Coconut??

[Indytom]

Ok, I know this my be just a little off topic, but I know there are several mead brewers here.

I am wanting to do a tropical fruit mead. I found a tropical fruit salad in a large can at Sam's Club that is packaged without preservatives. I was planning to put a can of this stuff in the primary and then rack off the fruit and onto a second can of the stuff in the secondary, and then maybe a tertiary to let it all settle out. I would love to add the flavor of coconut to the mix, but I am thinking that I have read that it can be problematic because of the oils it contains.

Does anyone have any suggestions?


Tom

[newportstorm]

I've read in one homebrewing forum (here, Ratebeer...I dunno) about someone using a healthy amount of coconut toasted in the oven with good success in making a Porter. If you get no response here, try over at the other site.

[markaberrant]

toasted coconut is probably the way to go, but as for how much to use and when to add it, I can't help you. There is a commercial example, Maui Brewing's CoCoNut Porter, and it is very good.

[wortchillergoal]

Using the search feature for"coconut" turned up many threads about it. Some have links and one even has a recipe.

[corkybstewart]

BoerneBrew did a coconut stout that is pretty good. The coconut flavor isn't overwhelming, it kind of shows up in the finish and after the beer has warmed a little. But it has no head on it at all, he attributes that to the coconut oil.
But if you're doing a mead that shouldn't be a problem at all unless it's going to be a sparkling mead.

[Indytom]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have no idea why I didn't think to use the search feature, I search here all the time.

I like the idea of toasting the coconut. The flavor is even better than plain coconut.

Oh well, off to search the site.

Thanks.

Tom

[Mad Scientist]

I used 1/2 pound, toasted at 325 or 350 (just lookup toasting coconut on google) and added it to secondary for 2 weeks. Careful though, those bits of coconut really clog up the works...I'd see if you can find larger chips.

Does the Maui coconut porter have any head to it at all?

[markaberrant]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
Does the Maui coconut porter have any head to it at all?

These were my comments on the beer's appearance:

Big dark bubbles form and quickly dissappear, likely due to the oil in the coconut. Opaque black.

[BrewDog]

But the big question is whether or not Coconuts migrate..... :D

[darylM]

From this I can gather the following wisdom:

The more nuts you have, the less head you get :D

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by BrewDog
But the big question is whether or not Coconuts migrate..... :D

I do not think they migrate, but they certainly get around.


Daryl, it is the oils, but yes, they destroy the head.

[Indytom]

Originally posted by BrewDog
But the big question is whether or not Coconuts migrate..... :D


Well, I gotta tell ya, they all must be trying to somewhere. I was in Fla. several years ago when the remnants of a weak tropical storm blew through during the night. The next morning the beach was covered with them, and not a coconut tree in sight.

So, now the questions are "Where were they all going?" and "What do they know that we don't?"

Tom


ps. Thanks for all the help with the coconut, now I am just trying to figure out which of my local supplier's honeys I want to us.

[darylM]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
I do not think they migrate, but they certainly get around.


Daryl, it is the oils, but yes, they destroy the head.

And he cleans up my gutter mind.

I just had your coconut stout and while it was good, it did not have a lot of head on it. This is unlike your other beers where I had to wait before drinking.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by darylM
And he cleans up my gutter mind.

I just had your coconut stout and while it was good, it did not have a lot of head on it. This is unlike your other beers where I had to wait before drinking.

Do you have any specific comments about it? How was the carbonation? How was the cocnut flavor? Let me know, you;ll make the second memeber here who has tried it.

I figured from the start that it would have no foam....if I brew this again, I'll add more oats, and maybe some wheat to counter act the cocnut oils.

[darylM]

Originally posted by Boerne Brew
Do you have any specific comments about it? How was the carbonation? How was the cocnut flavor? Let me know, you;ll make the second memeber here who has tried it.

I figured from the start that it would have no foam....if I brew this again, I'll add more oats, and maybe some wheat to counter act the cocnut oils.

First thing, at 9% I wanted to be in a place that I would not be going anywhere soon. This long weekend was ideal. So here is my review

Aroma: Not alot of aroma but toasted flavors come out.

Taste: Starts bitter then the coconut comes out. Its more of a coconut milk flavor that stands out. Ends with alcohol burn.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and full because of the coconut oil.

Overall: A stout stout with nice coconut flavor. The only thing I would change is the alcohol burn at the end.

[barleyburps]

hmmm. . . interesting comments. . .a sweet stout with some amount of coconut character sounds appealing . . .I'm going to have to look into this. . . .
although if I could get straight coconut and not roasted appeals moreso to me. . .

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by darylM
First thing, at 9% I wanted to be in a place that I would not be going anywhere soon. This long weekend was ideal. So here is my review

Aroma: Not alot of aroma but toasted flavors come out.

Taste: Starts bitter then the coconut comes out. Its more of a coconut milk flavor that stands out. Ends with alcohol burn.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and full because of the coconut oil.

Overall: A stout stout with nice coconut flavor. The only thing I would change is the alcohol burn at the end.

Well, as far as the alcohol goes, I really had not intended to get the grain extraction that I did.....hehe....oops...