Questions tagged [additives]

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Sanitizing additives (herbs)

I’m brewing Albea Cerevisiae - an old polish recipe for a white beer with herbs. I added some herbs to the boil, but didn’t get much of the flavor and aroma I wanted. Now I want to dry-herb my beer in ...
user13978925's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
69 views

Anybody know what KM is?

I was browsing forums looking for any new tips to prevent wine from becoming vinegar (My last batch was ruined and want to make sure that does not happen again) and I stumbled cross this mysterious ...
Flotolk's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Are campden tablets necessary?

I use distilled water in wine making. Is campden necessary when I use distilled water?
LadyH's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
59 views

Can you add additions to the primary?

I am making a chocolate + oat stout on the weekend and would like to add some additions (cacao nibs predominantly - toying with adding some rum soaked raisins). I do not however have a suitable ...
W4K1NG's user avatar
  • 355
1 vote
1 answer
37 views

When exactly is 'first' punchdown?

I'm reading the opti-red directions and it says to add at "first punchdown". Does that mean right after I add my yeast, 24hours after crushing and sulfating? Or does that mean 24 hours after adding ...
tarabyte's user avatar
  • 523
2 votes
1 answer
309 views

Can I add too much opti-red?

I have some extra opti-red from last year that I'd like to use up. Is there a danger if I add too much of it? Should I just toss it? What are the cons of opti-red? Can it make the wine taste more ...
tarabyte's user avatar
  • 523
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

How much potassium sorbate is needed to prevent yeast from multiplying?

I would like to ferment 2 and 4 Liters of papaya and watermelon (respectively) but am looking for how much potassium sorbate is needed, for each volume, to prevent yeast from multiplying. An equation,...
Wilhelm's user avatar
  • 237
2 votes
3 answers
295 views

Do sugar alcohols count against yeast alcohol tolerance?

I consider using erythritol or other sugar alcohols in my "girls' brew". Because girls demanded something really sweet and that's the simplest way to get it. If I add it to the boil, will it count ...
Mołot's user avatar
  • 3,718
3 votes
2 answers
101 views

What do you call additions after fermentation?

Adding hops after fermentation is referred to as dry hopping (duh). But folks also add things like cucumber and hibiscus to the beer after fermentation. What's the proper way to refer to these ...
Aquadisco's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
845 views

How do I remove the medicinal taste of vanilla extract in my beer?

I bought a natural vanilla extract (vanilla beans, alcohol, and water) to add to my beer at bottling time. I mixed it along with my carbing sugar and bottled. When I tried the beer for the first ...
RAReed's user avatar
  • 325
2 votes
2 answers
849 views

A recipe for a White IPA calls for dextrose and lactic acid. What are they used for?

For my next brew, I'm brewing this Deschutes Chainbreaker White IPA clone recipe using LME as described at the bottom of the page. I'm unfamiliar with the use of lactic acid and dextrose in brewing ...
nickfactor's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why is potassium metabisulphite preferred to sodium by some sources?

I have read a number of sources that recommend the use of potassium metabisulphite or potassium-based campden tablets in preference to their sodium-based equivalents (e.g. Jack Keller states that he ...
Jules's user avatar
  • 133
3 votes
1 answer
25k views

When and how should I add Maltodextrin

I am brewing an imperial stout this weekend and I am planning to use 8oz of maltodextrin for 5 gallon batch. A friend of mine had a kit last time which had a maltodextrin in it but with no ...
Trigger's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
284 views

How much ginger should be used at what point of the process?

What is a reasonable amount of fresh ginger to use to lightly flavor a beer? Does the quantity to use differ based on when it is added in the process (boil vs flame out vs secondary)? I realize "...
Adam B's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
886 views

Using Irish Moss in Red Ales?

I have heard about using irish moss in ales as a clarifyer... how do you use it? How much? When? And does it affect the taste of a beer? I am planning on using it with an Irish Red Ale Extract kit.... ...
JugheadOmaha's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
152 views

Making a gose (salt in beer?) [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Gosebier- a unique style I recently fell in love with the Gose style of sour wheat beers (similar to a Gueze), thanks to kegs of Bayerische Bahnhof invading my town. Naturally,...
colin.t.welch's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
2k views

What makes an addition good for a basic wheat beer?

My second batch of beer will be a basic wheat beer and I will rack half with peach puree and half without to see the difference. I am looking for suggestions of other additives for wheat beer. ...
jugheadNE's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
11k views

What is Fermcap-S and what does it do?

Lately I've been doing some very large boils -- 7 gallons in a 7.5 gallon kettle. To prevent boilovers, I've been using Fermcap-s. It's great, and I've had no boilover problems, but I have no idea how ...
Hopwise's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
4k views

Common practices for adding liquor to homebrew?

