Double Chocolate stout recipe help

[h22lude]

I just bought a Double Chocolate stout kit...

12oz Chocolate Malt
4oz 40L
2oz Black Roasted Barley
8oz 2-Row
2oz Black Patent Malt

8oz Maltodextrin
2lb Amber LME
5lb Dark LME

1oz Galena @ 60
1oz Belgian Cocoa Powder @ 5

I was thinking of using London Ale WLP013. Would you recommend another one?

With the 2-Row I would have to do a partial mash. BeerSmith has me boiling 2.2 quarts and mashing at 158 for 45 minutes. Then sparge with 1.9 gallons at 168 to bring my boil amount to 2 gallons. Would you recommend doing this differently? I like the thicker mouth feel and full body. Is 158 a little too high or would it be ok? And the reason I am only boiling 2 gallons is because right now I am using my electric stove top to boil and it doesn't boil a lot of water that well. I could probably do 3 gallons.

And to my last question, would you add anything to this recipe? Like using some chocolate in secondary...

 

[h22lude]

No one?

Oh and to add to this, my GF bought me a sq-14 burner so I will be able to boil more now.

 

[Jakemo]

Looks like you're just steeping the grains and not actually mashing, right?

You're going to get about 90-99% of your fermentables from the LME; changing the temp of the steep will only have a very small effect on the finished product.

That said, I made a stout using mostly LME and DME, and the FG came to a nice 1.022.... So try it this once, see what happens, and maybe it'll turn out how ya want it!

 

[dcp27]

ditch the 2-row, or use more of it. 1/2 lb won't add anything to flavor and none of those other malts need to be mashed. if you're willing to do the PM, i'd drop the amber LME for 3lbs of 2-row, 4oz more of crystal, and 8oz of flaked barley, plus you're dark malts. I'd hold off on the malto-dextrin since this should have a high enough FG on its own.

 

[Jakemo]

+1 to ^

 

[h22lude]

Yeah I would assume steeping but I don't know why the 2-row is in there as that needs to be mashed.

This is an AHS kit. The LME came in a bucket and all the grains came milled in 1 grain bag so I can't separate the 2-row. I may have to go with the instructions I get from BeerSmith...or would you go with the instructions AHS gave me?

BeerSmith has me partial mash the grains in 2.2 quarts and then add enough water to bring boil to 2 gallons. AHS has me steep them in 2 gallons and then bring it to 3 gallons to boil.

I don't mind going with the instructions, I just want to see what you guys recommend I change. I would assume AHS knows their recipes so maybe I should just follow this one by what they say. When I get kits from my LHBS I use BeerSmith.

 

[dcp27]

oh, totally missed the fact that it was a kit. either would be fine since its such a low amount of base malt it doesnt really matter, but i guess i'd go with the BS way for practice and minor bump in OG. if you got a LHBS, i'd consider grabbing another lb or so of 2-row to make it worth it tho if you do that way.

 

[h22lude]

oh, totally missed the fact that it was a kit. either would be fine since its such a low amount of base malt it doesnt really matter, but i guess i'd go with the BS way for practice and minor bump in OG. if you got a LHBS, i'd consider grabbing another lb or so of 2-row to make it worth it tho if you do that way.

So use everything from the kit and just add the lb or so of 2-row to the grain bill and do a partial mash? What exactly would that do to the finished beer?

I have been doing all extract kit brewing. Like I said I am getting a burner and I have a Amazon gift card that will go towards a 10+ gallon pot and a cooler for a mash tun. I'll be going AG soon so any practice with mashing or changing up the recipe would be good for me

 

[Jakemo]

Adding another pound or two of 2-row will give you a good excuse to try partial mash. You might get another 5-10 points in OG too, but I still wouldn't recommend 158... Maybe 155 or 156, at least until you get used to partial mashing.

Have fun with your new gear and let us know how this turns out!

 

[Stevo2569]

Partial mashing is great practice and makes the all grain transition easier. You could add more cocoa if wanted as well. I just brewed a Double chocolate oatmeal cream stout (thanks to Chestshire Cat) the other day that I put 8 oz of cocoa in, but that may be too much. Depending on how much choco your looking for.

 

[completenewbie]

Amazing recipe, just started drinking a batch. Would strongly suggest upping the cocoa powder a bit. I doubled it, would triple it next time.

 

[NWMushroom]

I brewed the mini-mash version of this recipe from AHS way back on June 21. Bottled on July 13 and I'd say it's finally almost ready to drink. I still haven't put any in the fridge yet, but it's close. Don't drink this one too soon! It really will get better over time.

I used White Labs London Ale Yeast WLP013. I also made a 1 liter starter.

