Honey? IMO not good!!!

sleonard · Post by **sleonard** » Tuesday Jan 03, 2006 9:06 pm

Well, have read a bit on hear about adding honey to the brew (yes, from Dogger himself).

Well, silly ol me thought I would try this honey thing out! Trying to brew a nice summer beer that would be great during the hotter days here in Tassie, used 500g of leatherwood honey in a Coopers Canadian Blonde.

Just a nice honey flavour to a beer on that hot summers day.

The result is that I just tipped half the batch over the veggie garden as a fertiliser! I think leather wood honey is not a great choice to match with beer! The Darling Wife and the House mate screwed their nose up at it when they had a sample.

Have placed 10 bottles under the house to see what happens over the next 12 months (or years

).

Any ways just thought I would share that.

Regards

Simon

Auscol · Post by **Auscol** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 12:09 am

Hmm, yep know it well, did much the same (didn't tip it out though. :)shock: just put some away for a while to see what happens

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 3:48 am

Hmmmm.

I am not going to try and change your mind on the honey because I believe taste is a personal thing. However, many have mentioned leatherwood honey. What is it?

Dogger

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 4:33 am

Sleonard, the Leatherwood Honey goes well (IMHO) with darker style beers. I think it would have overpowered the Bavarian. What else was in with the kit?

Dogger, Leatherwood honey is honey that bees produce from the nectar of the Leatherwood (Eucryphia Lucida) plants flower.

Cheers,
Greg

vitalogy · Post by **vitalogy** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:48 am

Simon,

This is bad news for me - I did a Canadian Blonde with 250g of Leatherwood that's currently in secondary. I thought it would be great, now you've got me worried

I'll let you know how it turns out; maybe only 250g won't be too bad.

db · Post by db » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 9:03 am

gregb wrote:Sleonard, the Leatherwood Honey goes well (IMHO) with darker style beers. I think it would have overpowered the Bavarian. What else was in with the kit?

Dogger, Leatherwood honey is honey that bees produce from the nectar of the Leatherwood (Eucryphia Lucida) plants flower.

Cheers,
Greg

i think your right Greg. I've used 500g of it in a darker (almost brown) ale & it was fine.. it's a darker honey. i'd probably try using something lighter, like orange blossom, in a blonde

sleonard · Post by **sleonard** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 9:09 am

vitalogy wrote:Simon,

This is bad news for me - I did a Canadian Blonde with 250g of Leatherwood that's currently in secondary. I thought it would be great, now you've got me worried I'll let you know how it turns out; maybe only 250g won't be too bad.

Hang in there Vita!

Let us know how it turns out. 250 may be alright

sleonard · Post by **sleonard** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 9:11 am

gregb wrote:Sleonard, the Leatherwood Honey goes well (IMHO) with darker style beers. I think it would have overpowered the Bavarian. What else was in with the kit?

Greg,

Only added the honey to the kit when mixing.

Do you have other suggestions as to what to add?

I think a less imposing flavour of honey would have done the trick

Regards

Simon

vitalogy · Post by **vitalogy** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 12:09 pm

It must be a local thing, all us Taswegians using Leatherwood

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 3:24 pm

Simon, if you're prepared to try again maybe go for the Bavarian, a bag of Ultrabrew (500g Light Dry Malt Extract, 250g Maltodextrin, 250g Dextrose) and 200g ish of Leatherwood.

Cheers,
Greg

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 4:40 pm

Leatherwood is excellent in dark, and citrus honey is best in light. If the flavour is too much for you, just add less.

I know of a few brewers who hated honey on their first experiment, but then started with a little, and added to taste each time.

tyrone · Post by **tyrone** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 7:08 pm

Is the honey fermentable?

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:00 pm

gregb wrote:Simon, if you're prepared to try again maybe go for the Bavarian, a bag of Ultrabrew (500g Light Dry Malt Extract, 250g Maltodextrin, 250g Dextrose) and 200g ish of Leatherwood.

Cheers,
Greg

I do this brew regularly with 325g of honey and 20g hallertau hops. It has a hint of honey flavour that lingers and makes you go what is that, very nice.

tyrone · Post by **tyrone** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:06 pm

Is it a good hot weather quencher?

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:22 pm

If brewed at the correct temps (12 deg) it is a great hot weather beer. Have never done it at higher temps so do not know how it would go, the Bav Lager has a true lager yeast.

tyrone · Post by **tyrone** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:24 pm

Sounds like the guts to me!Taa for the advice

Tipsy · Post by **Tipsy** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:36 pm

I did the Bavarian with 400g clover honey and after a month it was terrible, now after 3 months it tastes ok. I think if I added some hops it would probably taste good

tyrone · Post by **tyrone** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:38 pm

How much hops would you recommend?

Tipsy · Post by **Tipsy** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 8:47 pm

tyrone wrote:How much hops would you recommend?

I've only used hops a doz times or so, but thinking 40g saaz steeped. The more I use saaz the more I use. Does that make sense

tyrone · Post by **tyrone** » Wednesday Jan 04, 2006 9:02 pm

Tell me about it

I first used saaz in a redback clone that my mates dad took - all 30 - I was really pissed off until it was served as the Bridal Toast at my mates wedding

Biggest compliment that any brewer can get IMO