Addition time - When to add Cocoa Nibs?

[croatiandj]

I've purchased Northernbrewers Pumpkin Ale(allgrain) kit and 4oz of their Ghana cacao nibs.When should I had the nibs to get the most amount of chocolate flavor? Thanks.here is a link for their recipe. http://www.northernbrewer.com/documentation/allgrain/AG-SmashingPumpkin.pdf

 

[HowardMBeers]

In the keg or if you don't keg you could put them in the fermenter after fermentation is done.

Lightly crush then sanitize by covering in vodka. Dump vodka in keg or fermenter then if adding to keg I'd put the nibs in a paint strainer bag and tie on some unflavored dental floss for later retrieval. If adding to fermenter, just toss them in!

 

[MindenMan]

Since you really don't need to secondary, I also agree putting them in the fermenter. The different way I would do it is, roast the nibs first and while they are still warm drop them into the vodka, them crush them. One of the easiest ways to find out if you want the roasted nib flavor, is put a few into a small nonstick pan on the stove on low heat, and make sure they don't burn. When you can smell them them, pour out of the pan, let cool, and decide then. I roasted the nibs I used in my last Chocolate beer, and along with a little vanilla, the flavor was great.
If there isn't vanilla, the chocolate flavor will not be as pronounced.

 

[MrNickVT]

I racked a stout from primary to secondary on top of nibs. Because I didn't have a free keg. I also put the nibs in a ziploc bags with a decent whiskey. I don't think there's really any wrong way, just preference!

 

[croatiandj]

I don't keg.I was told two different ways.At the end of the boil or in the fermenter.I was thinking half in the boil,half in the fermenter? Thoughts?

 

[HowardMBeers]

I'd go all fermenter. The boil probably wouldn't contribute as much flavor from boiling away flavor and then scrubbing out during fermentation. Also might get some undesirable tannins from boiling the nibs.

 

[MrNickVT]

I'd go all fermenter. The boil probably wouldn't contribute as much flavor from boiling away flavor and then scrubbing out during fermentation. Also might get some undesirable tannins from boiling the nibs.

I agree with that

 

[Xtynct]

I agree with Howard and Mr Nick. I did the same thing yesterday using vodka(soaked 2 weeks) and a hops bag to my Chocolate Milk Stout.