I'm thinking about introducing sambuca (maybe grappa) into my next homebrew. What are the common practices for adding? secondary? bottling? Recommendations for getting the "right" amount without ...
Bob Banks's user avatar
  • 513
8 votes
5 answers
13k views

Adding potassium metabisulphite (i.e. sulfites) to prevent oxidation?

Winemakers often add potassium metabisulphite to the finished product for two purposes: To prevent further yeast growth (so that they do not eat the remaining sugars) and as a preservative, to prevent ...
Dustin Rasener's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
4k views

How to Add Cocoa

I want to add cocoa or chocolate to a beer, but cocoa powder isn't very soluble in water. What methods/alternatives do I have? I prefer to avoid extracts, if possible. I don't think I can find nibs ...
Brandon's user avatar
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23 votes
3 answers
37k views

What does gypsum do?

I'm brewing from an Austin Homebrew extract kit, and it came with some gypsum. I thought gypsum was only for modifying water chemistry, but there seems to be some other schools of thought around. So:...
Fishtoaster's user avatar
  • 2,882
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to add spices after the boil

I'm planning to make a few spiced ales from my batch that's bubbling along right now, and I'm wondering what the benefits and drawbacks are to adding whole spices to the secondary as opposed to making ...
Room3's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
2k views

How much bourbon is the right amount?

When adding something like bourbon (or other whiskeys) to the secondary, how much do you add? I realize this will differ based on recipes, tastes, and styles, but what is a good range? How much is so ...
hookedonwinter's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
374 views

Adding Oak Flavor/character to beer

Short of buying an oak barrel, what forms of oak are available to the homebrewer for getting oak into yuor beer? Are they available with different levels of toast? Are some forms easier to sanitize ...
brewchez's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
2k views

Fruit for fruit beers

What are the best fruits for brewing fruit beers? Some fruits appear to be classics like cherries raspberries. Some fruits you rarely hear about like kiwi and papya. Which fruits have flavor ...
brewchez's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Gelatin for clearer beer

Does gelatin work for clarifying beer? If so: How much do you use? When do you add it? How do you prepare it? (Do you boil it in water? How much water to dissolve the gelatin?)
Arlo427's user avatar
  • 445
4 votes
2 answers
377 views

Cocoa Nibs for Chocolate Flavorings

What is the best way to use cocoa nibs? Do you crush them, crack them leave them whole? Steep and remove pre-boil, leave in boil, add at flameout? Add them only during secondary? How long?
brewchez's user avatar
  • 36.2k
7 votes
4 answers
6k views

Adding Bourbon flavor to a beer

So in my last beer, I added bourbon infused with vanilla bean. I started to wonder if this was "cheating" or frowned upon, as far as getting the bourbon flavor into the beer. Is there a better way to ...
Jordan's user avatar
  • 1,243
2 votes
4 answers
3k views

Salty flavor in beer?

Recently, I've noticed a slight salty taste in a few beers. It's generally toward the end of the glass, and it's generally when I'm dehydrated. It's happened with Long Trail Ale and Stone Arrogant ...
hookedonwinter's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
748 views

Sanitising and adding homebrew additives

A few questions pertaining to brewing additives: How would you sanitize orange zest, whole nutmegs, and cinnamon sticks for use in a brew? When would you add the aforementioned items to the kettle/...
user410's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

How much K-meta should I add when racking my cider/wine?

How much potassium metabisulfite should I add when racking my wine or cider? Measurements in grams/gallon please. Thanks!
Tim Weber's user avatar
  • 1,397
12 votes
3 answers
86k views

How much potassium metabisulfite/Potassium Sorbate to stop fermentation?

I've had a lot of trouble finding a quick and easy answer to this question. Wine makers will add these chemical to wine after fermentation to prevent spoilage, and as an antioxidant. You can also ...
Tim Weber's user avatar
  • 1,397
2 votes
6 answers
7k views

Using bacon in beer

I've heard rumor of people figuring out a way to do this without getting all the grease into the beer as well. If you want to add bacon flavoring to a beer, how do you do it? I know you can use some ...
hookedonwinter's user avatar
14 votes
6 answers
5k views

Using coffee in beer

Last weekend I brewed a super classic, nothing special stout. I plan to add coffee to it in the secondary, and didn't want any craziness from the stout itself so that I could really play with the ...
hookedonwinter's user avatar
0 votes
7 answers
2k views

What are your favorite additives?

What's your favorite thing you add to your brew? chocolate fruit spices etc. I'm mostly interested in additives combined after primary fermentation, but flavors from any stage would be informative. ...