Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer Coconut Cream Stout-competition runner up

[mark014294]

I just brewed a milk stout with coconut and cacao nib put into secondary. Question- since lactose is no fermentable how do I measure true gravities? Is OG and FG changed by the lactose? Hope I don't sound too ignorant

 

[BrewmeisterSmith]

I just brewed a milk stout with coconut and cacao nib put into secondary. Question- since lactose is no fermentable how do I measure true gravities? Is OG and FG changed by the lactose? Hope I don't sound too ignorant

I don't think the lactose has any effect on gravity since its not fermentable. I'd just take your reading.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

I don't think the lactose has any effect on gravity since its not fermentable. I'd just take your reading.

Won't it essentially add to your OG and FG since its sugar but non fermentable.

 

[BrewmeisterSmith]

Beersmith will tell you so. I wouldn't be too concerned. I think it's a very minimal effect. I can tell you that I've felt good after drinking a few, so to me it's irrelevant. End result, good effects. If you really want to be precise, load it in beersmith, calibrate the recipe to your profile, then leave out the lactose. That will help you figure out your potential. Adjust from there if you need to. Add your lactose after you feel comfortable with it.

 

[Biergarden]

I was noting you OG and FG and thought maybe you mashed at 158f or thereabouts. I'm I right?

 

[Biergarden]

I just brewed a milk stout with coconut and cacao nib put into secondary. Question- since lactose is no fermentable how do I measure true gravities? Is OG and FG changed by the lactose? Hope I don't sound too ignorant

Yes it will affect your OG and FG, but you're calculations will still yield the same ABV% as long as you're consistent.
The long polymer chain of lactose can't be broken down with the brewer's yeast we use.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

I was noting you OG and FG and thought maybe you mashed at 158f or thereabouts. I'm I right?

OP says mash at 152f.

 

[blkcld5150]

#8 maris otter
#1 chocolate
#1 crystal 60L
12oz Roasted Barley
8oz Dextrin
mash single infusion 54 - 60 min boil
#1 lactose(15 boil)
1oz Northern brewer (60 min)
.5 oz Fuggles (15min)
WLP004 - Irish ale OG 1.074 FG 1.026
4 oz Cacao nibs (secondary 7 days)
16 oz Toasted Coconut (secondary 7 days)
turned out spectacular - just a hint of coconut in finish - bottle conditioned in 10 days
only problem was that i loose leafed the coconut and it was a pain to syphon

 

[BrewmeisterSmith]

#8 maris otter
#1 chocolate
#1 crystal 60L
12oz Roasted Barley
8oz Dextrin
mash single infusion 54 - 60 min boil
#1 lactose(15 boil)
1oz Northern brewer (60 min)
.5 oz Fuggles (15min)
WLP004 - Irish ale OG 1.074 FG 1.026
4 oz Cacao nibs (secondary 7 days)
16 oz Toasted Coconut (secondary 7 days)
turned out spectacular - just a hint of coconut in finish - bottle conditioned in 10 days
only problem was that i loose leafed the coconut and it was a pain to syphon

Yep...contain the coconut. Use a hop sock and some marbles...careful. Dont throw out all the marbles later by accident. Your wife will get mad at you....lol. Plus if you contain it, you wont waste as much beer. I gained about a half-1 gallon when I started using a hop sock.

btw...that sounds delicious. I almost went with Cacao nibs originally, but couldn't find any.

 

[Leppy]

I made a 5.5 gallon batch of this, basically halved the recipe on the first page, and only used 1 8 oz bag of toasted coconut, but it was great, one of my favorites so far. I will keep this one and maybe experiment with it a little bt n the future. Thanks for the recipe!

 

[samgalgano]

Anyone have a good partial mash for this? I just don't know how much 2 row to sub out for DME. FWIW, this looks incredible and I can't wait to brew this.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Brewin_Sparty]

I just racked this to secondary and added the coconut. I tried a little bit of it (couldn't help it!) and it's delicious. I added a couple drops of chocolate extract to it and it made it taste like a chocolate milkshake. I cannot wait to try it fully carbed and with the coconut. Very grateful for this recipe.

 

[Xernex]

I'm about to throw my 2nd batch of this in secondary - Can't thank you enough for the recipe, it's the best thing I've brewed so far. I did however go to the extreme end with it - I wanted a coconut punch in the face so my first batch had almost 3 pounds in a 5 gallon batch. I couldn't keep people out of it - This time I dropped the Lactose and haven't quite decided how much coconut I'll use.

 

[RyPA]

Thanks for the recipe, I am going to brew this in the next 1-2 months.