A Weird idea...

[AndyReynolds]

Has anyone tried marshmellow in the secondary? I am thinking about adding some water and melting some down then putting them in either the primary (after four days of fermintation) or the secondary. My concern is the gelitan (spelling?) in the marshmellow. Any ideas??

 

[jsweet]

Funny you mention this, a friend of mine (not a brewer) suggested that as an idea for a wacky homebrew just a week or two ago.

The gelatin shouldn't hurt the beer, in fact I think it can be used as a fining agent. But my thought is that the sugars in the marshmallow would just ferment out, and it wouldn't taste like marshmallows at all. If you do try it, though, PLEASE let us know how it goes, I'd be fascinated.

 

[rhoadsrage]

I have heard Short's brewing puts marshmallows in their bottles of S'more Stout. Something about the aroma is so fleeting that they had to put them in the bottle because they couldn't get the aroma when they were in secondary.

 

[AndyReynolds]

I am not too concerned about the flavors fermenting off because I am putting it in after the main fermentation is finished.

 

[jsweet]

I am not too concerned about the flavors fermenting off because I am putting it in after the main fermentation is finished.

Yes but there is still yeast in there, so if you put in something that is fermentable, it will ferment.

I agree that there is no worry about volatiles being driven off by the action of fermentation, but I remain unconvinced that it will taste like marshmallows. I guarantee you that a lot of the sugar in the marshmallows is going to ferment, it's just a question of whether enough of the marshmallow flavor comes from other unfermentable compounds. I feel like with the sugar gone, what's left wouldn't taste like much. But I may be wrong.

Only one way to find out, right!

 

[jmhart]

I'd shy away from adding marshmallows. Most marshmallows contain some kind of starch, usually cornstarch, that you would most likely not want in your beer.

Marshmallow just adds vanilla flavor and table sugar as a fermentable. I'd just add these in the beer directly.

However, perhaps toasted marshmallow might be an interesting flavor. The cornstarch is still an issue thought. Probably get a good "toasted" flavor from enough roasted barley or black patent though.

 

[smalliewader]

Hmmm...Marshmallows are a very simple recipe, basically sugar and vanilla. The rest of the ingredients don't add flavor, only the texture and volume.

Maybe you only need to experiment with sugar and vanilla to achieve the flavor?

 

[JonK331]

I'd shy away from adding marshmallows. Most marshmallows contain some kind of starch, usually cornstarch, that you would most likely not want in your beer.

Marshmallow just adds vanilla flavor and table sugar as a fermentable. I'd just add these in the beer directly.

However, perhaps toasted marshmallow might be an interesting flavor. The cornstarch is still an issue thought. Probably get a good "toasted" flavor from enough roasted barley or black patent though.

Yup I agree.

 

[AndyReynolds]

I am thinking I may split the batch in two and try doing it both ways. Thanks for the advise and I will keep you updated on how it turns out when I brew the beer.

 

[biochemedic]

There is a varietal honey from Meadowfoam flowers that has a very marshmallow like aroma and flavor...if you could track some of that down and add it as a late addition (as you mentioned, after primary ferment finishes), I think this would yield some of that flavor and aroma to the final product...

Still, I'd never discourage you from trying the experiment with actual marshmallows!

 

[Robusto]

I'd shy away from adding marshmallows. Most marshmallows contain some kind of starch, usually cornstarch, that you would most likely not want in your beer.

he beat me to it...

Corn startch usually acts as a thickener. I don't know if this would come out in the beer and thicken it or not.

 

[TheMan]

Why not send an email to Shorts Brewing? Their Smore's beer is awesome. Maybe they will help you with the flavor.