Making another tweak to the Golden Stout Extract Recipe Kit

[beer-me-now]

1 Gallon Golden Stout Recipe Kit from Craft A Brew:

3.75oz American Smoked Malt & Flaked Oat Blend - Specialty Grains
1.25lb Pilsen - DME
0.35oz Willamette Hops
0.20oz Goldings Hops
4oz Lactose
1.00oz Coffee Beans
1.00oz Cacao Nibs

My intention is to substitute some Gambrinus honey malt into the above specialty grains and plan to go with the commonly recommended max usage of 10%. Would this mean I should look to discard 0.375oz of the already mixed specialty grain blend and replace it with 0.375oz honey malt?

For the purposes of learning more and understanding my beer science, what would the repercussions be if I just add 0.4oz of honey malt to the specialty grain bringing the total weight of specialty grain to 4.15oz? In my mind I believe this might create an unbalanced flavor profile between the hops and malt and also possibly since there is more grain there will be more sugar for the yeast which I believe will create higher alcohol content of finished product. Am I correct about any of those predictions at all? Is there anything else I missing in this instance with my lack of knowledge?

I am hoping to move beyond "tweaking" existing recipes into creating some of my own but so far this seems to be the easiest way for me to understand what's going on each step of the way.

 

[tri_clamp_ninja]

I use honey malt frequently I love it (it's taking every IPA I've made to a new level). If you simply add it you will increase your og and body and will add some extra sweetness to your beer. If you sub it you won't see much of a change besides some residual sweetness and minor color change, if any. Honey malt doesn't ferment much (if at all) so it's more color and flavor changes. If you add it and not sub it then you may see an increase in the malt side of the beer but it's a malt forward beer anyway so you should be fine.

 

[beer-me-now]

I use honey malt frequently I love it (it's taking every IPA I've made to a new level). If you simply add it you will increase your og and body and will add some extra sweetness to your beer. If you sub it you won't see much of a change besides some residual sweetness and minor color change, if any. Honey malt doesn't ferment much (if at all) so it's more color and flavor changes. If you add it and not sub it then you may see an increase in the malt side of the beer but it's a malt forward beer anyway so you should be fine.

Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'm just going to add instead of sub.

I'm not a huge IPA fan but always keep an open mind, honey malt in IPA sounds interesting. Are there any commercial examples of this I should look out for and taste?

 

[tri_clamp_ninja]

Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'm just going to add instead of sub.

I'm not a huge IPA fan but always keep an open mind, honey malt in IPA sounds interesting. Are there any commercial examples of this I should look out for and taste?

I'm not aware of any commercial examples of an IPA with honey malt besides mine haha. My brewery only distributes in Volusia County FL so if you ever find yourself near Daytona Beach FL shoot me a PM and I'll buy you one! Not to say other commercial IPAs don't use honey malt, it's more so that I don't know of any off hand.

 

[beer-me-now]

I'm not aware of any commercial examples of an IPA with honey malt besides mine haha. My brewery only distributes in Volusia County FL so if you ever find yourself near Daytona Beach FL shoot me a PM and I'll buy you one! Not to say other commercial IPAs don't use honey malt, it's more so that I don't know of any off hand.

Cheers!