Braggot Day
- So Earth Day became the day to test the first bottle of braggot.
Recap:
-when moved into secondary there were two distinct tastes, ale and sweet honey.
-after seven - eight weeks fermenting - still tasted both the ale and the honey, but less honey sweetness then previous taste and there was a new more harsh taste mixed in almost medicine-like note not very pleasant
-left patiently two months - bottle conditioning (in basement with towel thrown over bottles) cracked open the first bottle (sat in frig for one night)
Results:
Solid honey aroma, mouth feel - not syrup like but a slight feel of ever so small amount of honey on the tongue - there is no longer a separate ale and honey taste - they are now blended. Medicine-like note is gone and replaced with more of a hard liquor impact - a little harsh but not like it was at bottling, bit of a bite but not bad... second glass tasted better - as you might expect
Clearly the flavors are "marrying up" which is cool to see (taste) happen.
I did not prime this - and the honey / yeast still had enough to give me a bit of carbonation. nice surprise.
color pretty much stayed with the cranberry blossom honey color.
I think we can clearly claim BIAB works for Braggots (note I did not say "Braggot In A Bag" this time). Truly a unique taste worth developing...
Like a mead, I think I need to continue to age this for proper mellowing out. I will leave one in the frig for a test in about three months (next bottle cracking will be July) I am betting it will taste best if I leave it til October/November.
overall - great little experiment, will likely brew this again after I chase the sweet spot for aging a little more.
lessons and next actions-
Hey I think I got this patience thing down now
braggot needs time to age (honest, I am good with that, I can wait)
I would go with a lighter milder honey next time
Add a champagne yeast (something that would not impact flavor) to carbonate up at bottling
Most important is to not shave or cut my hair while the braggot ages and then drink it from a large horn while I pace on the roof of my house pointing madly out at anything that moves and shouting "I will rule you all"...
gulp
gulp
Pete