Muntons Premium Mexican Cerevaza

[Daydo]

Alrite Ladz,

New thread for my new Brew... I like Corona nd though I try this kit...
Started this Brew bout 2 wks ago.... 
Did the usual basics sterilized nd cleaned nd rinsed... Used 1 kg light spraymalt
My OG was 1037 nd after 10 Days it dropped to 1015... I transferred into 2nd Fv to let it settle a bit more....

So we are at day 15 rite now nd like to start bottling soon, did invest in 15x 750ml swing top bottles and look forward to sumwhat easier bottling process....

Anybody's got any thoughts on using honey for priming just to give a very light hint of honey to the beer... Any advice greatly appreciated ?!?

[Parky]

Hi Daydo,

I've only used honey during primary fermentation before, and even a full jar (454g) didn't add a lot in terms of honey flavour, just a smoothness to the taste (if even that). But here are a few thoughts which may help you -

1 The amount of honey used in priming wouldn't really be enough to impart a honey flavour. It's also not going to add any additional sweetness, as the sugars will all be fermented into alcohol and CO2. So it may just end up being a more expensive priming option (when compared to table sugar, for example).

That particular kit is fairly neutral in flavour when brewed with just sugar, but the addition of the spraymalt may just dominate, and drown out any subtle flavour the honey might have brought.

Palmer's guide has some comments to make on priming with honey here - http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter11-3.html

2 If you do use honey to prime I would certainly 'batch prime' (i.e. add the all honey to the entire batch, rather than individually to each bottle), as measuring and adding the amounts required, bottle by bottle, is going to be a messy business, and difficult to get consistent.

You can find a priming calculator in the link below, which will help you roughly calculate the amount required. But do check the sugar content on the side of your jar, as different honey contains different proportions of water and sugars - http://www.brewheads.com/priming.php

3 I've made this kit before with spraymalt and found it a bit too malty, without that refreshing 'bite' I get from Corona. If brewing again I would have used something like Cooper's Brew Enhancer 1, as this won't contribute a lot to the flavour.

That's my two cents anyway - but why not use this opportunity to experiment - prime half your bottles with table sugar, the other half with honey, and see if there is any noticeable difference in flavour. Afterall, this is supposed to fun 

Let us know how it goes!

[Daydo]

Hey Parky,

Cheers for your reply nd all the info ye gave... The links are very helpful....
I def will not be doing a honey prime as I found Spraymalt overpowering in my last beer nd wasn't aware of it's impact when I started this brew as I didn't get chance too due to making rookie mistake of starting the brews so close together...

I mite try it in another batch as I will be cutting down the spray it's not completely to my liking....

If ye don't mind me picking ur brain, what ur thoughts on adding good vanilla extract to primary or secondary ferm... Cheers

[Parky]

No problem Daydo, I did exactly the same thing with the spraymalt too, doh! 

In my experience adding any flavour addition needs to be approached with caution - very easy to over do it, and vanilla is a powerful flavour at the best of times. I've added any flavour additions to my brews after primary fermentation has finished, although others here may have different approaches, but I've found that's what's worked for me.

A simple approach is to siphon off a measured amount of your fermented beer (maybe 200ml), and add a drop of your extract. Let it sit awhile for the flavours to merge and give it a taste. If it's too strong then maybe try one drop in 400ml instead, or if it's too weak then try two drops in 200ml - you get the idea, keep testing until it tastes right and then scale that amount up to the size of your full batch.

For example, if one drop in 500ml tasted good, then you know to add 40 drops to a 20 litre batch.

The flavour additions also depend on the style of beer your making, I know vanilla can work well in porters and stouts, but maybe not lighter beers. Personally, I'd keep it nice and simple, and follow the adage that 'less is usually more'. 

[Daydo]

Alrite Ladz,

I thought I put up an update on my brew.... Bulk priming worked perfectly nd beer is tasty 😄...
Not as malty as the last batch (wheat beer) but great head retention, beer is clear nd crisp...

Def impressed with this Munton kit nd would recommend to giv a try....

I would say tho not to use 1kg spraymalt nd maybe do a 50/50 or even use Muntons beer enhancing kit...

Slainte 😜

[Parky]

Thanks for the update Daydo! Glad the brew worked out well for you in the end, and it'll only get better with time 

[Daydo]

Cheers Parky,

I def happy with this brew nd would recommend .....

Slain te 😄

[Ratoathbrewing]

Howya Daydo - I got this kit for Christmas and expect to start brewing it next week, so all of the above is really helpful & interesting.
I'm gonna go 500g spray malt and 500g sugar - what do you reckon?
Do you like your end result?
Cheers

[LordEoin]

i wouldnt go with the 500g sugar.
1kg of spray malt would be better.
or lower the final volume to 20 liters and use 500g spraymalt and up to 250-300g sgar

[Daydo]

Hey Rathoath,

We u say sugar u mean brewing sugar or plain ?? I assume it is the 1st nd not the latter... Normal beet sugar is possible but regarded more as a no no due to various people personnel experience nd advice...
I am fairly new to home brewing nd could only advise on personal experience....

I def found the 1kg spraymalt too rich in the final product with the process I used... That is my personal view ....

I would hav said do a 50/50 mix with malt nd sugar but of course lordeoin has more experience nd could well be rite...

There is no completely wrong or completely rite... I call it the 80/20 rule ... U hav only control over 80% of the process ( ingredients, water, cleanliness nd process etc) rest 20% is out of ur hand.... Taste is always a matter of opinion....

[LordEoin]

let pareto guide you, young padawan

[Ratoathbrewing]

Cheers lads - yep I mant brewing sugar . Great advice , hopefully it goes well!

[Ratoathbrewing]

Gents a question about this
Started on Wednesday but bubbles slowed down yesterday ( Saturday) and pretty much stopped this morning. Also due to the weather overnight it looks like the temp dipped to 16/17
Am I screwed?

[Daydo]

Hey rathoath,

Did you use the kit yeast ?? Ye def not screwed just yet yeast might have just gone asleep.

I used this my self noticed it slowed down fairly quickly after 4 days and stopped day 6, my temps were 19-20c tho...

Try raised the temp to 20c for 2 days and if yeast not restarts and FG stays same i says your pretty safe