Honey Ale

[brewmasterflex]

I made a honey mini brew 5 litres and put 200g honey in teh last 15 mins of the boil, Its been in the FV now 4 days and looks very "Scummy" on the top, steadily fementing in the air lock though, but it hasnt cleared as much as usual brews,
I had what looked like bits of hops going up and down as well but assumed that it was the honey reacting with something

[John F]

I made this from a recipe in the older version of the Durden Park book (which contains several Medieval recipes for Gruits etc).
Welsh Ale (1 gallon)
OG 1070

3lb pale malt
5oz pale spraymalt
12g ground cinnamon
6g ground ginger
3g ground cloves
12g ground white pepper
half pint of honey

Mash the pale malt to produce a gallon of wort and ferment with an ale yeast (I think I used Gervin).
When the yeast has just about done it's work, add the spraymalt dissolved in a pint of water, plus the other ingredients.
Referment, adding sugar if needed to produce a final gravity of 1015-20.

They describe it as an appealing spiced ale for drinking on a cold night. I think it's quite good, very warming, and the honey flavour's definitely there (mixed with all the other spice flavours). It's nice as an occasional curiosity but I'm glad I only made a gallon. 5 gallons would have lasted a long, long time! If I was to make it again, I would have boiled the wort before fermentation as it's got a bit of a protein haze.

[mysterio]

I would add it straight to the fermenter when the main fermentation is slowing down. This should retain maximum flavour and aroma, 500g should be all thats needed in 5gallons.

Hmm... Like the sound of this too. Be an idea to boil it first though to kill and organisms. Planning a honey brew tomorrow and think I might implement this idea to the schedule.

Cheers

I never boil honey for meads and theres never any problem with infection. Boiling volatalises all the delicate honey flavours.

[critch]

adding late in the boil would preserve a lot of the volatiles i normally go for1.2 pounds per 5 gal anything more than that either (imo)produces liquid cosh or a cloying sweetness(depending on your prefered yeasts tolerance)-especially when utilising a heavy grain bill!

different honeys like hops provide different results i find clover honey gives an grassy taste, now i normally use an orange blossom honey . i find this works well with cascade and chinook as a late addition hop, and gives a pleasant rounded citrussy taste

[iowalad]

I use the Mysterio method and have been pleased with the results on the last go round.