So, here is my dilema. There is a stout contest in my area in 3 weeks, starting this weekend. I really would like to make a chocolate-vanilla stout I have drawn up (partial grain/DME). I know stouts will get better with age, but time is not of the essence for the contest and I have heard of some people pulling off a stout for a contest in such short time, and winning. My first question is can this turn out good and is it worth doing on such short time frame? If I brew Saturday, I have to bottle it either the Wednesday, March 7th (week & half before contest) or bottle on Sunday, March 11th (6 days before the contest). Which day would be best to bottle? Since I don't need much carbonation, should I spike it with some fresh, rehydrated yeast at bottling time?
If this venture seems worth going for, should I only bottle half of a 5 gal. batch and allow the remaining to rest in the secondary and then bottle and age as normal? Any and all suggestions on this plan are welcome. I am not a beginning brewer, but I am not an expert by any means. This would be my first contest with many more in the future, so not pulling it off wouldn't devastate me too much.
If this venture seems worth going for, should I only bottle half of a 5 gal. batch and allow the remaining to rest in the secondary and then bottle and age as normal? Any and all suggestions on this plan are welcome. I am not a beginning brewer, but I am not an expert by any means. This would be my first contest with many more in the future, so not pulling it off wouldn't devastate me too much.