boulong
New Member
Hi All ...
This is my only my second batch so i am still a rookie brewer and would like to know how increasing the water in step one from 1.5 gallons to 3 gallons would affect the taste of the final product.
1.5 gallons seems low to me considering that i will lose some to evaporation and since my stove can easily handle a 3 gallon boil I thought it might improve the quality of beer.
I have read that the amount of hops added is based partially upon the volume of wort and since i am doubling the amount of wort it seems like hops adjustment is in order.
This is a kit and recipe is from a local homebrew supply that has been very helpful, but some independent observations on the kit or recipe would be appreciated as well.
Oatmeal Stout
Heavily roasted grains make our Oatmeal Stout impenetrably black with richness of dark chocolate and espresso. Generous additions of oats create an incredibly full-bodied beer topped with a thick, tan head.
Ingredients
7 lb. John Bull Amber Malt Extract
1 lb. M & F Dark Dry Malt Extract
½ lb. M & F Roasted Barley Malt 675° L
½ lb. M & F Black Patent Malt 471° L
½ lb. M & F Chocolate Malt 338° L
1 lb. Flaked Oats
1 oz. Phoenix Hops (Bittering)
1 oz. Willamette Hops (Finishing)
Wyeast # 1099XL Whitbread Ale Yeast
Statistics
Original Gravity 1.062
Final Gravity 1.018
Alcohol Content 5.5%
1. Divide the cracked grains and flaked oats among 5 of the muslin bags (no more than ½ pound per bag) and add them to your brew kettle along with 1½ gallons of cold water. Heat slowly.
2. Steep the grains, including the oats, in hot water (about 145° 160°F) to extract flavor and color do not allow to boil. After about 30 minutes, remove the grain bags and then bring the water to a boil.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and add the cans of malt extract and the bag of dry malt extract. Keep the kettle off the burner and stir until the malt extract is completely dissolved.
4. Put the pot back on the burner and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, place the bittering hops into muslin bags (no more than 1 oz. per bag), add them to the pot, and set your timer to boil for 1 hour. Keep an eye on the pot to avoid boil-overs.
5. After 45 minutes of boiling, you may add ½ teaspoon of Irish moss, or 1 Whirlfloc tablet, to help clarify your beer (optional).
6. After 58 minutes of boiling, add the finishing hops (in a muslin bag) and boil for 2 more minutes.
7. After 60 minutes of boiling, turn off the heat. Put a lid on your pot and cool it in an ice bath (use your sink) for about 30 minutes. Remove the hop bags from the kettle.
8. Pour 2 gallons of cold water into your sanitized fermenter, add the cooled wort (the stuff in your pot), and top up with additional water to 5 gallons. Aerate the wort with vigorous stirring, rocking the fermenter, etc.
9. Make sure the wort is below 80°F before adding yeast. Take a hydrometer reading if desired. Add the yeast.
10. Store the fermenter where the temperature will be a fairly constant 65° 70°F. Active fermentation may take only a few days, or it can last up to 2 weeks. A hydrometer reading is a great way to determine when the fermentation is done. Keep it in the primary fermenter until active fermentation is complete (no signs of active fermentation for the last 2 to 3 days).
11. When ready to bottle, siphon beer into your sanitized bottling bucket, leaving sediment behind. Boil the priming sugar in 1-2 cups of water for a few minutes, gently stir into the beer, and bottle as usual.
This is my only my second batch so i am still a rookie brewer and would like to know how increasing the water in step one from 1.5 gallons to 3 gallons would affect the taste of the final product.
1.5 gallons seems low to me considering that i will lose some to evaporation and since my stove can easily handle a 3 gallon boil I thought it might improve the quality of beer.
I have read that the amount of hops added is based partially upon the volume of wort and since i am doubling the amount of wort it seems like hops adjustment is in order.
This is a kit and recipe is from a local homebrew supply that has been very helpful, but some independent observations on the kit or recipe would be appreciated as well.
Oatmeal Stout
Heavily roasted grains make our Oatmeal Stout impenetrably black with richness of dark chocolate and espresso. Generous additions of oats create an incredibly full-bodied beer topped with a thick, tan head.
Ingredients
7 lb. John Bull Amber Malt Extract
1 lb. M & F Dark Dry Malt Extract
½ lb. M & F Roasted Barley Malt 675° L
½ lb. M & F Black Patent Malt 471° L
½ lb. M & F Chocolate Malt 338° L
1 lb. Flaked Oats
1 oz. Phoenix Hops (Bittering)
1 oz. Willamette Hops (Finishing)
Wyeast # 1099XL Whitbread Ale Yeast
Statistics
Original Gravity 1.062
Final Gravity 1.018
Alcohol Content 5.5%
1. Divide the cracked grains and flaked oats among 5 of the muslin bags (no more than ½ pound per bag) and add them to your brew kettle along with 1½ gallons of cold water. Heat slowly.
2. Steep the grains, including the oats, in hot water (about 145° 160°F) to extract flavor and color do not allow to boil. After about 30 minutes, remove the grain bags and then bring the water to a boil.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and add the cans of malt extract and the bag of dry malt extract. Keep the kettle off the burner and stir until the malt extract is completely dissolved.
4. Put the pot back on the burner and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, place the bittering hops into muslin bags (no more than 1 oz. per bag), add them to the pot, and set your timer to boil for 1 hour. Keep an eye on the pot to avoid boil-overs.
5. After 45 minutes of boiling, you may add ½ teaspoon of Irish moss, or 1 Whirlfloc tablet, to help clarify your beer (optional).
6. After 58 minutes of boiling, add the finishing hops (in a muslin bag) and boil for 2 more minutes.
7. After 60 minutes of boiling, turn off the heat. Put a lid on your pot and cool it in an ice bath (use your sink) for about 30 minutes. Remove the hop bags from the kettle.
8. Pour 2 gallons of cold water into your sanitized fermenter, add the cooled wort (the stuff in your pot), and top up with additional water to 5 gallons. Aerate the wort with vigorous stirring, rocking the fermenter, etc.
9. Make sure the wort is below 80°F before adding yeast. Take a hydrometer reading if desired. Add the yeast.
10. Store the fermenter where the temperature will be a fairly constant 65° 70°F. Active fermentation may take only a few days, or it can last up to 2 weeks. A hydrometer reading is a great way to determine when the fermentation is done. Keep it in the primary fermenter until active fermentation is complete (no signs of active fermentation for the last 2 to 3 days).
11. When ready to bottle, siphon beer into your sanitized bottling bucket, leaving sediment behind. Boil the priming sugar in 1-2 cups of water for a few minutes, gently stir into the beer, and bottle as usual.
