Thoughts on marshmallows

Tossing around the idea of doing a S’mores stout. But have no idea how the marshmallows would affect the brew whether thrown in during mash or can they be used in secondary. Also how about graham crackers- secondary or mash? Any help out there?

Seeing as plain marshmallows are just sugar/corn syrup, water, gelatin, and dextrose there is no reason that you can’t use them in your secondary. Using them in the mash would be pretty messy. However, marshmallows are all about the shape and texture, which you will lose via fermentation, so it’s not going to translate into your finished beer. Graham crackers are wheat flour, whole grain wheat flour, sugar, soybean or cottonseed oil, honey, baking soda, salt, flavoring, soy lecithin, and cornstarch, so, again, there is no reason that you can’t use them. Putting them in the mash would probably be the best, but I doubt you’d get any character from them. Did a similar experiment with hard pretzels in a Hefeweizen. Was a tasty beer, but no pretzel characteristics came through in the finished product.

You could try making a braggot with Meadowfoam honey, which has a marshmallow flavor to it...

Meadowfoam honey is delicious. Shorts did a smore stout that sounded great in theory, but didn’t translate out too well. I swear there were chunks of graham cracker floating in it.

Originally posted by NobleSquirrel
You could try making a braggot with Meadowfoam honey, which has a marshmallow flavor to it...

Originally posted by HornyDevil

Originally posted by NobleSquirrel
You could try making a braggot with Meadowfoam honey, which has a marshmallow flavor to it...

I’ve been interested in that honey for some time, but have yet to use it. Anyone know if that flavor comes through post-fermentation?

S’mores are entirely about texture. You could make a beer that tastes identical and it just won’t be the same. That being said, I second NobleSquirrel’s blending idea for the flavor.

The Bruery once did a S’mores variation of Chocolate Rain. It was served from a firkin, with if I remember correctly, had 2 lbs of marshmallow, 2 lbs of chocolate, and 1 lb of graham cracker. It tasted very much like a booze soaked S’more. It was pretty intense, but also very good.

Originally posted by MuertosPorter
The Bruery once did a S’mores variation of Chocolate Rain. It was served from a firkin, with if I remember correctly, had 2 lbs of marshmallow, 2 lbs of chocolate, and 1 lb of graham cracker. It tasted very much like a booze soaked S’more. It was pretty intense, but also very good.

Don’t forget to toast them first YUM

I was going to also add that toasting the marshmallows may be helpful as well.