Chocolate Mint Stout

Now I have read many disscusions on using mint in beer but nothing has helped me completely.

I am looking for more of a mint smell not so much a taste. At least nothing that goes beyond that of a subtle taste.

I am thinking of making a mint tea letting that sit over night and than adding it into the secondary. I am figuring that would give me more an aroma rather than a taste.

What do you guys think?

I used fresh mint from my garden, and I think you're right, a more subtle approach would be better . . . Peppermint tea may work, but I would think a candy cane into the secondary would do the trick. That is what I plan to do with my surplus candy canes (if they don't get eaten first).

Totally Agree, did a Mint Chocolate stout a few months ago. Been in the bottle for 6 weeks and it has an off flavor up front from the mint. I think next time we try the brew we will use some type of peppermint candy in the fermenter to get that flavor profile.

Note: We soaked 3/4 oz mint in vodka and added to primary after it was fermented out.

Try Altoids worked really well for me

robegero said:

Try Altoids worked really well for me

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Adding to the primary when?

I used tea bags, turned out well and was a big hit.

C-Rider said:

Adding to the primary when?

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I was doing various flavorings with one batch so I split the beer and did it in a secondary. I also dissolved them in vodka first. I was going for a lot of mint flavor so used the whole tin, but you can easily split them up for how much you want.

robegero said:

I was going for a lot of mint flavor so used the whole tin, but you can easily split them up for how much you want.

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So as our Chocolate Mint guru...how would you describe the level of mintiness from the whole tin of Altoids? Balanced with the chocolate? A tad stronger than expected?

I'm intrigued by this combo...

NineMilBill said:

So as our Chocolate Mint guru...how would you describe the level of mintiness from the whole tin of Altoids? Balanced with the chocolate? A tad stronger than expected?

I'm intrigued by this combo...

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For about 2.5 gallons first taste is chocolate roast flavors of the stout then it finishes like you pop some Altoids in your mouth with a hint of the roast flavors. After 6 months the mint flavor mellowed out and was a lot more balanced and the combination really worked well, almost had the peppermint patty taste I was going for with a slight roasted taste in the background. Next time I would cut back on the Altoids and probably use 1/4 tin for 2.5 gallons so it would be more of a hint than an assault, but overall the mint taste/flavoring from the Altoids worked very well and would definitely use them again.

: ) mmmm choc mint

stbnj said:

I used tea bags, turned out well and was a big hit.

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When did you add the bags, and how many?

Atonk said:

When did you add the bags, and how many?

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3 for a 2.5 gallon batch and the last 10 minutes

stbnj said:

3 for a 2.5 gallon batch and the last 10 minutes

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Putting this in the brew queue - thanks!

Not sure if anyone's tried it before but there's a recipe for a Chocolate Mint Stout in the Radical Brewing book. I've been toying with the idea of trying it but I'm not sure.

I am working on one now, going to try adding peppermint extract to my chocolate stout. I'll let you all know how it turns out...

I did one with 2 oz. of peppermint extract for a 5 gallon batch. It definitely brought out the flavor more than the smell, but it was pretty good. If I did it again, I'd try maybe 1.5 oz. of extract, but the flavor definitely mellowed with time and after several months the flavors blended nicely.