Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Adding Flavours to Beer
Hello...
I have a quick question that i am hoping someone could help me with.
For my next brew i am looking to add a bit of flavour to my brew. Possibly orange, corriander or honey. However, when should i add the flavour? Would it be in the initial boil? or in the secondary fermentation? It's been bugging me for some time now.
I've made a couple of brews and so far so good. Just wanted to add a bit of something extra.
Thanks
Neil
Responses
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Hey BM
any flavours I add are always put in at the end of the boil - usually around the time of a late hop addition and the irish moss.
Mind you - I have to say here, that the only time I've ever added 'foreign' flavours are with my christmas brew. Works then! I was jut reading a thing in Beer Magazine about flavouring with coriander - now you mention it I must say I'm tempted... coriander is such an amazing taste!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Yeah i was reading something as well.. Is that the beer magazine from Camra? Sounds like Coriander might be the way forward.
Quick question then Tony is Irish Moss necessary in every brew? Or is it just a personal thing? I am hoping that my beer clears. The last one did a treat without the moss.
Neil
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
Hi Neil, I only started using Irish moss since all grain brewing and also had crystal clear beers via extract method without any finnings. Saying that I do use it now but haven't tried a brew without to see if it makes any difference. With AG the most important thing is to get a good hot/cold break and most beers will clear by themself given enough time.
As far as extra's go, depends on what you are adding. The advantage of adding in the boil is that it sterilises the ingredients, whereas adding in the fermenter doesn't. Some things are better in the fermenter (ie fruit for wheat beers) and if you add to a secondary fermenter then at least there is some alcohol present to protect the beer you also have the advantage of being able to taste as you add to see the effect. If you adding to the boil then add at the last 15 mins.
Orange/coriander and honey are great in wheat style beers but go easy on the coriander to start with as it can be quite a strong taste in large quantity. I would start of small and see how it goes.
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Brilliant adive there Greg thanks very much...
I had a feeling Coriander would be quite strong. So appart from the flavours mentioned what others would be considered a good addition to a brew? Or is leaving well alone best?
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
I would try different hops and yeasts if you are extract brewing. Depends on what style of beer you are wanting to make?
Download the free trial of Beersmith and have a play around with that as its really good for extract recipes.
Posted 2 years ago by Member
Good advice there from Greg ... download BeerSmith - excellent software and there are extra recipes that can be loaded into it!
As for Irish Moss...? Once again, as Greg says - I've never had the b's to leave it out!
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 2 years ago by Member
The mention of coriander intrigues me. I had a coriander flavoured wheatbeer over the weekend that my brother donated to me (it was a gift for his birthday, but he hates wheat beer! Lucky for me!) Had never heard of the brewery, and to be honest, while it was a reasonable slightly watery hoegaarden clone, much to my dismay i couldnt taste the coriander at all, but it did make me think that is a flavour that would compliment a white/wheat beer style. Infact having read up on wheat beer on Wikipedia it is apparently traditional to add coriander and orange peel in German wheat beer.
I'd be tempted to try brewing one myself, however i'm not quite at that point in my brewing... career? yet, and I'm also the only person i know that likes wheat beer, and im not sure having 40 pints of the stuff to myself is the greatest health move i could make at the moment!
Posted 2 years ago by Admin
40 pints to yourself sounds perfect to me. Just bottle and then it will last for ages. I personally can only drink 1 or 2 Wheat beers in any one session as they get a bit sickly so you should be okay. Its easy to brew wheat beers using spraymalt, just use the wheat variety as its a mix of barley and wheat so it perfect for wheat beers.
Posted 9 months ago by Member
Any thoughts about when to add to a kit beer? I think the herb Lovage could go well, & I am 4 days fermenting into 3 different kit beers.... also would like to try honey & golden syrup - could I just prime a few bottles? Or would I add extras during a secondary?
Fermenting - Youngs Definitive Lager
- Edme German Lager
- Youngs Brew Buddy Lager
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