Recipe Critique : Bourbon Oaked Double Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Stout - Page 2

bigbeergeek · 01-11-2012, 08:49 AM

I would have skipped the sour cherry syrup. Recent experimentation with the stuff over Christmas has taught me that it lends a non-cherry-tasting fruity tartness that I don't want in my stouts. I think this recipe (like 90% of extract recipes) needed some simple sugar (like table sugar) to bring that FG down, too. Really swung for the fences with this one, huh?

NewBrewRW · 01-17-2012, 02:55 AM

Yea man the wife wanted a big stout for the winter holidays that combined chocolate and cherry so I went all out with it haha.

NewBrewRW · 01-23-2012, 06:25 AM

An update - The bourbon has mellowed but still shines through. The oaky flavor coupled with the chocolate is fantastic. I would say next time I will use crushed cherries or cherry puree as much of the cherry flavor was not retained. There is a pic of this awesome brew below.

SasquatchSmith · 01-23-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewBrewRW

An update - The bourbon has mellowed but still shines through. The oaky flavor coupled with the chocolate is fantastic. I would say next time I will use crushed cherries or cherry puree as much of the cherry flavor was not retained. There is a pic of this awesome brew below.

Sounds delicious man, I actually LOVE beers that are heavy on the bourbon so I think I would be a big fan of your beer.

I'm gonna get a stout going soon as my 3rd brew...I don't want to screw it up since i'm such a noob, but i'm very tempted to oak it, bourbon it, add some other not yet decided stuff to secondary...we'll see

NewBrewRW · 01-24-2012, 05:26 AM

Good luck. The bourbon oaked idea is actually really simple. I bought 4oz of french oak chips from austin home brew and just soaked them in the bourbon for about 2weeks. I would recommend just using the chip and not the bourbon that you drain away from them when they are done soaking. The bourbon flavour that come out of the chips is very intense already and adding anymore would overpower the beer.

SasquatchSmith · 01-24-2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewBrewRW

Good luck. The bourbon oaked idea is actually really simple. I bought 4oz of french oak chips from austin home brew and just soaked them in the bourbon for about 2weeks. I would recommend just using the chip and not the bourbon that you drain away from them when they are done soaking. The bourbon flavour that come out of the chips is very intense already and adding anymore would overpower the beer.

Thanks for the tips, i'll keep that in mind

Calder · 01-25-2012, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewBrewRW

I would recommend just using the chip and not the bourbon that you drain away from them when they are done soaking. The bourbon flavour that come out of the chips is very intense already and adding anymore would overpower the beer.

Really! I don't like Bourbon, but have used Brandy and Rum in beers and have used it at a rate of about half a liter for 5 gallons.

If I remember correctly, Denny's Chocolate Burbon Porter (or something like that, you can search for it), a very popular recipe also uses about a half liter for 5 gallons too.