kvh

Recipes 

We're planning on making a beer that'll be a high ABV, thick, black as possible, and hopefully very very rich (don't ask for the recipe - A. you'll all balk at it, and B. it's at home and I'm at work - I can post it later if you're really curious.). I do recall that it has both Chocolate and Black Patent malt, as well as a lot of Carapils - I forget the rest at the moment. The goal will hopefully be a lovely night cap beer for a christmas party in 6 months.

My question is: I recall reading somewhere that the darker grains in particular need harder water to be properly absorbed. Is this true? Is there a good water profile I can work towards that someone could point me to? I think I have all the salts and minerals I might need to adjust the hardness...

Thanks!
kvh

__________________
Make beer, not bombs.
(...and not bottle bombs either.)
Primary Fermentor - *empty*
Primary Fermentor -

Secondary - Mystery IPA
Secondary -
Bottle Conditioning -
Keg Conditioning -

Draft: - Apfelwein, Belgian-style Dubbel w/ Grains of Paradise
Bottles:(and still in stock): FIRST AG - (I)IPA 4.1.07, PK's Warm Spring Marzen, Summer Cerveza -BANG, PK's Winter Spice II, Espresso Stout, Indiana Pale Ale, PK's Chocolate Bitter II, Porterfield Porter, and New Year's 2006 remnants.

zoebisch01

Recipes 

Lot's of dark grains will bump your acidity higher. To counter this (neutralizing the acid essentially) you should have a high amount of carbonate hardness in your water or adjust accordingly...but with reservations. I say this as most adjustments impart salt, which if used in high enough concentration will come through in the end.

A good rule of thumb with even say a Stout is to shoot for a max of around 10% of the total grain bill. In general you shouldn't need any more than that.

__________________
Event Horizon ~ A tribute to the miracle of fermentation.

Brew what you like. Do this, and you will find your inner brewer.

kvh

Recipes 

Do you mean 10% specialty grains?

kvh

__________________
Make beer, not bombs.
(...and not bottle bombs either.)
Primary Fermentor - *empty*
Primary Fermentor -

Secondary - Mystery IPA
Secondary -
Bottle Conditioning -
Keg Conditioning -

Draft: - Apfelwein, Belgian-style Dubbel w/ Grains of Paradise
Bottles:(and still in stock): FIRST AG - (I)IPA 4.1.07, PK's Warm Spring Marzen, Summer Cerveza -BANG, PK's Winter Spice II, Espresso Stout, Indiana Pale Ale, PK's Chocolate Bitter II, Porterfield Porter, and New Year's 2006 remnants.