Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer Double Chocolate Oatmeal Snout

[kevinb]

My next brew is going to be an all-grain chocolate oatmeal stout that is going to be based on your ideas here. The ingredients will look somethign like this:

9 lbs pale 2-row malt
1lb flaked oats (i might toast these.. not sure yet)
3/4 lb crystal 60L
3/4 lb chocolate malt
1/2 lb cara-pils
1/2 lb roasted barley (I may reduce this to 1/4 lb)
1 oz Chinook @ 60 mins
1 oz Glacier @ 5 mins
WLP001 California Ale or S-05 yeast
6 oz cocoa nibs (soaked in small amount of vodka) dumped in secondary
1 or 2 vanilla beans done the same way into the secondary

5.5 gallons into the fermenter

I'm trying to decide what type of body I want for this beer. I'm currently thinking about a medium body and a 154° mash, but I might mash slightly higher but not up to 158°... maybe 155 or 156...

EDIT - 9/15/2009

I did modify this recipe just a little and I will post the update after I have taste tested sometime in December....

Why soak the nibs in Vodka? Is that to sterilize? How much and for how long?

 

[Brihaus]

Why soak the nibs in Vodka? Is that to sterilize? How much and for how long?

That's how you make extract (check the label of any vanilla extract bottle). The alcohol extracts what you need from the bean. Use enough vodka, or whatever spirit you select, to cover the nibs and let them soak for a couple of days. And yes, the vodka does keep it sterile too.

 

[ChshreCat]

Lots of flavors are alcohol soluable. Vodka brings little more to the party than alcohol so it's a pretty good carrier as long as you don't use too much.

 

[jmkratt]

Brewed this one today, based on the original recipe posted, I did however add in 6oz of Lactose to counter the bitterness of the chocolate.

OG came out to 1.083, some killer efficiency (combined with the lactose) really looking forward to this one. Will post my thoughts after I get it finished.

Initial tasting thoughts were sweet chocolate up front and then bitterness of the hops came through in the after taste, quite good so far.

Edit: Efficiency 89%

How'd this turn out!?

 

[Draygon]

Turned out amazing!! Im actually going to enter this into the Gnarly Barley competition here in Colorado in August.

Came out smooth, good mouth feel with really good chocolate tones. Originally thought that the chocolate would be over the top (I used milk chocolate not dark) but it mellowed out considerably. Came out at 7.1%

 

[speedster00]

Has anyone used vanilla extract as apposed to a bean? I brewed this earlier this year and it was fantastic. Im going to brew again but wanted to use vanilla extract and add mint leaves. Thoughts?

 

[ChshreCat]

I'd start with a teaspoon or two in secondary, sample it before bottling and adjust a little in the bottling bucket if you need.

 

[Walshy87]

I notice in the gluten free recipe they roasted the oats. I haven't seen anything here about it, but I'm assuming you do right? What temp how long?

Plan to brew it this weekend as it will be my first partial mash.

 

[ChshreCat]

Nope. I just used 'em as they were.

 

[fastfocus]

Do you think adding the cocoa powder to the secondary. Would add a smoother more mellow chocolate flavor?? Brew nubie question

 

[ChshreCat]

Do you think adding the cocoa powder to the secondary. Would add a smoother more mellow chocolate flavor?? Brew nubie question

I think that's more a function of the amount of chocolate flavor. I like mine to grab your by the throat and scream "CHOCOLATE!!!!!" in your face. If you want mellow, back off on the cocoa powder. A lot. I feel like the boil really helps to bring the chocolate out of the cocoa powder. It roils around and seems to extract really well that way.

 

[fastfocus]

I'm like you i LOVE the chocolate favor. I was hoping to get to brewing today. Wife had honey do's.

 

[ChshreCat]

I've got blackberry bushes that are still putting out ripe berries and my daughter is getting tired of eating them. I'm thinking about taking 5 or 6 lbs of them and adding them to this brew. Double chocolate blackberry oatmeal snout...

 

[fastfocus]

Now that's sound tasty. I enjoy Buffalo Bill's Blueberry stout. I'm going to have to look over the fruit beers to see how that is done.

 

[ChshreCat]

Now that's sound tasty. I enjoy Buffalo Bill's Blueberry stout. I'm going to have to look over the fruit beers to see how that is done.

If you don't want to just find a recipe, what I like to do with something like that is to think about what you'd like to go with the blueberry, then find a recipe that fits that. That's actually how I came up with this one. I wanted the heavy duty cocoa flavor in it so I found a stout recipe to branch off of.

