Honey dilemma?

**suprchunk** · 08-21-2010, 03:42 PM

Well not really a dilemma, per se. But a conundrum still the same. I have 10 gallons of honey left over from a mead a coworker made. I was going to make a mead, but it's not much honey. And I don't want to scale it down to 3 gallons or so. Just don't see it as much benefit. So I was thinking of making a beer with it. But, it is quite a lot for beer. Which brings me to...

Has anyone here made a big beer with honey making up over 30% of the sugars (looking at going with a 7 gallon batch - don't have much room for bigger batches)? I was thinking of making a RIS with this. Adding enough black patent and roasted barley to overcome the sweetness, and throwing some other grains at it to increase the thickness/mouthfeel I may lose with this amount of honey. I don't want this to finish too thin, or too dry. And I definitely don't want it to be too cloying, fusel-ly, or sweet either. Plus I don't use much honey in my beers. I save that, usually, for meads.

So, just looking for input on whether anyone has attempted something along the lines I mentioned? If not, I don't mind treading new territory and see what I can accomplish with it. But if it's been attempted before, why re-invent the wheel.

Good or bad experiences with a lot of honey is much appreciated.

**Hammy71** · 08-21-2010, 05:49 PM

I've made this:

5 lb Pale Malt 2-row
3 lb Honey (Orange Blossom)
1 lb Crystal 10L
.5 lb Car/Pils Dextrin
2 oz Cascade (60 min)
WLP 051

5 gallon/60 min boil....

Didn't come out too dry but really had a harsh alcohol taste that took almost a year to go away. I actually have a couple double dueces in the man-cave and I pull one out every now and again. Sorta came out a mead/beer hybrid I guess. I'll never do that much honey again....but if you like meads...maybe you'll like it.

**suprchunk** · 08-21-2010, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the insight. I like mead, but I'm not trying to get mead characteristics in a RIS. And I'm not looking for a braggot, which it seems what it would end up being with this much honey. I guess I can always just split it up over a few batches...

Thanks again Hammy71.

**riverfrontbrewer** · 08-22-2010, 01:58 AM

What am I missing here....10 GALLONS of honey is like 120 lbs?

hoppymonkey · 08-22-2010, 02:03 AM

I think he meant 10 lbs. Everytime I have used a lot of honey in a recipe, it was dry and took a LONG while to get of that alcohol burn/harshness.

yodalegomaster · 08-22-2010, 02:12 AM

Braggot, is mead and beer mixed look for a recipe under that term. you will find 100's.