jcobbs

Recipes 

I couldn't find a section on HBT for "Half-baked Wild Ideas" so I wasn't really sure where to put this, so here goes.

I had a pound of extra light DME that was just lying around begging to be fermented, and two packs of generic lager yeast that came in a kit but I hadn't used, and they were going to expire if I didn't do something with them. So....

I was strolling though Wally World and came across a can of Ovaltine chocolate malt mix. Hmmmm..... chocolate....malt.... yeast....???

So I grabbed a 2.5 gallon water bottle and proceeded to assemble a Disposable Beer Kit with the DME, Ovaltine, and 2 cups of sugar. Stuck on an airlock per the instructions....

And was promptly hit by two weeks of below freezing weather which kept my unheated workshop/brewshed well below fermentation temps. When it finally warmed up I ventured to look, and was rewarded by a nice set of bubbles in the airlock. The warmup lasted just long enough for primary fermentation to wind down, and then dropped back into the 30's-40's again. Ahhhh....good thing I used lager yeast....

So the other day I ventured out to the shop again and got ready to bottle my efforts....the results were....

....not bad! Nice taste of chocolate, maltiness, and even a little hint of carbonation, even though it was under no pressure. I attribute that to the cold temps holding some CO2 in solution. So...

...now I have two dozen bottles primed and waiting for warm temps to return so it will carbonate. Ovaltine with a kick--can't wait...

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Hickory Glynn Winery & Brewery

Pappers_

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Wacky is the word that comes to mind

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http://www.singingboysbrewing.com

Palefire

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Hate to say it, but ... subscribed! Post tasting notes in a few weeks!

mordantly

Recipes 

intriguing... i wonder how much chocolate flavor was metabolized.

fineexampl

Recipes 

logic tells me this should taste like crap. i really hope i'm wrong because i'll make some this month.

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Primary: Highway 35 Scotch Ale (Highway 78 clone), second runnings small beer

Bottled: Pitch Black Sheep IPA, Juniper Fail/Ale

Kegged: Apollo Pale Ale, South River Brown

jjones17

Recipes 

LMFAO! I was thinking the same thin. Too bad I have never felt the need to purchase ovaltine, or I might try it as well.
Subscribed!

Grimster

Recipes 

Same here, jumping on the 'this will taste like crap, but if not I just might try a gallon or two for the helluvit" bandwagon.

Let us know how it is after bottle conditioning and carbing up!

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Gary Harris
Not a fan of the Ocean

jcobbs

Recipes 

Can't believe all you guys are interested in this craziness! Did the world suddenly run out of beer and everybody's desperate? Or is chocolate-flavored hooch going to be the next big craze? Nevertheless I will let you know how it goes. At the moment I still have it stored in my shop, but considering we are under a winter storm watch and it's not supposed to get above freezing tomorrow, I may have to bring a few bottles in to get them up to Revvy's proverbial 3/70 conditioning situation.

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Hickory Glynn Winery & Brewery

mordantly

Recipes 

you could also sleep with them to keep them at "conditioning temps"

Quaffer

Recipes 

Everybody loves chocolate, but the double-chocolate stouts I have tasted never live up to their promise in my opinion. If you are on to something good, a lot of people will be paying attention, myself included. I have made a batch of chocolate mint stout, and it was not bad, but where is that rich creamy chocolate flavor? Not in the beers I have tasted so far, that's for sure. I am still trying to find that perfect chocolate brew. Crazy ideas have lead to great inventions throughout history. Don't be bashful, go for it with gusto! We live in an extraordinary time of experimental beers. You can do it!