Expert: John Snyder - 8/2/2008

Question
Hello John, Where would suggest to use honey and what quantity would you go for. I've read on a few of the forums that some people put 1Kg of Honey in their brew. Would you consider using honey and if so up to what amount per 23 Litre batch ?
Also, I heard about some using Molasses. What type of beer would use molasses and how much ? Thanks.

Answer
Honey can be used,at wort boiling,or at fermentation,depending on taste you are looking for.Honey must be boiled,as it contains enzymes,dormant microorganisms,and could contain pollen,wild yeast,beeswax,and even bee fragments,all of which could ruin your beer.I'm not a honey person,but if i used it,at fermentation,i would take great care in preparing it for fermentation.In addition a slightly higher mash temp.would be necessary.As to the amount 500 grams is enough,more than 1Kg will take from your beer's malty character.

Honey varies quite a bit in it's S.G.A rough guide is 1 Lb of honey dissolved in 1 gallon of water,which would yield a S.G.of about 1.032 to 1.038

Molasses in Porter and ales would be best.
1 cup to 23 liters
too much would add a large amount of body to your beer,making it heavy and undrinkable.Molasses should never be used as a priming sugar
25 to 40% of molasses is completely unfermentable

Bud has a molasses beer;Redbridge