Help with Brewers Best Robust Porter...

[big_ajk]

Im planning on brewing the Brewers Best Robust Porter kit this friday. What im wondering is how can i up the alchohol content. The estimated ABV is 4.5% to 5%. I was also wondering what would happen if i doubled all the steeping grains that come in the kit? Any help would be appreciated. Ill post the ingredients below:

6.6 lbs. Plain Amber Malt Extract
8 oz. Crushed Crystal Malt 60L
4 oz. Crushed Chocolate Malt
4 oz. Crushed Black Patent Malt
1 oz. Cluster Hops (Bittering)
1/2 oz. Willamette Hops (Finishing)

Im thinking of doubling the grains in the kit. What would happen? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Jaybird]

well if its a kit and you havent brewed it yet I would do so before altering it any. Its like adding salt and pepper to a steak before you even try it.
Just my .02
Good Luck
JJ

 

[big_ajk]

well if its a kit and you havent brewed it yet I would do so before altering it any. Its like adding salt and pepper to a steak before you even try it.
Just my .02
Good Luck
JJ

Haha...that made me laugh a little. its a good point tho..im afraid to admit that im putting the cart before the horse a little on this one. I just want it to turn out good cuz its for my father. He likes a good porter...so im trying to make it the best i can on the small college budget i have. Thanks for the insight!

 

[DeathBrewer]

looks like a good recipe

 

[Yooper]

Since the grains are steeped, you are extracting color and flavor from them, but not fermentable sugars. Doubling them would not add ABV, but it might add some harshness that you won't like.

The only way to add ABV is to add fermentables. That would mean more extract. One of the issues though with adding more fermentables means you may want to change the bittering somewhat. It's not as simple as dumping in more malt. In order to be good, beers are balanced. So, even "big" beers are balanced in their hops IBUs and alcohol and percentages of types of malt. It takes a little experience to be able to do that and do it well.

Brewing software helps alot with formulating recipes. If you reallly, really want to change your recipe, I'm sure one of us would be glad to help you with it. I do think that's a pretty good looking recipe that you have already, though!

 

[Bosh]

If you want to up the alcohol a bit stick in a pound of corn sugar or honey. Malt is better for taste but corn sugar or honey will ferment out pretty clean so they can be good for upping the alcohol a bit as long as you don't overdo it.

 

[deharris]

I second Bosh's response. If all you want to do is up the alcohol, you could dump in a couple lbs. of dextrose (corn sugar) which won't affect the body or taste but will give you a boozier brew. This is what EdWort recommends for the Apfelwein and I don't think it should be any different for beer and I think this is how Austin Homebrew achieves their optional 1% alcohol boost (someone tell me if I'm wrong here). Good luck!

 

[Yooper]

I have to disagree with adding sugar to boost ABV. You'll boost the ABV slightly, but you'll also thin and dry the beer. So, the trade off here is a thinner drier porter for a little more ABV. Honey and corn sugar ferment completely, leaving no body or mouthfeel behind. I wouldn't do that. Also, more than a pound or so will impart a cidery flavor to beer and it's not good. The 1% alcohol boost from AHS also includes malt extract, not just sugar. (I wouldn't do that either, though- unless I was making a lighter beer like a cream ale or something).

Corn sugar does have it's place- usually in "big" beers, ciders, etc. But not just to add it to boost ABV in a lower gravity beer. For that you need malt extract, and then of course you'd have to balance that with hops.

 

[Pedro-]

I just want it to turn out good cuz its for my father. He likes a good porter...so im trying to make it the best i can on the small college budget i have. Thanks for the insight!

Goog kid, hope my son likes me that much when he goes to college. hah!

EDIT: Forgot to put my real $.o2 in! Brew it as is. It will be a great beer. Worry about adjust things later. Don't worry grasshopper, you'll be formulating soon enough... it will consume you

 

[brewt00l]

'Nother vote for brewing it as is.

 

[Donasay]

I would say brew it as is, but if you want to make it seem like it has not been thinned, you can add a pound of rice syrup solids for extra alcahol and about 8 ounses of maltodextrine to give it better head retention and mouth feel.

 

[Ketchepillar]

I brewed that exact kit a couple months ago. It turned out very nice. I wouldn't recommend doubling the steeping grains. I squeezed out all the juice from em I could when I removed the boil and that seemed to give me plenty of character, even though the recipe tells you not to do so. Yes, it would do alright with a little extra body and perhaps a creamier head, but I wouldn't mess with it this time. You and your father will quite pleased with the results anyway.

 

[Orfy]

The recipe will be designed that way for a reason. It'll be balanced and in style.
Boosting the ABV will unbalance it and take it out of style.
I don't know why people think increasing the ABV improves the beer.