Imperial stout recipe critique

[Aleksiiv]

Hello everyone!

First imperial stout and first post in this forum.

Batch 7.9 gal (30 liter)
Mash eff 75%
Mash 90 min
Boil 100 min

Abv 8.5 %
OG 1.081
FG 1.017
EBC 103
IBU 70

3.4 kg 2-row (34%)
3.2 kg Munich (32%)
1.1 kg rye malt (10%)
0,7 kg flaked barley (7%)
0,5 kg roasted barley (5%)
0,47 kg CaraAroma (4.7%)
0,38 kg chocolate rye (3.8%)
0,35 kg special B (3.5%)

4 pkg us-05
Oak medium chips 30 g, about one week or more

 

[jturman35]

I would think 3 packs of US05 would be plenty. I just did a 1.095 using only 2 packs and it got down to 71% attenuation. Other than the Munich malt which im not as familiar with in a stout everything looks good to me.

 

[day_trippr]

I agree, based on the 1.107 imperial stouts I've been doing for years with two packs of S04 (similar alcohol tolerance and attenuation as US-05, maybe slightly lower) per 5 gallons. It never fails to get below 1.030 - if just barely, typically finishing at 1.028...

Cheers!

 

[Aleksiiv]

Thanks guys. I have made changes to recipe:

Using reiteraden mashing and dropped efficiency to 70 %
Magnum @60 for 70 IBU
Northern brewer @15 for 30 gram
3 pkg US-05

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I do like the looks of the grain bill. Should have a ton of flavor.

And I confess I totally skipped over the notion of using US-05 for a stout. I'm fundamentally against it
It's so totally devoid of character while stouts are all about character - there's nothing receding about a good stout.
I'd go with S04 if an easily accessible dry yeast is preferred, or any LAIII strain liquid...

Cheers! (and welcome to the forums at HBT! )

 

[jturman35]

I want to try Nottingham on my next stout.

 

[tracer bullet]

I used the Irish Ale liquid yeast on my last RIS and did not like the flavor it added (well, I think it came from the yeast). Went with S-05 for an Oatmeal stout I have fermenting right now. Hoped to focus on the malt flavor.

Definitely seems worth a little research for the OP to look into and decide.

I'm leery of rye malt, but that's just a personal thing. Haven't had a beer I liked it in. Though I do love rye whiskey. Another thing for the OP to ponder. If you know you like rye in beer totally go for it. Otherwise maybe try a single bottle or 6-pack of something with rye in it to check?

I'd suggest a yeast calculator for the amount, I won't say 3 packs is wrong but for 7.9 gallons I wonder if 4 might be best. Then again 8.5% isn't super high and maybe 3 is indeed best.