[adama]

hello all. so i'm thinking of brewing a dubbel as my next project. the question is, my friend just gave me a large amount of agave nectar and I was considering using this as a replacement for the belgian sugar syrup. have any of you ever used this as a fermentable before and if so in what amount and what flavor profiles can I expect?

[Kirk]

I've only used it once, but might do it again.  11 oz in five gallons, secondary application.  I'd call it subtle...Like you can barely taste it if you already know its there.  Have you ever tried it in tea?  It's awesome.

[adama]

thanks Kirk and yes I have used it in tea and also in cocktails. I love the flavor but I'm just not sure what the fermentation process will do to it. I want to keep those dark fruit, raisin flavors that make dubbels so delicious

[tschmidlin]

I doubt adding agave would eliminate those flavors, it's more like those flavors would cover up the agave.  I might use it in a Belgian pale, golden, or tripel instead of a Belgian dark or dubbel.  But I've never used it.

[chumley]

Haven't used it in beer, but I have brewed agave mead.  It tastes like tequiza.

I don't know if I would like that flavor in a Belgian ale.

[speed]

i made a belgiun dubbel with it and can't tell thats in there.. i would say just use sugar, plain table sugar.

[EHall]

The couple times I've used it I add at about 5-10 til flameout. I can taste it that way but its not strong at all like honey can be... very light.

On a side note, has anyone ever come across your agave syrup smelling kinda rancid? Almost like when oil goes rancid... I've got some dark syrup that sorta smells like that even when its been sealed up in a cool dark cabinet...

[hopaddicted]

My old man brewed a pale ale with agave, and though the flavor was extremely subtle to begin with, it added a great flavor as the beer aged a little more (and presumably the hops mellowed). I don't know how much he used, and I don't know if a dubbel is the right platform for it, but I am certainly going to try it in a pils or golden with just a hint of lime for a nice refreshing cerveza for the summer. A little experimentation is definitely worthwhile with it. Good luck.