Frosted Flakes cream ale experiment

[Stormcrow]

While I wait for ingredients to arrive for my next "legit" brew, I'm planning on doing a little experiment. I've got a little pale malt left, so I had my wife pick up some generic frosted flakes from the grocery store to incorporate into a quick small batch.

As it stands, the 2.5 gallon recipe is
4 lbs. Pale malt
12 oz. Frosted flakes
4 oz. Flaked oats
Bitter with Simcoe (have it laying around) to around 20 ibus.

I've heard it both ways as far as what to expect from the cereal, but since I haven't found a whole lot on HBT in the way of experience with it, I thought I'd log my experience here for anyone interested.

Hoping to brew it tomorrow.
Any last minute advice besides "don't do it!"?

 

[Deadalus]

Tony says it can't be great if it's generic.

 

[Stormcrow]

It

Tony says it can't be great if it's generic.

Would be just my luck that this would somehow be the difference between this beer being awesome or a dumper.

 

[day_trippr]

wth - is there a full moon out tonight?

 

[bracconiere]

aparently today is the day for creative brewing! or tomorrow, whatever. make your plans now!

 

[Stormcrow]

Anybody interested in a blind taste test between mine and the waffle guy's?

 

[DuncB]

Why frosted flakes?
If you want a maize flaked substitute then just use normal cornflakes, they aren't identical to flaked maize as they are toasted.

If you need the extra gravity points just add some plain sugar.

I believe there are ingredients in cornflakes that might reduce head retention.

 

[bracconiere]

Anybody interested in a blind taste test between mine and the waffle guy's?

well i don't know what size batch he's planing, but your punny 2.5 wouldn't be enough for me to really get a feel for it!

 

[Stormcrow]

Why frosted flakes?
If you want a maize flaked substitute then just use normal cornflakes, they aren't identical to flaked maize as they are toasted.

If you need the extra gravity points just add some plain sugar.

I believe there are ingredients in cornflakes that might reduce head retention.

I hear ya. First thought was regular corn flakes, but thought this might be fun for a couple more gravity points. I've heard the concern about head retention. Thought the oats might help a little. If it's an oil or chemical thing though, probably not.

 

[bracconiere]

I've heard the concern about head retention.

LOL, seriously? you're brewing with frosted flakes, and worried about the head you'll get?

 

[Stormcrow]

Not worried... scientifically interested.

 

[bkboiler]

If you're just looking for a particular flavor I'd try to do that with ingredients which you know how they'll work.
I do make my cream ale with flaked maize, lactose and vanilla bean. It tastes awesome to me, but isnt for everyone. Is that what you're trying to achieve? Like a "cream soda" kinda thing?

 

[Stormcrow]

If you're just looking for a particular flavor I'd try to do that with ingredients which you know how they'll work.
I do make my cream ale with flaked maize, lactose and vanilla bean. It tastes awesome to me, but isnt for everyone. Is that what you're trying to achieve? Like a "cream soda" kinda thing?

Just having some fun. Like I said, I'm kinda between brews right now and waiting on ingredients. I think I heard about this kind of thing on a podcast or something. I'm just calling it a cream ale because that's the closest thing.

 

[DuncB]

Around the second world war brewers in UK encouraged to use oats in their bitters, plenty of uk bitters have pale malt and flaked maize in them,
so you could say it's tending towards a retro British ale with a " different " hop.
I did use cornflakes in a Spitfire bitter clone, took ages to clear but not totally blaming it on the cornflakes, could have been the windsor ale yeast that seemed to go on and on. All the bottles are overcarbed now.

 

[bracconiere]

Not worried... scientifically interested.

lol, we need a malt-o-meal brew plan for tonight too! i looked out to see if there was a full moon, but it does look like there's a planet aligned!

but i'm all for monday morning breakfast plans if it involves beer!

 

[DuncB]

@bracconiere
Pop round I'll get a brew on but do hurry, by the time you get to me from Arizona having done the impossible and got a place in managed isolation, the borders are closed, ( only for NZ citizens at the moment ) and they have a several month waiting list plus done the 2 weeks in the hotel the beer will be
a) ready
b) Finished
c) Gone off

PS disgruntled non kiwi stuck in lockdown.

