Honey

This is what we did recently after reading a semi-recent thread about adding honey. We added after high krausen but before it finished.

 

I usually add any fruit/juice after high krausen, but honey is so hard to dissolve at room temp that I normally add when the wort has cooled to ~ 170*F (much like aroma hops).

Edit: I'm not really sure though that it is important for the honey to dissolve...especially after high krausen.

 

Okay, so I dont mean to jack this thread, but its seems like its run its course, and Ive got questions.

I understand not wanting to add honey to the boil so you dont burn off volatiles, but if you are going to add it to the primary after the krausen has subsided, how do you dissolve it? Will it do this on its own? Do you mix it into a solution and then add it?

Also, if you are adding it to the primary after fermentation has started, are you still considering the honey a fermentable? Im assuming so, and if that is the case how do you get a true OG reading, and determine ABV?

 

Yes, it's still a fermentable. As for OG, you estimate it based on the amount of honey you added. If you don't know the exact specific gravity of your honey, you can use an estimate of 35 ppg, i.e. 35 points per pound per gallon. So for example, if adding one pound to 5 gallons of wort...

(35 x 1) / 5 = 7 points.

So you'd add 7 points to the post boil OG you measured. So if your OG was, say, 1.050. The new 'OG' would be 1.057

 

No need to dissolve it. The yeast are going to tear through the honey. Its a simple sugar and nearly 100% fermentable.

 

when i add honey I typically heat the container up in hot water (around 140-160) for about 5-10 minutes. This allows the honey to drip out easier, it dissolves easier, and might help sanitize a little. As fAtHanD said, i am not too worried about it dissolving as the yeast will attack it. You could always do a secondary and have the honey on the bottom, so when transferring the beer will cause a slight "whirlpool" and help dissolve the honey into the solution.