How do I add more flavor to kits? or can I

[DrunkinIrish]

I just recently upgraded from my wimpy little Mr.Beer kit to a bright new shiny Brewers Best kit. For my first brew in my new kit I used the Brewers Best American Light kit, I wanted to add an apple flavor to the beer so I peeled and baked some apples with brown sugar and cinnamon and added the mixture to my wort at the same time as my aroma hops. The end product was a good beer but it didn't have the apple flavor I was hoping for, did I just add the apples at the wrong time or should i have added allot more that the ten that i did. Any kind of feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Rev2010]

Take this with a grain of salt as I'm a noob. But maybe something like fruit extract flavoring like so:

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/apple-extract-4-oz.html

would've worked better than whole apples. Or maybe some canned apple goods or something. Again, you might want to ignore me until the experienced guys kick in. But something about whole apples just doesn't seem like it would really work the same way.


Rev.

 

[trevorc13]

Not too sure about apples, but I think the general rule with fruit is to add a pound per gallon to the secondary.

 

[DrunkinIrish]

Not too sure about apples, but I think the general rule with fruit is to add a pound per gallon to the secondary.

Ok I'm still pretty new at this so when you say secondary what do you mean. Sorry still learning the terminology.

 

[butler1244]

Secondary fermenter...typically when adding oak chips, fruit, or honey, most people will transfer from primary to a secondary carboy or bucket once primary fermentation has subsided. Usually takes a week or two, just use your hydrometer and once your readings are the same for a couple days it mean its done(of course, check what FG should be for that kit) and you can transfer. Add the apple mix to the carboy, then rack onto it and let that sit a few weeks, depending on the style.

I'm a new brewer so that explanation may not be great, but that's from what I've read in other forums and online articles.

 

[DrunkinIrish]

Thanks butler, I guess that means that I need to go buy a secondary. Just kind of diving deeper into the same subject, if i wanted to add chocolate flavor to a stout would I do it the same way. Or would that be added directly to the wort? And what would I use to add chocolate flavor, I saw a bottle of chocolate flavoring at my brewing store and I would guess that cocoa powder would work as a flavoring also but I don't want the powder to prevent fermentation and i also don't want to waste my money on the stuff from the store by putting it in at the wrong time.

 

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Several guys around here have used the chocolate flavoring and the cocoa powder with success. Just a quick tip here, don't just pour your wort from your primary to your secondary when/if you get one. You'll need to siphon it in to the secondary. You don't want to introduce oxygen into your beer once it's fermenting and conditioning. Just do a quick search in this forum for cocoa and you'll find some recipes.