Expert: John Snyder - 6/30/2007

Question
QUESTION: Mr. Snyder,

I'm very interested in making my own malt beverage, similar in taste to Mike's Hard Lemonade Malt Beverage. Could you tell me how I might go about this with a home brewery package from Leeners.com? I'm not sure what ingredients to  buy in order for this to not taste like beer. I'm just getting into the home brewing hobby and would love to take in any information you provide. Thanks a million for your time spent answering questions.  Sincerely,

Colin

ANSWER: I have never tasted Mike's Hard Lemonade,so I can't tell you if the following satisfy what you are wanting:

1---lemonade frozen concentrate,make sure there is no added preservatives,enough to make 5 gallons with water

2---2 pounds sugar

3---1-pound ultra light DME

4---- 1 pack champagne yeast

the champagne yeast will give you a very dry taste,and ferment all the natural sugars in the lemon concentrate

5----ferment as normal

6---If too dry,and not citrus enough,you can add a little sugar,and some citric acid,or phosporic acid at bottling.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much! I've never fermented before. So you know a simple fermentation procedure? Also, what if I wanted to make a sweet malt alcohol without lemon flavor, but rather add flavor concentrates to the brew? When should I introduce the artificial flavor? At bottling? Would this affect the alcohol content at all? Thanks so very much!

Colin

Answer
Colin go to this site:

         http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter1.html
and read this page and the next 5 on crash brewing.This will explain in very simple terms.Let me know,when you have gotten the basics of brewing,and fermentation,and I will then answer your questions,above.I think going at it from this angle,will be a great help to you.

         John