Independent Thought Braggot Critique

[loveofrose]

Ok, I know it's a bit strange to post a Braggot on a beer board. Frankly, most mead makers know dick about beer. So I thought a critique from you guys would be more beneficial. You've always done a great job on beer, so why not Braggot?

To those of you who've not made mead, think of honey as the lightest pilsner malt LME you've ever had with 10x the aroma and no body.

Independent Thought Braggot

I'm going for a Braggot with unique character. Nice rich citrus aroma with a toasted caramel flavor that dries out with rye and ends with a nice orange blossom background.
Let me know how this sounds to ya:

Grain Bill
2 oz Aromatic Malt
2 oz Biscuit Malt
2 oz Crystal Malt 10L
2 oz Crystal Malt 20L
2 oz Rye
Hold at 160 F for 30 minutes.

Add 1 oz Citra Hops and boil for 5 minutes.
Cool wort.

Add 2 lbs Orange Blossom Honey.

Pitch a starter of Wyeast 1388.

OG 1.097
FG 1.004
ABV 12.2%
SRM 8.4

Carbonate with prime dose.

Any suggestions to improve this "thought"?




Better brewing through science!

 

[Teromous]

Have you used Citra in the past, or are you a fan of Citra beers? I only ask because it's one of those hop varieties that some people end up not liking.

Also, is this intended to have no bitterness (1oz @ 5min)? Hop schedules are like religion to people so each person will have their own opinion, but generally speaking (in a 60min boil) 60min would be around where you would put your bittering hops, 30min would be around where you would put your flavor, and your late addition hops are for aroma which you would put right at the end of the boil or even after knockout. As you add more sweetness to the beer from malts (and in this case honey) you use the bitterness to cut back on that a bit. The flavor addition tends to showcase the hop more, and while still adding bitterness it opens up the hop flavor to the beer. The aroma addition will still add flavor to the beer but it will usually require more hops to be added to really push the hop flavor.

I haven't made a braggot so these could be excellent choices, but I noticed nobody had commented yet. I hope it works out well for you. Post the results and some pictures!

 

[loveofrose]

Have you used Citra in the past, or are you a fan of Citra beers? I only ask because it's one of those hop varieties that some people end up not liking.

Also, is this intended to have no bitterness (1oz @ 5min)? Hop schedules are like religion to people so each person will have their own opinion, but generally speaking (in a 60min boil) 60min would be around where you would put your bittering hops, 30min would be around where you would put your flavor, and your late addition hops are for aroma which you would put right at the end of the boil or even after knockout. As you add more sweetness to the beer from malts (and in this case honey) you use the bitterness to cut back on that a bit. The flavor addition tends to showcase the hop more, and while still adding bitterness it opens up the hop flavor to the beer. The aroma addition will still add flavor to the beer but it will usually require more hops to be added to really push the hop flavor.

I haven't made a braggot so these could be excellent choices, but I noticed nobody had commented yet. I hope it works out well for you. Post the results and some pictures!

Thanks for your comments. I have used Citra before and find it compliments Orange Blossom honey in a profound way.

I was a beer brewer before I basically went balls to the wall mead maker. According to Beersmith, citra hops are 11%, so 5 minutes equates to 23 IBU. I find the honey character is generally lost past 20 IBU, therefore, I'm already pushing my comfort zone. You maybe right and it needs more. I just can't bring myself to do it. No worries. This won't be the last batch!


Better brewing through science!

 

[Kvasir]

How did it turn out?