Snickers Beer: Crafting this Delicous Brew [Must Try]

Brewing a Snickers-inspired beer is a creative and exciting challenge!

A Snickers beer would aim to capture the flavors of this popular candy bar: chocolate, peanuts, caramel, and nougat. Here’s a general guideline on how to brew a Snickers-flavored beer:

Ingredients:

1. Malts: Choose malts that impart chocolate, caramel, and biscuity flavors. Consider using a combination of Pale Malt, Chocolate Malt, Caramel Malt, and maybe a bit of Biscuit Malt.
2. Hops: Choose hops with a low to moderate bitterness level, as the focus here is on the malt and adjunct flavors. Hops like East Kent Goldings or Fuggle could work well.
3. Yeast: A clean-fermenting ale yeast is preferable, like American Ale Yeast.

Adjuncts:

• Cocoa Nibs or Powder: For the chocolate flavor.
• Peanut Butter Powder or Peanuts: Use allergen-free peanut flavoring if available to avoid potential allergic reactions.
• Lactose: To add sweetness and mouthfeel, mimicking the nougat.
• Caramel Syrup: For caramel sweetness.

Brewing Process:

1. Mashing: Mash the grains at a temperature that favors a fuller body, usually around 154-156°F (68-69°C), to create a beer with more residual sweetness and fullness, aligning with the Snickers theme.
2. Boiling: Add hops early in the boil for bitterness. If using peanut butter powder, it can be added late in the boil. Be cautious with oils from natural peanuts as they can affect head retention.
3. Fermentation: After boiling, cool the wort and transfer it to a fermenter, pitching the yeast once the temperature is appropriate. Ferment at the temperature recommended for the yeast strain.

Adding Flavors:

• Cocoa and Caramel: Add cocoa nibs or powder and caramel syrup during secondary fermentation. This approach minimizes the risk of fermentation-related flavor loss.
• Peanut Flavor: Introduce peanut flavor either during the late boil or in secondary. Be mindful of sanitation and the risk of oils if using actual peanuts.

1. Conditioning: After fermentation is complete, allow the beer to condition. This will help the flavors meld together.
2. Bottling and Carbonation: Bottle the beer with an appropriate amount of priming sugar for carbonation. Let it carbonate for a couple of weeks.

Considerations:

• Allergens: Be aware of potential allergens, especially when using peanuts.
• Balance: The key to a successful Snickers beer is balancing the sweet, nutty, and chocolate flavors without overpowering the base beer.
• Experimentation: You might need to experiment with different amounts of adjuncts to get the right balance of flavors.

Notes:

Creating a Snickers-flavored beer is an experimental endeavor, and it might take a few attempts to perfect the recipe. Combining elements that mimic the flavors of a Snickers bar into a beer base, we can do the same with other beer recipes.

Two types of beer recipes that are very similar to investigate further are a Milk Stout and this Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter Recipe.

Keep meticulous notes during each brew to adjust and improve in subsequent batches. Enjoy the brewing process and the unique flavors you’ll create!

Snickers Beer Recipes Examples:

Knife and Fork Snikers

Amount	Fermentable	$	PPG	°L	Bill %
2 lb	Canadian – Pale 2-Row		36	1.75	70.6%
4 oz	German – CaraFoam		37	1.8	8.8%
3.50 oz	American – Caramel / Crystal 60L		34	60	7.7%
2.80 oz	American – Chocolate		29	350	6.2%
1.50 oz	American – Black Malt		28	500	3.3%
1.50 oz	American – Flaked Oats		33	2.2	3.3%
Source

Hops

Amount	Variety	Cost	Type	AA	Use	Time	IBU	Bill %
0.20 oz	Northern Brewer		Pellet	7.8	Boil	60 min	30.14	50%
0.20 oz	Willamette		Pellet	4.5	Boil	20 min	10.53	50%

Snicker-Brewdle Recipe

Fermentables

Amount	Fermentable	$	PPG	°L	Bill %
5 lb	Viking – Golden Ale Malt		37	3.5	44.4%
4 lb	Rahr – North Star Pils		36.3	1.7	35.6%
24 oz	Brewmaster – Honey, Orange Blossom – (late boil kettle addition)		34.8	1	13.3%
0.50 lb	Viking – Cookie Malt		37	25.4	4.4%
0.25 lb	Gambrinus – Honey Malt		37	25	2.2%
Source

Hops

Amount	Variety	Cost	Type	AA	Use	Time	IBU	Bill %
0.25 oz	Yakima Valley Hops – LUPOMAX Citra		Pellet	18.5	Boil	60 min	17.93	50%
0.25 oz	Yakima Valley Hops – LUPOMAX Citra		Pellet	18.5	Boil	15 min	8.9	50%

Snickers Beer – Alternatives

“Not a Snickers Imperial Stout” by Vocation Brewery

In the ever-expanding world of craft beer, one unique entrant stands out for its distinct flavor profile inspired by a popular candy bar: the “Not a Snickers Imperial Stout” from Vocation Brewery.

This brew is part of Vocation’s “naughty and nice” selection box and represents a daring foray into the realm of dessert-inspired beers – which we love around here.

Check out these Beer Can Designs which have a good selection of dessert themed mashups, like the very popular “Snickers Barleywine“

Appearance and Aroma:

Upon pouring, the stout reveals a jet-black coloration with a light caramel, off-white head, instantly drawing in the eye with its rich and inviting appearance.

The aroma is a delightful surprise, dominated by a sweet and potent peanut presence. This characteristic sets it apart from its peers in the selection box, offering a hint of the complexity to come.

Not a ‘Snickers Beer’ Imperial Stouts:

Flavor Profile:

The initial taste is marked by a mild carbonation, which quickly gives way to a robust peanut flavor, a signature of this stout. As the experience unfolds, caramel notes emerge, melding harmoniously with the persistent nutty flavor.

The finish is subtly boozy, a nod to its 9% ABV, with lingering notes of milk chocolate in the aftertaste. Despite its sweetness, the beer maintains a commendable balance, thanks to the interplay between the nuttiness and alcohol content.

This balance makes the stout surprisingly drinkable and masks its high alcohol level, a feat in itself.

Mouthfeel and Overall Experience:

While the stout doesn’t possess the thick mouthfeel typically associated with its style, it compensates with a richness that makes it a delight to sip.

Its lighter body could be seen as a refreshing departure from the norm, offering a unique experience for stout enthusiasts.

Conclusion

“Not a Snickers Imperial Stout” is a commendable effort by Vocation Brewery, showcasing their ability to innovate within the craft beer space. Its complex flavor profile, inspired by the Snickers candy bar, makes it a standout choice for those seeking a dessert-like sweet beer experience.

While the reviewer expressed a desire for slightly more roastiness and a thicker body, the beer’s overall quality and fit for a festive, relaxed setting like Christmas afternoon cannot be overstated.

This stout is a must-try for adventurous beer lovers and a worthy alternative for anyone looking for a Snickers beer experience.

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