Recipe Feedback -- ChocoPorter

[qbst]

Hey, Howyadoin', 'sup.

I'm trying to do a economical (read, inexpensive) chocolate porter. Here's what I've come up with (using beertarget for my calcs). Any and all suggestions definitely welcome. Thanks in advance!


5 Gal Batch
OG: 1.062
FG: 1.016
IBU's: 31.8
SRM: 43.5

Yeast: S-05
Mash: 152


Grain
8.0 lb Rahr 2-row
3.0 lb C 60
1.0 lb Chocolate Malt
.5 lb flaked oats


Hops
60 mins 1.0 oz. Magnum


Misc.
1.5 cup cocoa powder at 10 min
2 vanilla beans in primary

 

[Andrewtherooster]

That's a lot of crystal malt. I would push it down to a pound or less and up the 2-row, otherwise you're going to have an overly sweet beer. If you're worried about this making the beer too light in color, add in some more roasted malt.

 

[qbst]

Thanks for the feedback. I am basing this recipe off of a PM I did a while ago. In that batch, my base was Amber LME, with roasted malts to porter-ize it. I read somewhere that, although amber LME can differ from company to company and their precise ingredients are unknown, a good rule of thumb for converting from Amber extract to an all grain version was 2 2-row to not quite 1 C-60.

Is that general guide out of sync with your experience? Any further input would be much appreciated. Thanks again!

 

[one8tvw]

have you considered adding about 8oz of cacao nibs to secondary, and completely doing away with the powder in the boil?

they cost about 8 bucks so they are inexpensive

 

[qbst]

I haven't really thought about nibs versus powder. I used powder last time, and thought it turned out well. Are nibs better than the powder? Do they give a better flavor?

 

[one8tvw]

I haven't really thought about nibs versus powder. I used powder last time, and thought it turned out well. Are nibs better than the powder? Do they give a better flavor?

i prefer them to powder. they give off a more "real" chocolate flavor IMO. if you have never used them it cant hurt to try them.