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Good sweet to water ratio for using sorghum syrup?
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Doug Freyburger
Apr 23, 2012, 11:44:45 AM4/23/12
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A friend is deathly allergic to honey. She likes mead. Go figure. So
I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
sweetener.
I found 44 ounce jars of sorghum syrup at a store. Bought two. How
many jars should I get to put in a five gallon batch of "mead like
stuff"? My most recent batch of ale is in the bottles so both primary
fermenter and glass carboy are just sitting there waiting to be filled
up.
I'd start it in the primary fermenter that I use for my ale batches and
let it bubble until it stops. Then taste a bit and see if it should be
recharged when I transfer it to a glass carboy for secondary
fermentation for a couple of seasons. Then bottle and try it every so
often. Target is still not sparkling. I usually target dry not sweet
but in this case I figure I don't care which it comes out.
I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
sweetener.
I found 44 ounce jars of sorghum syrup at a store. Bought two. How
many jars should I get to put in a five gallon batch of "mead like
stuff"? My most recent batch of ale is in the bottles so both primary
fermenter and glass carboy are just sitting there waiting to be filled
up.
I'd start it in the primary fermenter that I use for my ale batches and
let it bubble until it stops. Then taste a bit and see if it should be
recharged when I transfer it to a glass carboy for secondary
fermentation for a couple of seasons. Then bottle and try it every so
often. Target is still not sparkling. I usually target dry not sweet
but in this case I figure I don't care which it comes out.
Dick Adams
Apr 23, 2012, 4:29:02 PM4/23/12
to
Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> A friend is deathly allergic to honey. She likes mead. Go figure. So
> I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
> syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
> and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
> sweetener.
National Sweet Sorghum Producers & Processors Association is at
> A friend is deathly allergic to honey. She likes mead. Go figure. So
> I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
> syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
> and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
> sweetener.
nssppa.org. Their site is worth reading.
Read the label on the bottle to see if preservatives have been added.
My experience says if it doesn't say "No Preservatives Added", they
have been added and it is unlikely that it will ferment.
Keep in mind that Sweet Sorghum Syrup and the Sorghum grain that is
malted to make beer are not the same.
> I found 44 ounce jars of sorghum syrup at a store. Bought two.
> How many jars should I get to put in a five gallon batch of
> "mead like stuff"?
compared to 192 oz, on average for a gallon of honey. So you can
substitute it one for one with honey.
Is it 44 oz by weight or by volume? If it's by weight, the jar
should be about 28.5 fl. oz. If it's by volume, it's net weight
should be about 4 lbs.
My very strong suggestion is you make a one gallon batch using 2
to 3 lbs of Sweet Sorghum Syrup so you know whether or not your
friend likes it.
Dick
Doug Freyburger
Apr 24, 2012, 2:48:23 PM4/24/12
to
Dick Adams wrote:
> Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> A friend is deathly allergic to honey. She likes mead. Go figure. So
>> I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
>> syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
>> and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
>> sweetener.
>
> National Sweet Sorghum Producers & Processors Association is at
> nssppa.org. Their site is worth reading.
I followed the link from the wikipedia article to their page. They list
> Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> A friend is deathly allergic to honey. She likes mead. Go figure. So
>> I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
>> syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
>> and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
>> sweetener.
>
> National Sweet Sorghum Producers & Processors Association is at
> nssppa.org. Their site is worth reading.
farms that sell sorghum syrup. The nearest is about 3-4 hours from me.
Might do it some weekend.
> Read the label on the bottle to see if preservatives have been added.
> My experience says if it doesn't say "No Preservatives Added", they
> have been added and it is unlikely that it will ferment.
be okay on that front. Unfortunately it also says its ingredients are
"corn, cane and sorghum (25%) syrups". If my goal is to make honey free
mead like stuff to not kill my friend I'm good to go. If my goal is to
actually make it from sorghum I still need to go shopping. Turns out a
wine making shop near me will order it for me so the shopping is not a
problem. But the 3-4 hour drive into cow county should be fun so I may
do it anyways.
> Keep in mind that Sweet Sorghum Syrup and the Sorghum grain that is
> malted to make beer are not the same.
grain to make ale-like-stuff.
If I understand correctly sorghum syrup is made by grinding the sap out
of sorghum stalks rather like corn syrup is made by grinding the sap out
of corn stalks. In both cases boiled down with some amount of refining.
