Honey Mint Ale

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by BeerKangaroo, Feb 16, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 2 of 2
  1. BeerKangaroo

    BeerKangaroo Initiate (0) May 30, 2011 Alaska

    Hmmm...I didn't know that, for some odd reason I guess I thought braggots are normally high ABV. Thank you.
     
    #21 BeerKangaroo, Feb 16, 2014
  2. BeerKangaroo

    BeerKangaroo Initiate (0) May 30, 2011 Alaska

    Yeah, I've never made mead before and I have barely tasted many in my own life. I mean, don't get me wrong, it sounds great, but I don't have much mead experience. Awesome, sounds like more research on my own part. Cheers! :slight_smile:
     
    #22 BeerKangaroo, Feb 16, 2014
  3. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    I agree...but I feel that any honey character one would retain from 5lbs of (random honey) would be lost with pretty much any amount of mint that would be considered a dominant flavor in the beer.
     
    #23 JohnSnowNW, Feb 16, 2014
  4. Jay_Ulreich

    Jay_Ulreich Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2014 Indiana

    great. now I have to make a honey mint beer just because my OCD tells me I need to taste one. :rolling_eyes:
     
    #24 Jay_Ulreich, Feb 16, 2014
    BeerKangaroo likes this.
  5. BeerKangaroo

    BeerKangaroo Initiate (0) May 30, 2011 Alaska

    Yeah, too much, isn't it? Actually, my friend's dad is a beekeeper so this is authentic honey we're getting, but when he told me 5 lbs and I know I only have a 5 gallon fermenting bucket, I think my eyes shot out of my head but didn't want to look like a jerk to him so that's why I posted this as I was looking for some help as maybe I was missing something or someone who has better experience with homebrewing could give me some good advice.

    So, we're (my friend and I) actually looking for balance for the most part and that was why I was hoping for the advice with what to do with that much honey and now I'm trying to figure out how much mint I'll need. I do like what @FATC1TY said about the closest style and malt bill.
     
    #25 BeerKangaroo, Feb 16, 2014
  6. BeerKangaroo

    BeerKangaroo Initiate (0) May 30, 2011 Alaska

    Ah, we'll see, at the moment, I'm slightly unsure of this whole thing, but if it turns out ok, I'll be sure to post in either WBAYDN or WHBAYDN threads. I can't believe I discovered the WHBAYDN thread today. Oh geez, sorry fellow homebrewers, I'll try to get there more often. :flushed:
     
    #26 BeerKangaroo, Feb 16, 2014
  7. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    I think it can be done but you're right that the success of this beer will definitely be dependent on getting the balance right between the malt, honey, and mint...without making it taste like a Ricola cough drop.
     
    #27 Homebrew42, Feb 16, 2014
    JohnSnowNW and BeerKangaroo like this.
  8. BeerKangaroo

    BeerKangaroo Initiate (0) May 30, 2011 Alaska

    Yeah, I hear ya, I think that's what my biggest worry was - that's what I was really trying to communicate. Basically, a "honey" and "mint" flavored beer that doesn't taste like a cough drop but just real and isn't high on the alcohol.
     
    #28 BeerKangaroo, Feb 16, 2014
  9. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    I think the best thing you can do here is use some restraint with both the honey and the mint, because if you go overboard on either of them you probably won't be happy with the result. If you use a light hand then the worst case scenario is you have a nice drinkable beer but the honey and/or mint flavor is a little lighter than you wanted and then you can simply adjust next time.

    I think having 25% of the gravity coming from honey is a reasonable place to start. Unfortunately I've never brewed with mint so I can't comment on that.
     
    #29 Homebrew42, Feb 16, 2014
    TastyAdventure, BeerKangaroo and FATC1TY like this.
  10. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    I'd get a bunch of fresh mint, muddle it in some spirit like vodka, and make a tincture with it. Dose the bottling bucket, before you add your priming solution, and taste it to your liking.

    You can add some honey to the beer, I'd add it at flame out, or I'd add it at high krausen to the primary fermenter.
     
    #30 FATC1TY, Feb 16, 2014
    Homebrew42 and BeerKangaroo like this.
  11. TastyAdventure

    TastyAdventure Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2012 Kentucky

    It's probably best to go ahead and use actual mint leaves, but I have to comment:
    I just got 8 oz of Spalt Select hops (2% AA) for super cheap. I just dry hopped a beer with it and after smelling the hop bag (after siphoning to bottle bucket) I discribed them as grapefruit and mint. I asked my friend and he said "lime". Then we both concluded that a lime is kind of like a minty grapefruit.
    So, there's Spalt Select. And of course Perle hops are described as having "minty" flavors.
     
    #31 TastyAdventure, Feb 16, 2014
    BeerKangaroo likes this.
  12. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    @BeerKangaroo : Mint extracts are available. I'd go with spearmint or peppermint, or a combo, depending on what you guys want. Extracts aren't quite as good as the real thing but much easier to adjust and will get you into the ballpark for your first run. Add half as much as you think you should into your primary fermenter after you hit FG. Add more into your bottling bucket later if you're so inclined.

    Edit: No need to sanitize it. Make sure you get one that's alcohol based.
     
    #32 inchrisin, Feb 17, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2014
    BeerKangaroo likes this.
Page 2 of 2
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.