Honey in Beer

Hill Farmstead Anna uses Vermont wildflower honey in the brew.

 

I love honey in beers. If I was a homebrewer, I'd use it all the time (if I could afford it). Bell's currently has a 16.3% abv version of Two Hearted on tap called Honey Hearted. It's not rated very high on here, but I was blown away. It tasted more like a mead (honey wine) but it was fantastic.

 

Yes, yes this is very good. Even better after a year

 

I always enjoy Super Kitty from Keegan, just got a growler of this at the Whole Foods in Tribeca (thanks for the tip beermenus!). Description from Keegan's website:

"Super Kitty is our single most requested seasonal brew that we make. It is essentially our traditional I.P.A. Hurricane Kitty, just on steroids. It is brewed with local honey cultivated on our premises as well local hops and finished off with aging it in a plethora of oak chips. When the finished product rolls out it is 12% alcohol by volume and it’s not always available, so make you stock up on it while you can."

 

Did you have Super Kitty recently? IMO, the last couple years have been pretty lackluster, especially in the 12oz bottle format.. Love the Bob photo, BTW.

 

I just kegged a homebrewed Willamette Honey IPA with primarily Willamette hops and 1.5 pounds of honey...turned out REALLY good!

 

Brother Adam's Bragget Ale from the Atlantic Brewing Co. is one I really enjoy. I also aged one for a few years and it tasted amazing!

 

Yes, I just picked up the growler on Sunday 9/21 enjoying it very much. I had the 12oz bottles last year and then the only other time I've had it was on tap at 4th Avenue Pub about 4 or 5 years ago.

The Bob photo is from his Yogi Berra Stadium show in 2005 via brooklynvegan. I am looking forward to his upcoming Beacon and NJPAC Shows. Sadly, both venues have been pretty weak when it comes to good beer offerings.

 

Huge second on Pipeworks Unicorn Hits Rock Bottom, should have bought more than 1. Better than Citra Ninja.
One other of note is Lickinghole Creek Nuclear Nugget, closer to a mead than an imperial IPA but very good..worth tracking down.

 

For a $6 bomber Sam Adams Honey Queen is excellent.

DIPA styles with honey go for (if you can get)

Spitful-Selfies are for Wieners
Pipeworks- Unicorn hits Rock Bottom

 

And Event Horizon...absolutely delicous! I love Olde Hickory stuff...

 

Find a 1/4 barrel of serendipity and might be able to get you a few bottles of this. Not for trade for your efforts.

 

I have one bottle from 2013. Looks like I should be enjoying it soon.

 

I had a honey porter from the Cape May brewery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I've also used Dundee's honey brown ale for braising with delicious results.

 

From what I remember (its been a while since I last had it about 3 years ago) Brooklyn's Local #2 had some very pleasant honey notes going for it.

 

I substituted 1 kg of sugar with 1kg of honey in the Gozdawa Dark Ale extract kit. Hard to compare it with the original recipe calling for the sugar. Need it to mature a little more. It hasn't done it any harm. :-)

 

I second the Hopslam comments. Event Horizon is a very good beer as well.

 

FWIW, I also have never perceived any honey taste in any of the commercial beers that advertise honey as part of their ingredients.

From a brewing perspective, it is reported that if honey (or maple syrup) is added to the beer post primary fermentation that some of the flavor compounds from the honey/maple syrup may be present in the finished beer. I have no personal experience here but I figured I would share that detail with you.

Cheers!

 

Glad I'm not the only one.

I don't doubt there are honey or syrup compounds left in the final product, but I question if anyone can actually detect those residual flavors against all the rest of the malt, hops (IPAs with honey, in particular), increased ethanol, and normal carbonation, etc.

Funny you bring up maple syrup, because I grew up in Vermont and, like most Vermonters, I take my maple syrup very seriously! I have tried many different maple syrup beers and I've always been disappointed. Just like a beer brewed with honey, the flavors of the syrup are always fermented into the harsh ethanol, destroying any flavor that resembles maple syrup.

I honestly think it's a waste of good honey or maple syrup to add it to a beer, because there are easier and cheaper ways to raise ABV (e.g. basic sugar). It's analogous to using filet mignon to make beef jerky; or fueling a campfire with rare mohogany wood.

 

I was surprised by Jester King's Bier de Miel. It was a gushing bottle, but the honey shone through the farmhouse ale. Quite refreshing. I'd keep drinking it if I can keep getting it.