Adding honey to kits

[MattyG]

I'm about to start my second kit, Fixby Gold. I'm wondering about honey, I like honey ales such as Enville ale and Bumble bee so is it possible to give a honey flavour to kits by adding honey, and if so when to add it? I've searched a bit and it seems that adding honey to prime barrel is not uncommon. But how much a honey flavour does this give? has any one tried it? Also i want to know if its possible to add honey at the primary stage, or does this make it all go wrong? This is only my second brew so am I trying to run before I can walk or is experimentation the way foreward?

Any thoughts please,

Matt

[Hoppkins]

As i understand honey doesn't give it's flavour up easily. I was under the impression it had to be boiled into a mix. I'm not suire if just adding will do.

I know some of the Ag brewers make hoiney beers like Waggledance. They will know better

[eskimobob]

I've made a few AG beers with added honey - boiling it for the last few minutes. I've found that I have to add quite a lot to get a nice strong honey flavour in the finished brew.

Here are a couple of like to my brews:

Waggle Dance Clone

Bumble Bee Clone

I definitely prefer the BB clone and will be doing it again in the next few weeks.

[iowalad]

eskimobob,
Thanks for the Waggledance recipe. I rather liked waggledance (the Youngs version) on cask. I bought a couple bottles here and was rather disappointed in it.

I have also heard that it is a shadow of its former self (when Vaux brewed it).

Based on what I have read and my attempts at honey ale I agree the shorter the boil time for the honey the more the honey sweetness comes thru.

I think I will try your recipe for this summer.

[Hoppkins]

Yeah Waggledance was ace back in the day

[MattyG]

I've not tried youngs waggle dance on cask, but I do remember having quite a lot of Vaux waggle dance in the blue bell in york one evening. Mmmm a good night that was... I think i'm gonna put a couple of ounces of honey in the primary, a couple of mins boiling, then i'll prime keg with honey too and see what happens. I let you know how it tastes

Thanks for the advice

P.S anybody have a recipe for a Bathams clone.. (black country ale)

[Garth]

MattyG, do you mean Batemans or Batham?

I have a recipe for Batemans Dark Mild, Willie Warmer and their XXXB

and I also have one for Batham Best Bitter

let me know and I'll post it up

[MattyG]

Garth, I realy do mean bathams altough batemans is also nice, batham best bitter and bathams best bitter may be the same thing. Its a pale and distinctive very hoppy and bitter beer that I just cant get up here in york. Being a Black counrty lad (Dudley) I can only get it when i visit my folks. so I thought i could try and make my own.

try this link http://www.bathams.co.uk/

cheers

Matt

[Garth]

ok then, here you go

Batham Best Bitter

23 litres
OG 1043.5 FG 1010
30 EBU
ABV 4.5%

Pale Malt 4900g

Mash Liquor 12 litres
Mash Time 90 mins
Mash Temp 65 C

Fuggles 33g (90 mins)
Northdown 28g (90 mins)
Fuggles 12g (15 mins)
Goldings 2g (dry hops in cask)

Boil 90 mins

Yeast of your choice