Much the same process as is used as the starting point for cane sugar.
>> I found 44 ounce jars of sorghum syrup at a store. Bought two.
>> How many jars should I get to put in a five gallon batch of
>> "mead like stuff"?
>
> A gallon of Sweet Sorghum Syrup, on average, should weigh 191 oz
> compared to 192 oz, on average for a gallon of honey. So you can
> substitute it one for one with honey.
> Is it 44 oz by weight or by volume? If it's by weight, the jar
> should be about 28.5 fl. oz. If it's by volume, it's net weight
> should be about 4 lbs.
beyond my ken had I not had a hobby of brewing by the gallon and
cooking by the cup. The day job engineer in me looks in the mirror at
the weekend brewing hobbyist in me and wags my finger at myself for
using that crazy measuring system.
> My very strong suggestion is you make a one gallon batch using 2
> to 3 lbs of Sweet Sorghum Syrup so you know whether or not your
> friend likes it.
a gallon of apple cider to have a bottle for the batch. It's a supreme
sacrifice to drink fesh apple cider but I'm sure I can manage it.
Especially if I take my time and the bottom half is part of the way to
cider by the time I finish. Now I have a detailed plan! Thanks!
Dick Adams
Apr 26, 2012, 5:12:23 AM4/26/12
to
Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> f arms that sell sorghum syrup. The nearest is about 3-4 hours from me.
got away with that for 15 years. Then my older son got smart.
>> Keep in mind that Sweet Sorghum Syrup and the Sorghum grain that is
>> malted to make beer are not the same.
>>> I found 44 ounce jars of sorghum syrup at a store. Bought two.
>>> How many jars should I get to put in a five gallon batch of
>>> "mead like stuff"?
>> A gallon of Sweet Sorghum Syrup, on average, should weigh 191 oz
>> compared to 192 oz, on average for a gallon of honey. So you can
>> substitute it one for one with honey.
to add it to the secondary so it is less likely to get fermented dry.
>> Is it 44 oz by weight or by volume? If it's by weight, the jar
>> should be about 28.5 fl. oz. If it's by volume, it's net weight
>> should be about 4 lbs.
with liter marks.
>> My very strong suggestion is you make a one gallon batch using 2
>> to 3 lbs of Sweet Sorghum Syrup so you know whether or not your
>> friend likes it.
Dick
> Dick Adams wrote:
>> Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> A friend is deathly allergic to honey. She likes mead. Go figure. So
>>> I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
>>> syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
>>> and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
>>> sweetener.
>> National Sweet Sorghum Producers & Processors Association is at
>> nssppa.org. Their site is worth reading.
> I followed the link from the Wikipedia article to their page. They list
>> Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> A friend is deathly allergic to honey. She likes mead. Go figure. So
>>> I figured it would be fun to make "mead like stuff" using sorghum sweet
>>> syrup instead of honey. I've made similar from maple syrup in the past
>>> and she liked it. In this case probably no flavoring other than the
>>> sweetener.
>> National Sweet Sorghum Producers & Processors Association is at
>> nssppa.org. Their site is worth reading.
> f arms that sell sorghum syrup. The nearest is about 3-4 hours from me.
> Might do it some weekend.
>> Read the label on the bottle to see if preservatives have been added.
>> My experience says if it doesn't say "No Preservatives Added", they
>> have been added and it is unlikely that it will ferment.
>> My experience says if it doesn't say "No Preservatives Added", they
>> have been added and it is unlikely that it will ferment.
> I checked the label. It say "No preservatives, no additives" so should
> be okay on that front. Unfortunately it also says its ingredients are
> "corn, cane and sorghum (25%) syrups". If my goal is to make honey
> free mead like stuff to not kill my friend I'm good to go. If my goal is to
> actually make it from sorghum I still need to go shopping. Turns out a
> wine making shop near me will order it for me so the shopping is not a
> problem. But the 3-4 hour drive into cow county should be fun so I may
> do it anyways.
What the hell! If you have children, tell them it's a weekend vacation. I
> be okay on that front. Unfortunately it also says its ingredients are
> "corn, cane and sorghum (25%) syrups". If my goal is to make honey
> free mead like stuff to not kill my friend I'm good to go. If my goal is to
> actually make it from sorghum I still need to go shopping. Turns out a
> wine making shop near me will order it for me so the shopping is not a
> problem. But the 3-4 hour drive into cow county should be fun so I may
> do it anyways.
got away with that for 15 years. Then my older son got smart.
