Liquid flavor Adding

[MSUCatBrewer]

Hi all,



Getting ready to bottle my 4th batch; all extract (moving to all grain this summer, but am loving extract brewing).



My LHBS only carries Brewers Best kits and despite some Luke warm reviews on here...I've found them to be very successful.



I am preparing to bottle a Toasted Coconut Cream Ale. The instructions say to add the coconut flavoring to the priming sugar/h2o solution stovetop; here's my question...



I've settled on the following process...



1) Summer priming sugar/h2o

2) Cool

3) Pour solution in bottom of bottling bucket

4) Siphon beer into bucket, letting natural motion do the stirring for me...no manual stirring.



Would you recommend this process knowing the flavoring is in with the sugar? Do you think the flavoring will evenly distribute? It stands to reason it will as I trust this process to evenly distribute the sugar when bottling. Should I follow the instructions, or add the flavoring in a different manner?


Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[RedlegEd]

Hi all,
Getting ready to bottle my 4th batch; all extract (moving to all grain this summer, but am loving extract brewing).
My LHBS only carries Brewers Best kits and despite some Luke warm reviews on here...I've found them to be very successful.
I am preparing to bottle a Toasted Coconut Cream Ale. The instructions say to add the coconut flavoring to the priming sugar/h2o solution stovetop; here's my question...
I've settled on the following process...
1) Summer priming sugar/h2o
2) Cool
3) Pour solution in bottom of bottling bucket
4) Siphon beer into bucket, letting natural motion do the stirring for me...no manual stirring.
Would you recommend this process knowing the flavoring is in with the sugar? Do you think the flavoring will evenly distribute? It stands to reason it will as I trust this process to evenly distribute the sugar when bottling. Should I follow the instructions, or add the flavoring in a different manner? Thoughts? Thanks!

Hi. No need to cool your priming/flavor mix. Once you've boiled it, go ahead and put it in the bottling bucket and rack your beer on top as you planned, careful not to splash and oxygenate. Bottle as normal. The little bit of hot priming solution will be immediately cooled down by your beer. Ed

 

[brewprint]

You're saying that you will boil the flavoring with the sugar water?

 

[MSUCatBrewer]

You're saying that you will boil the flavoring with the sugar water?

Per the instructions, yes.

 

[MSUCatBrewer]

You're saying that you will boil the flavoring with the sugar water?

Per the instructions, yes. I know sometimes the instructions are silly...alternate thoughts?

 

[brewprint]

Per the instructions, yes. I know sometimes the instructions are silly...alternate thoughts?

I've never boiled flavoring. Simply add to the keg as it's being filled up. In your case, the bottling bucket.

I guess that you could boil it with the priming solution. I suppose it's being overkill in case of an infection.

 

[IslandLizard]

Do not boil flavorings! They'll turn bitter, and also change the way they're intended to taste.

 

[Xernex]

I'll assume the flavor packet in the kit is probably the same as the coconut flavoring that Brewers best sells in their 4 ounce bottles. I typically add it to my beer when i need an extra coconut kick...or don't feel like toasting 5 lbs of coconut flakes..

Personally I never boil heat or think twice about it, and typically add it after fermentation, little by little tasking until I get it right. I'd say get your priming sugar ready rack, add the flavor in the bucket at the same time, but don't heat the flavor - rack on top, add more flavor if you think it's needed - if possible.

 

[Morrey]

Sometimes I have added the flavor pouch a kit includes only to find it was well over what I personally would have added w/o a kit. An example of this was hazelnut in a brown ale, and the extract pouch was wayyyy too much for me. Add slowly, taste as you add.

 

[MSUCatBrewer]

I'll assume the flavor packet in the kit is probably the same as the coconut flavoring that Brewers best sells in their 4 ounce bottles. I typically add it to my beer when i need an extra coconut kick...or don't feel like toasting 5 lbs of coconut flakes..

Personally I never boil heat or think twice about it, and typically add it after fermentation, little by little tasking until I get it right. I'd say get your priming sugar ready rack, add the flavor in the bucket at the same time, but don't heat the flavor - rack on top, add more flavor if you think it's needed - if possible.

Yep! It's a 4 oz bottle. They say 2oz for mild flavor, all 4 for strong. I'm guessing all 4 oz is pretty darned strong.

 

[MSUCatBrewer]

Sometimes I have added the flavor pouch a kit includes only to find it was well over what I personally would have added w/o a kit. An example of this was hazelnut in a brown ale, and the extract pouch was wayyyy too much for me. Add slowly, taste as you add.

What is the best method to taste as I add? I don't want to be stirring in flavoring I'm adding because I may introduce oxygen to the wort...correct? But in order to incorporate extra flavoring after racking I'd have to stir and taste. Can your guide me on this please?

Thanks!

 

[Xernex]

Yep! It's a 4 oz bottle. They say 2oz for mild flavor, all 4 for strong. I'm guessing all 4 oz is pretty darned strong.

4 oz is incredibly strong - it's also a bit chemical to me...it's got the sun-tan lotion smell to it, and that taste comes through a bit if you use too much. My last coconut stout used about half a bottle, with a ton of toasted coconut as well...BUT i wanted a "holy crap coconut" beer

 

[MSUCatBrewer]

4 oz is incredibly strong - it's also a bit chemical to me...it's got the sun-tan lotion smell to it, and that taste comes through a bit if you use too much. My last coconut stout used about half a bottle, with a ton of toasted coconut as well...BUT i wanted a "holy crap coconut" beer

So you think a 1/2 bottle for a 5 gallon batch would be pleasantly coconut-y without being overpowering or chemical-y?

 

[Xernex]

Most likely, but as with everything, your mileage may vary - I'd start there, possibly even less, and add as you go.

 

[MSUCatBrewer]

Most likely, but as with everything, your mileage may vary - I'd start there, possibly even less, and add as you go.

Terrific. Thanks!

 

[Xernex]

NP - Enjoy and let us know how it turns out!

 

[Morrey]

Very few extracts equal fruit or food product flavors like the real deal. But for now, add some (maybe up to half) the extract in your bottling bucket or keg and rack beer on top. If you need more, stir gently as not to introduce O2 unnecessarily.

Toasted natural coconut can be put into muslin bags and dry hopped in the primary or secondary after fermentation for flavor infusion. Another method is to cover the coconut with vodka and let that sit a week. Strain and use the tincture in your beer.

Your current extract may be ok once it mellows in your beer so don't give up hope...just add sparingly.

 

[Neil humphreys]

I’ve got a Mr beer keg style fermenter with the tap on it. When it comes to bottling I just add a small amount of priming sugar to each bottle and fill it up from the tap and cap it off. How would I go about adding a liquid chocolate flavor to it if i’m not using a bottling bucket?