Recipe Explanation need

[rpalmer1392]

All,

I am getting ready to brew my first extract brew! No more kits! I have enclosed the following recipe and had a couple questions. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Honey Amber

Beer Style: honey amber, lager
Recipe Type: extract

Description:

Ingredients:
6.5 pounds Amber extract (2 cans if using cans)
2 cups honey
1 pound crystal malt
1.5 ounces Hallertauer hops (boil
0.5 ounces Hallertauer hops (finishing)
Wyeast #1056 (American)
5/8 cup honey (priming)

Procedure:
Heat water to 160 degrees and steep malt for 30 minutes. Remove grains and heat to
boiling. Add extract and honey and return to boil. Add boiling hops and boil for 45 minutes.
Add finishing hops and boil for 15 minutes. Cool and pitch yeast (I used a starter). When
active fermentation subsides rack to secondary. Leave in secondary for 4 weeks. When
ready to bottle boil honey with pint of water for 10 minutes and prime


1. Are boil hops and finishing hops the same? According to the recipe it look like it.

2. does the honey act as the priming agent?

3. for steep with 1lb of grain should I add 1.5 quarts water?

4. For boil should I add 2.5 gallons water?

Thanks for the feedback in advance.

 

[Mugsfull]

All,

[/B]1. Are boil hops and finishing hops the same? According to the recipe it look like it.

2. does the honey act as the priming agent?

3. for steep with 1lb of grain should I add 1.5 quarts water?

4. For boil should I add 2.5 gallons water?[/B]

Thanks for the feedback in advance.

1. Boil hops - Usually boil for 60 mins. recipe says 45 thats fine. Flavor hops are around 15 - 20 mins remaining and Aroma are 0 - 5 mins. Thats just a rule of thumb.

2. Yes, the Honey is your priming agent. Boil as described and add to your bottling bucket.

3. 1.5 qts of water is fine for the steep.

4. Your boiling water volume isn't critical in extract brewing. Boil as much as your stove top can manage. 2.5 - 3 gallons are fine.

On a side note. I would skip the secondary and just leave it in the primary for 3 - 4 weeks.

 

[Sippin37]

I could be wrong here but there are a few options for the honey. You can throw it in when you do the Amber extract (wont give you much honey flavor, rather just boost alcohol and maybe dry out the brew a little), throw it in at the end of the boil or flameout (this will give you more honey flavor and aroma than the first option), toss it in the primary fermenter after fermentation is complete (this will give you the most aroma/flavor but I don't think 2 cups would be nearly enough, I usually see people doing 1-2 lbs. per 5 gal batch for this method), or you can do as Mugsfull said and actual use the honey as your priming agent when you go to bottle (should impart aroma). If you are going to the last option then use this link to reach your desired volume of Co2 and select honey as your priming sugar. Hope this helps!

http://www.brewheads.com/priming.php

 

[HerbieHowells]

1. Boil hops - Usually boil for 60 mins. recipe says 45 thats fine. Flavor hops are around 15 - 20 mins remaining and Aroma are 0 - 5 mins. Thats just a rule of thumb.

I think you are misreading the recipe. As I read it, you add the "boil" hops, boil for 45 minutes, then added the flavor hops, and boil for an additional 15 minutes. So the "boil" hops are in there for the full 60 minutes. Everything else is correct, though. The acids that add bitterness to the beer are gradually released over the entire boil. The essential oils that contribute hop flavor will evaporate if left in the pot for more than 20 minutes or so, so any flavor has to come from hops added in the last 15 minutes of the boil. The essential oils that contribute hop aroma will evaporate in an even shorter period of time, so any aroma has to come from hops added at the very end of the boil.

 

[rpalmer1392]

Okay, thanks. So are flavoring hops and bittering hops in this case the same?

 

[rpalmer1392]

I could be wrong here but there are a few options for the honey. You can throw it in when you do the Amber extract (wont give you much honey flavor, rather just boost alcohol and maybe dry out the brew a little), throw it in at the end of the boil or flameout (this will give you more honey flavor and aroma than the first option), toss it in the primary fermenter after fermentation is complete (this will give you the most aroma/flavor but I don't think 2 cups would be nearly enough, I usually see people doing 1-2 lbs. per 5 gal batch for this method), or you can do as Mugsfull said and actual use the honey as your priming agent when you go to bottle (should impart aroma). If you are going to the last option then use this link to reach your desired volume of Co2 and select honey as your priming sugar. Hope this helps!

http://www.brewheads.com/priming.php

Okay, so if I wanted tp go with the last option for more honey flavor would I only add the honey for the priming agent?

Also as far as the hops go, they are the same product correct? I just add them in different amounts at different times?

 

[humulene]

Okay, thanks. So are flavoring hops and bittering hops in this case the same?

Yes. This recipe uses Hallertau hops for both bittering and flavor. Good luck!

 

[HerbieHowells]

Okay, so if I wanted tp go with the last option for more honey flavor would I only add the honey for the priming agent?

Also as far as the hops go, they are the same product correct? I just add them in different amounts at different times?

The recipe calls for two honey additions. It calls for two cups to be added during the boil, and 5/8 to be added at bottling for priming. So add the 2 cups during the boil, then use the 5/8 at priming.

You are understanding the hops correctly. When your wort reaches a boil, you are going to add 1.5 oz of Hallertauer hops. You should then set your timer for 45 minutes. When the timer goes of, add the additional .5 oz of Hallertauer hops, but do not remove the 1.5 oz addition. Re set the timer for 15 minutes. When the timer goes off this time, turn the heat off. So you have 1.5 oz of Hallertauer hops in the boil for 60 minutes, and an additional .5 oz of Hallertauer hops in the boil for 15 minutes.