Cocoa nibs

[rynoryan]

I want to add cocoa nibs to a five gallon batch of a stout I made. I'm not sure how to prep them or how much to add. I prefer a strong chocolate flavor, but at the same time don't want it to overpower the other flavors. Anybody who's worked with them before I'm ready and willing for some advice

 

[teddy4xp]

I used 3oz in an american stout. I soaked them in cognac for three days. I used just enough to cover the cocoa. I added them in a muslin bag 7 days before bottling. It produced a subtle cocoa aroma which I thouhht was perfect.

 

[rynoryan]

I used 3oz in an american stout. I soaked them in cognac for three days. I used just enough to cover the cocoa. I added them in a muslin bag 7 days before bottling. It produced a subtle cocoa aroma which I thouhht was perfect.

Thanks a lot man. Ill use that to get me in the ballpark. Yeah I def like the idea of the muslin bag, great idea. Thanks again.

 

[adiochiro3]

Put them in at flame-out, and they will be sanitized by the hot wort. Leave them in through fermentation. Works great. Done this on my chocolate stout numerous times with great results!

 

[TNGabe]

If you want some more opinions, try searching. You'll find quite a few threads on this subject.

 

[hehawbrew]

I used 3oz in an american stout. I soaked them in cognac for three days. I used just enough to cover the cocoa. I added them in a muslin bag 7 days before bottling. It produced a subtle cocoa aroma which I thouhht was perfect.

The bag is key! Listen to this man!

I bottled 5 gal of stout from a conical fermentor.....my buddy just dropped the nibs in......the nibs kept getting clogged in the lower valve!!!

 

[BlindFaith]

I just used cacao nibs yesterday and I just added 1.5oz @ 15mins. It is all about your recipe and what you a shooting for as far as amount used. I weighed mine out and put em in a muslin bag.

 

[Rehlgood]

I use 1/4 - 1/2 a lb in a 5 gallon batch for 1-2 weeks. The nibs I get come with a husk mixture. I haven't had to sanitize. I have both tossed them straight in and used a bag. If you toss them straight in just tie a hop bag to you siphon when racking to filter.

 

[SteveHeff]

Soak the nibs in either vodka or another alcohol for 5 days prior to adding into the beer. The alcohol will gently break down the cocoa structure and you will impart a much better cocoa flavor into the beer with a relative small amount of nibs. I used 3 oz soaked in vodka mixed with vanilla extract. Works great.

 

[rynoryan]

Soak the nibs in either vodka or another alcohol for 5 days prior to adding into the beer. The alcohol will gently break down the cocoa structure and you will impart a much better cocoa flavor into the beer with a relative small amount of nibs. I used 3 oz soaked in vodka mixed with vanilla extract. Works great.

That sounds like something I'd like a lot right there. I did a search but couldn't find anything significant. Thanks for the help guys.