Amazing recipe, just started drinking a batch. Would strongly suggest upping the cocoa powder a bit. I doubled it, would triple it next time.

Agreed - I think it could do with a bit more chocolate, but it's worth making sure you're not just drinking it before all the flavors mature.

 

[h22lude]

I'll be kegging this beer but I will definitely be keeping this beer conditioning as long as possible.

What did you use for making the starter with this beer?

I love chocolate stouts so I may bump it up either x2 or x3 depending how I feel that day lol

 

[NWMushroom]

I'll be kegging this beer but I will definitely be keeping this beer conditioning as long as possible.

What did you use for making the starter with this beer?

I love chocolate stouts so I may bump it up either x2 or x3 depending how I feel that day lol

I used light dried malt extract - I normally use 150g and 1.5 liters of water and boil down to the one liter starter.

I don't think you can go too far wrong by doubling the cocoa powder. I'm going to give my bottles a little bit longer before giving them final judgement, though!

 

[h22lude]

I used light dried malt extract - I normally use 150g and 1.5 liters of water and boil down to the one liter starter.

I don't think you can go too far wrong by doubling the cocoa powder. I'm going to give my bottles a little bit longer before giving them final judgement, though!

Is that what you pretty much use for all your beers?

I was a little surprised by the little amount of cocoa in a double chocolate kit. With a double chocolate kit I figured it would have at least the powder it came with plus some actual chocolate for secondary or something.

 

[NWMushroom]

I actually use extra light DME nowadays, but it doesn't really make a difference. A 1 liter starter won't affect the taste of a 5 gallon batch of beer - especially a stout! If you are worried, you can always cold crash the starter, pour off the beer and just pitch the yeast (but you'll have to wait for the yeast to wake up again).

I think the 'double chocolate' refers to the use of chocolate malt AND the cocoa powder, but I may be wrong (and often am)!

 

[h22lude]

I actually use extra light DME nowadays, but it doesn't really make a difference. A 1 liter starter won't affect the taste of a 5 gallon batch of beer - especially a stout! If you are worried, you can always cold crash the starter, pour off the beer and just pitch the yeast (but you'll have to wait for the yeast to wake up again).

I think the 'double chocolate' refers to the use of chocolate malt AND the cocoa powder, but I may be wrong (and often am)!

1 liter against 5 gallons is a very small amount huh lol

Yeah I never thought of that. I guess it does have double chocolate. The reviews were good so I'm pretty excited about it

 

[C-Rider]

So use everything from the kit and just add the lb or so of 2-row to the grain bill and do a partial mash? What exactly would that do to the finished beer?

I have been doing all extract kit brewing. Like I said I am getting a burner and I have a Amazon gift card that will go towards a 10+ gallon pot and a cooler for a mash tun. I'll be going AG soon so any practice with mashing or changing up the recipe would be good for me

Where did she get the burner? What is the wattage? I"m using a 1500 w/hotplate i bought on line.

BTW my last Double Chocolate I used 8 oz of cocoa powder. I was nice! I can't see 1 oz doing anything for flavor. I also used 12 oz of Chocolate Malt like you have.

 

[h22lude]

Where did she get the burner? What is the wattage? I"m using a 1500 w/hotplate i bought on line.

BTW my last Double Chocolate I used 8 oz of cocoa powder. I was nice! I can't see 1 oz doing anything for flavor. I also used 12 oz of Chocolate Malt like you have.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JXYQ4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[C-Rider]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009JXYQ4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Tks, I wasn't thinking gas for some reason.

 

[h22lude]

Brewed this last night. I went with the instructions from AHS. Steeped grain in 2 gallons of water at 155 to 160. Added anotehr gallon and boiled extract. I used 2 oz cocoa instead of just 1 oz.

I came in 2 point higher which I was happy about...close enough.

How long would you guys recommend this sit in primary for? I was thinking 4 to 5 weeks primary and then another week on chocolate in secondary. Then let it carb in my keg for 2 weeks at 3 psi.

 

[twelvelookslikex]

I too just brewed this 1 week ago and am wondering how long to leave it in my primary. I am scared that the 1 once of cocoa isnt oing to be enough. Even youngs double chocolate stout seems like it could use more chocolate and this is almost a clone of it.

 

[completenewbie]

Brewed this last night. I went with the instructions from AHS. Steeped grain in 2 gallons of water at 155 to 160. Added anotehr gallon and boiled extract. I used 2 oz cocoa instead of just 1 oz.

I came in 2 point higher which I was happy about...close enough.

How long would you guys recommend this sit in primary for? I was thinking 4 to 5 weeks primary and then another week on chocolate in secondary. Then let it carb in my keg for 2 weeks at 3 psi.

I left mine in for 4 weeks, and was really happy with it.