 

[Walshy87]

I brewed this 3 weeks ago and had an OG of 1.078, 1st partial mash so I probably screwed it up, it is now at 1.04 for about last two weeks. Does that seem right? Or do you think it's maybe stuck?

Btw thanks for sharing the recipe!

 

[ChshreCat]

Probably stuck. I'd try gently rousing the yeast. Give the fermenter a gentle swirl (not a shake or slosh) to get some of the yeast cake suspended. Also, make sure it's not getting too cold at night. It's been getting chilly in Seattle lately.

 

[Walshy87]

I moved it from my garage to a closet for a more stable temp. Ill try a gentle stir. It's actually 1.030 not 1.040. Will there still be sugar conversion if mash is over 155 like 158?

 

[fastfocus]

Ok, I finally got this one some kitchen time. Brewed this one last night. made a half batch 2 1/2gal. VERY thick and creamy. OG was 1.086. the program used to no calc og said 1.072. A little confused about that. Started with 3 gal of water ended bang on 2 1/2gal. Checked this morning ferm has started. Mash temp was 156 had a short spike up to 159.5. Pitching temp was 72. NOW The fourth day, No bubbles going throw airlock. Krausen is gone. Haven't checked gravity. Seems to soon. 2"+ of trub stuff on the bottom of the cab. Yoohoo in color.

 

[m_stodd]

I put this together yesterday. I followed the original recipe, and ended up with an OG of 1.073. I did try to get the most out of the grains, and substituted 1lb of LME for some DME, so that might have raised it. Oh, and I probably did 4oz. of lactose.

I bought an 8oz. container of cocoa powder, and used most of it, so probably 7oz, so hopefully it's more balanced than the original 9oz. the recipe called for.

When I tasted the hydro sample I just said to myself, "damn, I wish I had some whiskey for this", but I am not a whiskey drinker.

I'm planning on giving this as xmas presents if it works out. Anyone know how long this should be in the secondary, or should I just leave it until a few weeks before xmas?

 

[ChshreCat]

I'm planning on giving this as xmas presents if it works out. Anyone know how long this should be in the secondary, or should I just leave it until a few weeks before xmas?

I'd go with three weeks in primary and a week in secondary. That'll give you 6 weeks or so to carb up. This is a higher alcohol brew and might take a little bit longer to carb up. Plus, higher alcohol brews need a little more time to get ready to drink.

 

[2BeerSpeer]

This is on my to brew list....may age in a barrel....whiskey or rum?!?

 

[m_stodd]

I'd go with three weeks in primary and a week in secondary. That'll give you 6 weeks or so to carb up. This is a higher alcohol brew and might take a little bit longer to carb up. Plus, higher alcohol brews need a little more time to get ready to drink.

Good point. Looking through the thread, it seems like some people have trouble with it carbing up

 

[booherbg]

I brewed this up last night. Used Rapunzel's Organize Cocao Powder (with < 1g/fat per serving), 7oz. Very much looking forward to it!

 

[m_stodd]

Mine is still aging nicely, you might want to watch your fermentation temperature, I tried to keep mine down, but it's rather estery.

It actually reminds me of a beer I had at a Kohler homebrew tasting called cocoa monkey, like a chocolate banana.

 

[fastfocus]

I brewed this 3 weeks ago and had an OG of 1.078, 1st partial mash so I probably screwed it up, it is now at 1.04 for about last two weeks. Does that seem right? Or do you think it's maybe stuck?

Btw thanks for sharing the recipe!

I had the close the the same readings. Og was 1.08 and the FG 1.04. Bottled 10 days ago. I can see the bubbles in the beer. It just doesn't feel like it in the mouth. I was hoping for sweetness. It's still a little to sweet. But, for a first brew. I'm pleased and learned ALOT.

 

[m_stodd]

Infected

Might save a few bottles, but going to dump most of it so I have room for something else

 

[fastfocus]

Has anyone tried added blackberry to this recipe? That's been on my mind for a while. Any idea's on that?

 

[ChshreCat]

Has anyone tried added blackberry to this recipe? That's been on my mind for a while. Any idea's on that?

I haven't yet, but got a bunch of blackberries in the freezer from our plants this summer and was thinking about doing just that.

 

[fastfocus]

The idea of adding blackberries. Just seems like an AWESOME dessert beer. ChshreCat, How long do you think it would take to age?