Lager concentrate

[Fudgeheaven]

Hi everyone.
I make a very unique fudge for a living.
I make many liqueur based ones.
I get asked all the time (jokingly) if I do a lager flavoured one.
I would love to be able to surprise people by saying yes.
So, is there such a thing as a concentrated lager syrup or powder which I could try as a flavouring?
If so, where would I buy it?
Cheers
Gaz

 

[Ceejay]

Hi there, I bally love fudge!

I imagine you could use hopped light malt extract in place of some of the sugar:
http://www.muntons.com/homebeer/other-products/canned_hopped_light.asp

One or some of the forum sponsors should sell it

 

[Fudgeheaven]

Ta.
Does this stuff already taste like lager or does the act of brewing make the lager taste ?
Sorry to be a dummy but I've never brewed before.

 

[Ceejay]

TBH, it won't taste like "actual lager", since there's the whole fermenting process which converts sugars into alcohol and other compunds are created as a by product, which in turn impart their own taste to the lager. And there's carbon dioxide "bubbles".

However, it should taste like malt and hops, which are obviously key contituents and will probably get you in the "flavour ballpark" I reckon. Here's an interesting idea - is there any way you could incorporate popping candy into it to sort of simulate the bubbles? I think I've been watching too much Heston Blumenthal! :lol:

 

[commsbiff]

Anyone got some 'hopped light malt extract' and willing to tell us what it tastes like (apart from just sweet)?

 

[Kyral210]

Ok, here is a weird suggestion but it might just work! Take a bottle of lager, pour it into a container, whisk until all the bubbles are gone. Now pop a lid on it and put it in the freezer overnight. The water freezes but the alcohol doesn't. Take the container out, attach it with a whisk or blade or something to make it into slush and separate the ice from the liquid. The liquid is now concentrated lager you can use in your fudge!

This is pretty much the process used in making ice beers, only the liquid is put in containers, shipped off to locations, reconstituted with fresh water and then force carbonated to give you those 'wonderful' ice beers you see in bars. But the point is you will have concentrated lager flavouring, much better than using a lager malt extract kit as that is unfermented sugars.

Now an obvious point to make here, you will loose some flavour in the process as your not using very high tech gear. Also the higher the alcohol level in the beer the more residue liquid you will have. So avoid 3.5% crap and go for a 5% + lager. Even better, try a German Oktoberfest lager at 9%!

If that doesn't work, try simmering the flat lager on a low temperature to reduce the liquid to a concentrate. I suggest you play with the ice beer method fist because you are replicating a process used in 'brewing' rather than some weird cooking thing.

Final thought, lager has a very light flavour. American lagers such as Budweiser use rice and other adjuncts to lighten the body and flavour of the beer while maintaining the alcohol content. This means they have less flavour in. Make sure you only use a lager which has ONLY malt, water, hops and yeast. That will give you the most flavour possible to work with. Having said that also try a bottle of Stout. Not that watery Irish stuff that sponsors everything under the sun in order to keep its market position and high sales, but a real roasted barley flavoured stout. That has tonnes of flavour right there that has a higher chance of coming right through in your fudge.

I hope this has helped.

 

[Aleman]

If you could get such a thing as lager flavoured concentrate do you think the breweries would actually go to all the bother of brewing beer?

 

[Kyral210]

If you could get such a thing as lager flavoured concentrate do you think the breweries would actually go to all the bother of brewing beer?

Probably, because you need to brew beer to then concentrate it.

 

[unclepumble]

If you could get such a thing as lager flavoured concentrate do you think the breweries would actually go to all the bother of brewing beer?

Probably, because you need to brew beer to then concentrate it.

The big brewers actually do it the other way round they brew high gravity concentrated beers the. Dilute them to the required gravity.

Lager concentrate there must be one because there used to be a lager and lime flavour fizzy drink. I think your best bet would be to contact farams and ask about hop extracts just hop your base fudge recipe, or email the homebrew chef off the brewing network I'm sure he will have concocted something along the lines of a beer fudge
UP

 

[Fudgeheaven]

Thanks to everyone (apart from Mr Cheerful) for your helpful responses.
I shall experiment and report back.

 

[Kyral210]

Cant waitto hear how you get on! In my opinion this forum is missing a shop section, and you know what, some beer flavoured fudge could be a good addition!