How safe would it be to brew a beer with mandrake root?

Question

By best friend (since 6th grade, we're both 31) & homebrewing buddy wants to make a "mandrake ale". I told him that he is out of his mind & could possibly poison himself with it or go a little nuts, but he is stubborn & is going to do it anyway. He even started growing his own mandrake plants. What are your opinions on this?

Answer 1

Well it certainly doesn't sound all that appetizing and they are plenty of other recipes he could try. Maybe if you print the full articles in the links below he'll move on to something different.

A frequently-quoted example of early chemical warfare is an incident from 200 B.C., when Carthaginian defenders of a city withdrew, leaving behind quantities of wine laced with mandragora. The invading Romans drank the wine, were rendered insensible, and were killed by the returning defenders.

The fresh root operates very powerfully as an emetic and purgative. The dried bark of the root was used also as a rough emetic.

Answer 2

Check for bitterness,it might really change amount of hops you need.You should be able to find it dried in some nature stores.Make a small batch before going whole hog...and good luck,sounds interesting.