Choconut Stout update:
I don't know when it happened, but I lost page 2 of my notes on this one...anywho...from page 1:
Brew date: 12 Apr 08
OG: 1.060
from pg 3, I bottled on 15 Jun 08
FG: 1.012
5.0% ABW / 6.3% ABV
Sampled today (in front of me right now): 26 Jul 08
Beer has been in the fridge for 2 weeks or so.
Nice slow phewtt! when opening the bottle.
Using the judging guide:
Bouquet/Aroma:
Malt: The smell of the Coconut floats over any Chocolate malt odor.
Hops: No hop bitterness detected resulting in a very balanced brew.
Other Fermentation Characteristics: N/A.
Appearance:
Color: Looks like a stout...nice and dark.
Clarity: N/A.
Head Retention: Poured nicely. Head was dark and dense for about 3 minutes before subsiding.
Flavor:
Malt: Chocolate malt may be a bit too heavy, but not completely unenjoyable. Anyone served a glass of this one would analyze it to the last drop then ask for another.
Hops: No hop flavor.
Balance: Well balanced. No hop flavor whatsoever with some residual sweetness that some people like in a stout.
Conditioning/Carbonation: Very low to non-existent.
Aftertaste: Even after 10 minutes there's a lingering dark chocolate flavor on the tongue as well as the coconut. More like a chocolate flavored coconut versus a coconut flavored chocolate.
Body:
Drinkability & Overall Impression: Initial deep chocolate and coconut flavor on the tongue. The coconut lingers a short time before the chocolate malt makes a base camp. Strangely enough, after a glass of this the coconut stands out nicely.
Odor: Smells like chocolate, but not overpowering. The coconut odor dominates. Very nice. If you ever broke a Mounds bar in half and smelled it you'll know what I'm talking about.
My overall impression: When I make this again I will reduce the chocolate malt some, and leave the rest untouched.
I really like this brew...
...now where's that bottle opener???