10 Days ago I brewed an imperial Stout. SG was 1.082. The recipe said on the third day to boil 2 cups of water, add the oak, let sit for 5 mins. ad to fermentor. It also says to bottle 10 days after adding the oak.
I took a gravity reading today, it was down to 1.022. I could taste the oak, and a nice roasty flavor, but man was the alcohol taste very "punch you in the face" noticeable. Fermentation temps never went above 64* so I know it is not that. My calculations put it at 7.86% ABV.
I want it to mellow out, and I know that comes with time. The recipe calls for bottling 10 days after oaking. I would prefer to bulk age it. I have never used a secondary, but have an empty 5 gallon better bottle (apfelwein). After 3 weeks in primary, should I transfer to secondary to allow to bulk age, or will it age just as well if it was bottled?
This is the biggest beer I have made, and am willing to give it the time it needs. How long do you think it will take to mellow out? I am not going to be impatient on this one!
Thanks!
Dave
I took a gravity reading today, it was down to 1.022. I could taste the oak, and a nice roasty flavor, but man was the alcohol taste very "punch you in the face" noticeable. Fermentation temps never went above 64* so I know it is not that. My calculations put it at 7.86% ABV.
I want it to mellow out, and I know that comes with time. The recipe calls for bottling 10 days after oaking. I would prefer to bulk age it. I have never used a secondary, but have an empty 5 gallon better bottle (apfelwein). After 3 weeks in primary, should I transfer to secondary to allow to bulk age, or will it age just as well if it was bottled?
This is the biggest beer I have made, and am willing to give it the time it needs. How long do you think it will take to mellow out? I am not going to be impatient on this one!
Thanks!
Dave