Imperial stout...need help with timing

[SasquatchSmith]

I've got an all grain Imperial Stout that has been in primary for the past 10 days, and i've got a couple questions. My 2 or 3 attempts at stouts in the past have been below average but this one tasted great after 7 days of fermenting so I want to make sure I don't screw it up.

1. I have some heavy toast oak chips that I plan to soak in a small amount of nice bourbon and add in a muslin bag...how long should I soak the chips for, and how long should I leave the soaked chips in the bucket for?

2. How long should I let the thing go overall before I bottle? It should come in around 10% ABV. I was thinking I'd give it about 2 months...would that suffice or would it benefit from longer?

:fro:

Thanks in advance!

 

[dcp27]

1. chips impart their flavor pretty quickly, should only need a week or so to extract. I'd start soaking them now and add when you're getting close to bottling time so you can make sure it's a level you are happy with and then can just rack to bottling bucket and move on or give a few more days til it is.

2. 2 months sounds great

 

[sweetcell]

put the chips in for a week, taste, and leave in for another if not oak'y enough.

2 months in primary is probably fine. i've never gone any longer than that.

 

[SasquatchSmith]

Thanks! I started soaking the chips in Devil's Cut a few days ago so i'll leave them until a week or so before planned bottling date