But time to brew!

 

[bracconiere]

by the time you get to me from Arizona

i'd be jet jagged and it'd be breakfast beer all day for a few days right? something new everyday! waffles, corn flakes, malt-o-meal! it'd be fun!

 

[BongoYodeler]

@Stormcrow just do it!! Smaller batch experiments are fun. May or may not turn out but I applaud your sense of adventure. I for one want to hear how this turns out.

 

[Miraculix]

@Stormcrow just do it!! Smaller batch experiments are fun. May or may not turn out but I applaud your sense of adventure. I for one want to hear how this turns out.

#metoo

 

[Beermeister32]

If you start adding things with preservatives, it can affect, retard or stop the fermentation process. I’d run a 1 gallon pilot batch first to make sure it is going to work.

 

[Stormcrow]

If you start adding things with preservatives, it can affect, retard or stop the fermentation process. I’d run a 1 gallon pilot batch first to make sure it is going to work.

Thanks, I'll check that out.

 

[bwible]

wth - is there a full moon out tonight?

No, I think homebrewers are just a creative and eccentric lot in general. I’ve said it many times - some need to learn that just because you CAN do something doesn’t always mean you should. I love Herrs Cheese Curls but have never thought about making beer with them.

I always thought the worst categories to judge in a homebrew contest are herb, spice, and vegetable beer or the much dreaded experimental category.

Somebody out there is probably planning a chocolate chicken chipotle porter as we speak.

 

[Miraculix]

No, I think homebrewers are just a creative and eccentric lot in general. I’ve said it many times - some need to learn that just because you CAN do something doesn’t always mean you should. I love Herrs Cheese Curls but have never thought about making beer with them.

I always thought the worst categories to judge in a homebrew contest are herb, spice, and vegetable beer or the much dreaded experimental category.

Somebody out there is probably planning a chocolate chicken chipotle porter as we speak.

Herbal can be ok. But sometimes I wake up at night, shaking and sweaty still tasting the bacon milkshake neipa I just dreamed of....

 

[Stormcrow]

No, I think homebrewers are just a creative and eccentric lot in general. I’ve said it many times - some need to learn that just because you CAN do something doesn’t always mean you should. I love Herrs Cheese Curls but have never thought about making beer with them.

I always thought the worst categories to judge in a homebrew contest are herb, spice, and vegetable beer or the much dreaded experimental category.

Somebody out there is probably planning a chocolate chicken chipotle porter as we speak.

Ironically, I'm not one who really goes in for unusual flavored beer or ones brewed with weird ingredients. This will certainly be the strangest one I've done to date. I'm not out to prove this will make a great beer or anything. I just know that flaked corn is a common beer adjuct and that this cereal is a similar product. My interest lies in finding out whether the differences between the two are the difference between a passable beer and garbage. I have plenty of good beer in the fridge if anyone is concerned for me, and will be back to "normal brewing" this weekend.

 

[Stormcrow]

If you start adding things with preservatives, it can affect, retard or stop the fermentation process. I’d run a 1 gallon pilot batch first to make sure it is going to work.

The generic label is pretty similar, but it interestingly doesn't list BHT as an ingredient. Some of the other things listed may be preservatives for all I know, but I looked up BHT to see what it actually does. Apparently it's an antioxidant that protects fatty acid and oils from reacting with oxygen. It removes free radicals. I don't think that ingredient in particular would hurt fermentation much, but I don't know about all those other acids listed.
I tried to upload the ingredients label here but couldn't. The cereal is Great Value brand Frosted Flakes if anyone cares enough to look it up.

 

[Beermeister32]

Give it a try and let us know how it turns out... ! We are thirsty....

 

[Dancy]

I do make my cream ale with flaked maize, lactose and vanilla bean.

I’d be interested in your recipe!

 

[Gusso]

I've toyed with the idea of making a Capn Crunch beer but I haven't done so yet.

 

[BongoYodeler]

I've toyed with the idea of making a Capn Crunch beer but I haven't done so yet.

I've kicked around the idea of making a small batch ipa adding Fruity Pebbles. We should all get together and release a Breakfast Series.

 

[DuncB]

Might consider some milk to go with the frosted flakes!