Bastard Stepson Hard root beer

[TNTurkey]

I'm in the process of brewing the above kit from a on-line retailer. Most of the reviews on the site were positive but a few mentioned that the artificial sweetener to be added to the secondary imparts a diet soda (i.e. saccharin) flavor to the beer. I'd like to avoid this. What would be a good source of additional sweetness in a beer like this?
Thanks

 

[Firewalker11]

It's a Northern Brewer kit, I got to sample it last year and I agree, the Splenda is NASTY! The brewer told me that he was going to make another batch and he just altered the instructions a bit:

"Step 16. Rack the beer into a secondary fermenter, or simply
add the 4 oz of Gnome Draft Style Root Beer extract and
6 gram sweetner pack to to the fermenter. Let rest for an
additional 1-2 weeks."

Leave out the sweetener, cold crash it, add 1/4 tsp of Potassium metabisulfite, add sugar to taste.

It was TERRIFIC!

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I've had good luck with Stevia, just don't heat it. It'll turn into that saccharin flavor you speak of.

 

[Firewalker11]

I've had good luck with Stevia, just don't heat it. It'll turn into that saccharin flavor you speak of.

Agreed, I use it in some ciders where the anise flavor is OK.

 

[TNTurkey]

Thanks for the replies. As I was reading them, how about increasing (doubling?) the root beer extract? I'm wondering if it would add sweetness and intensify the root beer character at the same time. I'm assuming it's non-fermentable.

 

[Firewalker11]

Nope, the extract does not add any sweetness, just use what it recommends for the batch size.

 

[Yesfan]

Thanks for the replies. As I was reading them, how about increasing (doubling?) the root beer extract? I'm wondering if it would add sweetness and intensify the root beer character at the same time. I'm assuming it's non-fermentable.

If you're using plastic fermenters, I'd go light on the extract or use a different fermenter (glass or stainless). Check out this thread.

Bastard Son Ruined My Carboy link


Might not be the same case with you, but felt you might need to know. Better safe that sorry.

 

[Firewalker11]

If you're using plastic fermenters, I'd go light on the extract or use a different fermenter (glass or stainless). Check out this thread.

Bastard Son Ruined My Carboy link


Might not be the same case with you, but felt you might need to know. Better safe that sorry.

NO KIDDING!!! I have a stainless steel keg that STILL smells like root-beer two years later!!!!

 

[Yesfan]

NO KIDDING!!! I have a stainless steel keg that STILL smells like root-beer two years later!!!!

Have any of your other beers from that fermenter have a root beerish taste/aroma?


I was thinking about brewing this beer at one time, then came across the thread with the ruined BMB fermenter. That and along with the possibility of future batches maybe retaining root beer residual has me second guessing.

 

[TNTurkey]

If you're using plastic fermenters, I'd go light on the extract or use a different fermenter (glass or stainless). Check out this thread.

Bastard Son Ruined My Carboy link


Might not be the same case with you, but felt you might need to know. Better safe that sorry.

That's bizarre! No offense to the OP, but I have to wonder if there weren't other factors involved. With all the stuff that we put in these fermenters, it's hard to believe that a little root beer flavor extract could do that much damage. I'd hate to think what it does to your gut!
Mine is glass.

 

[TNTurkey]

NO KIDDING!!! I have a stainless steel keg that STILL smells like root-beer two years later!!!!

Anybody had these problems with glass?
I'm seriously thinking about skipping both the flavor packet and the sweetener and drinking it as a lightly hopped stout.

 

[Firewalker11]

The good news is that we are going to make it again this summer and with a keg that smells like root-beer, its a no brainier. Maybe you just want to replace the fermenter with a new one after and keep this one for sodas and root beer?