, for centuries, native women chewed and spat out corn into clay pots--and it naturally fermented and was enjoyed--spit and all.
To do important 'research' (actually, a cool junket), the host heads to Peru to see how the beer was made. Interestingly, it took only two days to make and was filtered with hay! Then, after their return, they needed to determine which workers at Dogfish Head Brewery had the proper spit needed for their batch! Yuck!!!
I think the episode is actually facetious. While they talked about making a TRADITIONAL Chicha--spit and all--there is just no way that the government is going to allow them to sell such a brew. Sure, they can drink it themselves or perhaps give it away, but no way could they sell it. A brewery close to my house sells a Chica--but the brewmaster at Darwin's, Juan, admits that they did NOT chew the corn for their recipe!
This is an amazingly repulsive yet historically informative episode. I did like it far more than the first episode but it's NOT for the faint of heart! It IS very disgusting to watch at times and my wife felt ill throughout the show.
By the way, they've only made a few episodes of "Brew Masters" and I hope they eventually make one on African millet beer (also called 'Bantu Beer'). It also takes two days from start to finish to make and is amazingly repulsive--with a flavor much like Budweiser and curdled milk. I had it in South Africa and soon after made two very different (one sorghum based and the other with maize--along with the millet) for my beer club. They were impressed...and horrified!
To do important 'research' (actually, a cool junket), the host heads to Peru to see how the beer was made. Interestingly, it took only two days to make and was filtered with hay! Then, after their return, they needed to determine which workers at Dogfish Head Brewery had the proper spit needed for their batch! Yuck!!!
I think the episode is actually facetious. While they talked about making a TRADITIONAL Chicha--spit and all--there is just no way that the government is going to allow them to sell such a brew. Sure, they can drink it themselves or perhaps give it away, but no way could they sell it. A brewery close to my house sells a Chica--but the brewmaster at Darwin's, Juan, admits that they did NOT chew the corn for their recipe!
This is an amazingly repulsive yet historically informative episode. I did like it far more than the first episode but it's NOT for the faint of heart! It IS very disgusting to watch at times and my wife felt ill throughout the show.
By the way, they've only made a few episodes of "Brew Masters" and I hope they eventually make one on African millet beer (also called 'Bantu Beer'). It also takes two days from start to finish to make and is amazingly repulsive--with a flavor much like Budweiser and curdled milk. I had it in South Africa and soon after made two very different (one sorghum based and the other with maize--along with the millet) for my beer club. They were impressed...and horrified!
