honey brown recipe thoughts

[yumbrownies]

Working on a honey brown recipe. Here’s what I’m thinking at present:

7# amber LME

Steeping grains: (30 min at 160*)
8oz extra dark crystal
8oz honey malt
4oz chocolate malt
4oz biscuit malt

Hops (pellet):
1oz Challenger @ 60
.5oz Fuggles @20
.5oz Fuggles @5

OR
Willamette instead of Challenger
OR
All Fuggles

Yeast: Wyeast 1098 British Ale OR 1335 British Ale II


Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[brockettbrews]

i would add honey during my secondary.

 

[yumbrownies]

Wouldn't adding honey just start the fermentation back up and cause the beer to dry out? I was under the impression that most of the time you try to get honey flavors from the malts rather than from actual honey.

 

[IffyG]

I'd be cautious with the honey malt. I did a honey brown and used 4 ounces of honey malt and it was almost cloying. I'd probably go with 2 to start and if you really dig it add more on a rebrew.

 

[smalliewader]

Interesting...I did a honey brown with a full pound of honey malt and the flavor was barely even noticeable.

 

[yumbrownies]

Yeah, I've heard different things about honey malt. Haven't used it before so I'm relying on other peoples' experiences, and it sort of seemed like the rough consensus was that half a pound in a 5 gal batch was an acceptable amount. I suppose it could depend on what else you having going on in terms of hops and dark malts. I'm kind of thinking of going to a light/golden LME and upping the chocolate a tad.

 

[LTownLiquorPig]

How'd this project go? I'm looking for a recipe for a honey brown to brew for a buddy's wedding this summer, and I don't have a clue where to start.

 

[yumbrownies]

How'd this project go? I'm looking for a recipe for a honey brown to brew for a buddy's wedding this summer, and I don't have a clue where to start.

It turned out great. Dark brown, slightly sweet and roasty. Actually brewed it for my own wedding this summer and it was a big hit. Here's the recipe I ended up going with (5 gal batch):

7# golden light LME (added at start of boil)

Steep for 30min:
4oz C-40
6oz C-160ish ("extra dark crystal")
6oz pale chocolate 225
4oz special roast
4oz special B
6oz gambrinus honey

60min boil (~4gal)
1oz Wilamette pellets @ T=0
.5oz Fuggles @ T=40
.5oz Fuggles @ T=55

Wyeast 1335

OG: 1.056
FG: 1.016