priming sugar and flavors?

[ToddB]

Noob question alert! Do priming sugar as any flavor to the beer? I'm about ready to bottle my second batch, a Blue Moon clone, and wondered if priming with honey would add anything to final flavor of the beer.

 

[Yooper]

In general, no. The sugars in the priming solution ferment out and leave no flavor or aroma behind as a rule. There would be some cases, say maybe using lots of molasses, where a faint flavor might remain but not with honey or sugar or extract.

 

[ToddB]

Thanks Yooper.

So, if I wanted to do a honey wheat ale, when and how would I add the honey?

 

[Yooper]

Thanks Yooper.

So, if I wanted to do a honey wheat ale, when and how would I add the honey?

There are two ways to get a honey flavor in a beer. One is with honey, of course, and that is usually added at the end of the boil and/or in secondary. The thing is, the honey ferments out and leaves behind a very faint hint of honey at best.

A common way is to use brumalt, otherwise known as honey malt. A half pound, steeped with the other grains, makes a distinct honey flavor in the finished beer.

Honey malt + real honey in the recipe can make a very nice honey flavor in the finished beer.

 

[ToddB]

Thanks the info Yooper! It just shows me that I have a lot to learn!