Getting ready to brew a honey ale extract kit. I know that the honey added during the boil will eventually ferment away. But I wanted to use some Gambrinus honey malt to add some honey flavor. Can I just by this grain directly from NB and steep it along with my other grains? How much should I use?
Also thinking about adding some vanilla as well. Any recommendations on how much or when to add?
Sure you can steep/mini mash it… Now, I’ve not used it but being its a specialty malt, best try to keep low… say maybe 3% of the total fermentables…
Give about 45 minutes with you other barley, I will assume you are doing an extract kit… ?
Once your brew is ready to drink, you should take notes on how you think it tastes… Maybe next time you bump the % up or down… I wouldn’t go to 10% right from the git go… It might be an awful brew you just won’t drink…
Sneezles61
Honey malt, while not tasting like honey, does provide a sweetness to your beer. I used to use it a lot but after a while, once I identified its taste, it was all I could taste from the malts. I typically used 1/2 a pound to a pound depending on the style of the beer and the amount of grains used. If you are making the 5 gallon White House Honey Ale kit, I can see you adding 4 to 6 oz of honey malt.
I agree with these guys, go easy on the honey malt. The first time I tried it I used one lb I think. It was overwhelming. I believe they call it cloying. Start out small and even if you can’t really taste it your beer won’t be ruined. Then like @sneezles61 said bump it up or down next time.
I am planning on doing the White House honey extract kit. Would I just add the 4-6oz of honey malt to the same bag with all of my other grains and steep it all together just the same?
Thanks for the advice!
Without looking for your recipe… What is the starting gravity?
Sneezles61
The kit says it’s 1062