pomegranate molasses as a beer flavouring

[Thirsty Boy]

Has anybody brewed a beer using pomegranate molasses??

We bought a bottle of this stuff from a local middle eastern store after tasting it a few times in restaurant dishes. We used it for the first time the other day to make a fantastic marinade for roast lamb...mmmmmm

But because I am brewing obsessed, when I tasted some of the stuff while cooking, I thought to myself that there MUST be a style of beer where this flavour would go.

Typical molasses flavours, dark caramel/burnt sugar, sweetness and a dash of bittereness - with a stong pomegranate fruit flavour and an intense sourness.

When I tasted it, it sort of reminded me of drinking a Belleview Kriek, heaps of fruit and sourness; but with added caramel.

I have no idea what kind of base beer you might mix it with, or whether you would be better off putting it in the fermentor. If no one has played with it and can point me in the right direction, I am going to blend a little bit with some of the blond/pale ale I have fermenting now, might even try to prime a bottle with it. Hell, I'm gonna try it anyway.

I'm hoping for a nice sour fruity beer, without having to muck about with Bret and/or lacto bugs. Come to think of it.... Tamarind might do a similar sort of thing.

Any thoughts you BNers out there? Or am I just nuts?

Thirsty

[bub]

Check out the Archives... Jamil did a big ole deal about adding flavors to beers.... Check it before you wreck it.
BUB

[valorian]

What bub said.

I have used regular molasses before in the Poor Richards Ale. It gave the beer a nice carmel flavor.

[Thirsty Boy]

I'm only planning to try it on a couple of bottles, not the whole batch. I heard Jamil's flavouring advice and take heed of the pontif at all times...

Bub, you're a bit of a foody type of guy aren't you? What do you think of the idea in general? Are the flavours gonna work in beer?

Anyone else...

[Lufah]

I've hated every beer I've had with molasses in it. Tastes like tar to me.

Travis

[valorian]

If a beer with molasses in it tastes like tar then they probably used black strap.

[bub]

I think that most flavors can be used in beer... you just have to experiment A LOT... if it is more fruity than molassesy I would try it on a light to medium flavored beer. The best way to find out is make (or buy) a shitload of different styles... then pour it, add a bit of the "spice" and try.. then you say HEY this is a rocking IPA / Fruit beer or Stout / Vagina Juice beer... then make your own batch.
BUB

[Thirsty Boy]

Bub, that sounds like a damn fine excuse to buy a bunch of different beers and get hammered (I mean experiment dutifully) one night. I'm in.

Actually, I'd probably be better off doing it over a week or 2 so I dont blow my pallet to hell I suppose. By the time I work out the perfect combo, I'll be so sick of the flavour that I wont want to brew it anymore.... such is life. Suppose I will just have to suffer for the greater brewing good

You speak wise words of advice oh Bub the sagacious. I thank you.

Thirsty