What kind of honey to use?

[Kingb14]

I am going to make a supposed Bud clone that I got off of the BYO site. I thought that I'd make this for all of my non-beer drinking friends. Anyway, I was wondering what kind of honey to use? The recipe calls for 1.5 lbs. Does it matter if it's off the store shelf or does it need to be something like raw honey? Just curious.

Thank you

[danno]

1.5 lbs is probably 30% of your total fermentables? at that level, it's not going to matter much what kind of honey you use, the honey's character will be tough to pick out against the rest of the grain. as an adjunct, it's used to provide fully fermentable sugars and thin out the body...

and welcome!

[ray m]

If you're really set on a) using honey, and b) trying to get some honey character in your brew (which is hard to do because, like Danno said, honey is fully fermentable), I would suggest trying to get some raw honey (from someplace like Wild Oats Market) and get a couple pounds worth.

Instead of boiling it for the full 60 minutes, I would add the honey either at flame-out, or for just the last 5 minutes of the boil. Once you bottle it, let it sit and condition for 2 or 3 months (if you're willing to wait that long). This is the only way that had remote success at getting a nice, soft, honey flavor character to come through.

[guildofevil]

Originally posted by ray m
Instead of boiling it for the full 60 minutes, I would add the honey either at flame-out, or for just the last 5 minutes of the boil. Once you bottle it, let it sit and condition for 2 or 3 months (if you're willing to wait that long). This is the only way that had remote success at getting a nice, soft, honey flavor character to come through.

I am intrigued.

A soft honey flavour might be nice in a lightly hoped pale ale.

What hops would you use in such a beer? Goldings maybe?

Séan

[ray m]

Originally posted by guildofevil:

I am intrigued.

A soft honey flavour might be nice in a lightly hoped pale ale.

What hops would you use in such a beer? Goldings maybe?
__________________________________________

Ahhhh yes!! That's even more important (hop selection)!! IIRC, I think I used 1 oz. of either Kent Goldings or Fuggles, and those were in the boil for 60 min. No flavor or aroma hop additions at all.

I gotta start taking notes on my made-up recipes.
:o

One other thing, I know I used lightly kilned/flavored malts. I think all I used was pale & wheat malts.

[guildofevil]

Makes sense.

The last thing you want is anything with an “in your face” flavour, as it would only serve to drown out the honey. This would have to be a very mild, subtle beer.

I want to make one now. I'll add it to the list of future brews.

Séan