Beech? Really had no idea.

I have a copper beech tree which is coming down soon to make way for a driveway. Never considered it for fuel since it's trunk has soooooo many branches. Its a shame to cut it down, I used to climb it over 40 years ago and look out over the tree lines.

After studying beech as a utility wood I couldnt understand why it never caught on as a valuable timber tree. Even reading what I read about its harvesting background. What its traditionally used for...etc...
I was discussing it with my mailman one day. I caught him stealing pears out of my front orchard. And he told me that Beech is used in the Budweiser beer processing but neither of us could figure out how. I don't think they could make barrels out of it. Unless they use beechnuts for flavoring?
Anyway, the foresters I've talked to say firewood is all its good for.
A neighbor of mine built a garage door out of Beech, or so he says. It didnt look like Beech to me. Beech has these little ray flecks, kinda like sycamore. And supposedly it rots really quickly.
So why build a garage door out of a wood that rots really quickly??
There is also only one tree in this class, or Genus. American Beech. Not like a maple...or an Oak.

From wikipedia ...

Beech wood is an excellent firewood, easily split and burning for many hours with bright but calm flames. Chips of beech wood are used in the brewing of Budweiser beer as a fining agent. Beech logs are burned to dry the malts used in some German smoked beers, giving the beers their typical flavour. Beech is also used to smoke Westphalian ham,[20] various sausages,[21] and some cheeses.

Some drums are made from beech, which has a tone between those of maple and birch, the two most popular drum woods.

Good synopsis here. Scroll down to page 104:

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/publications/handbooks_guides/forest_trees/pdf/Birches.pdf

There are several types of beech trees spread across the world. Here, we are accustomed to seeing the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) whereas the European variety (Fagus sylvatica) are probably what are used in making German rauchbiers (smoked beer). In brewing books they refer to German beechwood, which I would imagine is the European variety.

My own experience with local beech is that it makes a nice firewood. It splits easily when straight, and seasons fairly quick. Though, I've noticed they have a tendency to rot from the inside out. I took one down at the beginning of the year that had dropped some branches. Perhaps it will be ready this season.

Applesister said:

And he told me that Beech is used in the Budweiser beer processing but neither of us could figure out how.

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The label on the bud can reads .....beechwood aged.... Beech chips are put into the beer after it ferments to help clear it up. There is a molecular attraction between the fermentation by products (yeast cells and what not) that cloud beer and the beech chips. The beech chip adds no flavor. It accelerates the natural processes that would have cleared the beer, had they let it settle out on its own accord, hence the label should read; our industrial brewing process includes the use of beech chips that accelerate the finishing of the beer and saves us several days or even weeks as we have shortened the time it takes for the beer to clear up. It is also said at they rinse off the beech chips and are able to use them several times.

It turns punky real fast if it stands (or worse, lies) dead - something about the bark. Cut it live and get it dry, it's great stuff. Excellent for hand plane bodies and soles - stable and fine grained.

paul bunion said:

The label on the bud can reads .....beechwood aged.... Beech chips are put into the beer after it ferments to help clear it up. There is a molecular attraction between the fermentation by products (yeast cells and what not) that cloud beer and the beech chips. The beech chip adds no flavor. It accelerates the natural processes that would have cleared the beer, had they let it settle out on its own accord, hence the label should read; our industrial brewing process includes the use of beech chips that accelerate the finishing of the beer and saves us several days or even weeks as we have shortened the time it takes for the beer to clear up. It is also said at they rinse off the beech chips and are able to use them several times.

Click to expand...

Thanks Paul
Thats some fine bits of Beech trivia...and some interesting inside information on beer processing. It seems every tree species lends itself to some utilitarian use, either currently or historically.
Would you refer to that as folklore?
I'll have to pass that on to my brother, a huge Budweiser fan and my mailman, if I see him again.
Thanks again.

I have them everywhere some are huge all are in the woods so most are straight and perfect for firewood - its seasons quick and burns great !

Beech tree pics

a couple from last winter