Has anyone made bottled beer from HBB

[sadie33]

I was thinking I would like to make my husband some actual beer and I was thinking-why not take one of my HBB ferments and do it.

Has anyone done this and was it good?

He has made beer before (over 10 yrs ago). I had to look up the process and it seems the only difference is they ferment around 68* F and add priming sugar before bottling. I don't know, just seems like it might be good as a beer (though I don't like beer myself).

[still_stirrin]

Hops????

[sadie33]

yes, I guess I would add some hops, though he's not big on hops, he hates IPAs says they taste like pine trees.

I know there is a whole difference of process, I'm just wondering the grain bill, if anyone has used it for a beer.

I made cheese and do a lot of canning. SANITIZING is a HUGE part of all that. It has carried over to my stilling, though I know I don't have to, I sanitize EVERYTHING, it's just habit. I know that is big in beer making as well, not so much with stilling, but it seems HBB would be a good beer... Just wondering if it's been done and if it's good.

[Demy]

There are several things to consider with respect to a germ that will be distilled... I advise you to read some guides if you want to produce beer. It's a little difficult to explain in a message.

[bilgriss]

Making beer is more than just bottling a ferment. After a reasonable mash, there's a boil, inclusion of something for bittering and balance, then the ferment, clearing and bottling. Mash protocol is different, and sanitization of most steps beyond the boil is critical. Yeast choice has an impact on beer type. Lots more to learn.

There are some beers that use corn in them, usually at much lower percentages than a bourbon, such as cream ales or a number of mass produced american lagers.

[howie]

HBB is about 70% corn in the grain bill, so it would be 'interesting' experiment taste wise.
eg peroni has about 15-24% corn as an adjunct (taken from some peroni clones)
i use 90gm of hops in some beers, 190gm in XPA, they are used for bitterness & flavour depending on when they are added.
i must admit, i sometimes wonder when mashing Irish red ale, what it would be like distilled, and when making stout whiskey, whether to hop it after the mash and make a beer instead.

i would say, ask hubby what beer he likes, find a clone recipe and follow that.

[TwoSheds]

IF you're sanitizing like a brewer (or cheese maker, or canner) anyway I think you should make a HBB batch and set aside a bottle or two and see. I think it would be very interesting to taste a beer next to a bourbon from the same ferment, but I wouldn't expect it to make a great beer.

The high corn content and lack of hops were already mentioned, but also keep in mind that beer recipes have to consider residual sweetness (even if it's not a very sweet beer), head retention, body, acidity (of the end product), and a handful of other factors that as distillers we can practically ignore.

But you don't know until you try! I often have a few sips or even a small cup of my mashes. Usually I'm pleasantly surprised, but I don't remember any being really great drinks as-is.

TwoSheds

[BrewinBrian44]

HBB as a beer would not be good IMO. It’ll come across as thin and too attenuated. Hops are also important to keep the beer balanced.

That being said, you can make a HBB inspired beer. The bulk of the grain bill should be malted barley/wheat with corn making up a smaller portion of the grain bill. Keep the honey malt subtle, it goes A LONG WAY really quick in beer. Very intensely malty, but a welcome addition in certain styles.

I made a pale ale in the past with Maris Otter and Honey Malt and it was fantastic.

As others have noted: sanitation is critical!

[sadie33]

okay, I guess all this answers my question. Maybe I will pick up beer brewing in the summer when my distilling stops. Not that I need another summer hobby , but the mash just smells so good and looks so good, I thought why not beer? My husband is not into the hard stuff as much as I am. We'll have a mixed drink before we go to bed on the weekends, but he mostly drinks beer.

thanks again!

[BrewinBrian44]

Before getting into brewing, you should consider buying the book “how to brew.” Lots of great info in there. For the most part, it still holds up today.

[NormandieStill]

AG brewing was a hobby I got into because of distilling. Mashing for whisky is a lot more forgiving, especially if you're using external enzymes. And you need a big pot to boil your wort in (If you're not attempting a raw ale) which may not be equipment that crosses over from distilling (Just warning you that there's a real chance of you wanting more toys for brewing beer with ).

All that said, I would recommend it. There's an immediacy to beer brewing that you don't get so much in distilling or winemaking in that you can usually drink the fruits of your labour within 6 weeks.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

It has been done

viewtopic.php?p=7698900&hilit=

[sadie33]

It has been done

viewtopic.php?p=7698900&hilit=

thanks for the link!! that's awesome!!