Chile De Arbol is a relative of cayenne pepper and has a similar heat profile with a smoky, earthy flavor. De arbol chile is a great way to provide a kick of heat in your homebrew recipe. De Arbol peppers have a Scoville heat range of 15,000 – 30,000. 1/4 ounce should be more than enough chiles for most batches of beer.
How to use De Arbol Chiles in beer:
To ensure that the chiles are sanitary before being added to beer, soaking them overnight in a high-proof neutral spirit (such as vodka) will not only aid in sanitation, but the alcohol will also help to draw the flavors out of the chiles. Once soaked overnight, simply add the entire mixture directly into the beer – don’t decant off the alcohol! Letting the beer rest for a week after this addition and before packaging will ensure the flavors are fully infused.