>> Keep in mind that Sweet Sorghum Syrup and the Sorghum grain that is
>> malted to make beer are not the same.
> Exactly. I refer to the syrup to make mead-like-stuff not to the malted
> grain to make ale-like-stuff.
>
> If I understand correctly sorghum syrup is made by grinding the sap out
> of sorghum stalks rather like corn syrup is made by grinding the sap out
> of corn stalks. In both cases boiled down with some amount of refining.
> Much the same process as is used as the starting point for cane sugar.
That is also my understanding.
> grain to make ale-like-stuff.
>
> If I understand correctly sorghum syrup is made by grinding the sap out
> of sorghum stalks rather like corn syrup is made by grinding the sap out
> of corn stalks. In both cases boiled down with some amount of refining.
> Much the same process as is used as the starting point for cane sugar.
>>> I found 44 ounce jars of sorghum syrup at a store. Bought two.
>>> How many jars should I get to put in a five gallon batch of
>>> "mead like stuff"?
>> A gallon of Sweet Sorghum Syrup, on average, should weigh 191 oz
>> compared to 192 oz, on average for a gallon of honey. So you can
>> substitute it one for one with honey.
> One for one. Got it. The same as if I were substituting maple syrup.
Maple Syrup is 11 lbs per gallon. A suggestion with Maple Syrup is
to add it to the secondary so it is less likely to get fermented dry.
>> Is it 44 oz by weight or by volume? If it's by weight, the jar
>> should be about 28.5 fl. oz. If it's by volume, it's net weight
>> should be about 4 lbs.
> The label says "Net Wt 44 Oz". This non-metric stuff would be bizzare
> beyond my ken had I not had a hobby of brewing by the gallon and
> cooking by the cup. The day job engineer in me looks in the mirror at
> the weekend brewing hobbyist in me and wags my finger at myself for
> using that crazy measuring system.
I am trying to go straight metric. My #1 need is metric fermenter pails
> beyond my ken had I not had a hobby of brewing by the gallon and
> cooking by the cup. The day job engineer in me looks in the mirror at
> the weekend brewing hobbyist in me and wags my finger at myself for
> using that crazy measuring system.
with liter marks.
>> My very strong suggestion is you make a one gallon batch using 2
>> to 3 lbs of Sweet Sorghum Syrup so you know whether or not your
>> friend likes it.
> Let's see. 44 / 16 = 2.75 pounds. Huh, one gallon per can. I'll get
> a gallon of apple cider to have a bottle for the batch. It's a supreme
> sacrifice to drink fesh apple cider but I'm sure I can manage it.
> Especially if I take my time and the bottom half is part of the way to
> cider by the time I finish. Now I have a detailed plan! Thanks!
Go for it.
> a gallon of apple cider to have a bottle for the batch. It's a supreme
> sacrifice to drink fesh apple cider but I'm sure I can manage it.
> Especially if I take my time and the bottom half is part of the way to
> cider by the time I finish. Now I have a detailed plan! Thanks!
Dick
Doug Freyburger
Apr 26, 2012, 12:38:54 PM4/26/12
to
Dick Adams wrote:
> Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> If my goal is to
>> actually make it from sorghum I still need to go shopping. Turns out a
>> wine making shop near me will order it for me so the shopping is not a
>> problem. But the 3-4 hour drive into cow county should be fun so I may
>> do it anyways.
>
> What the hell! If you have children, tell them it's a weekend vacation. I
> got away with that for 15 years. Then my older son got smart.
I'm in a better situation than that. We're empty nesters and we like to
> Doug Freyburger <dfre...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> If my goal is to
>> actually make it from sorghum I still need to go shopping. Turns out a
>> wine making shop near me will order it for me so the shopping is not a
>> problem. But the 3-4 hour drive into cow county should be fun so I may
>> do it anyways.
>
> What the hell! If you have children, tell them it's a weekend vacation. I
> got away with that for 15 years. Then my older son got smart.
do day trips on weekend.
Dick Adams
Apr 27, 2012, 10:26:09 PM4/27/12
to
and has been told we'll be selling the house shortly after he granuates.
Human are the only animals that along their offspring to return home.
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