Sweet Stout Left Hand Milk Stout Clone

[jcav]

Well my yeast starter has been on the stir plate multiplying away and I got my 5 gallon jugs filled with r/o water today. I will be brewing up a ten gallon batch tomorrow!

John

 

[jcav]

I brewed up a batch today, and 11 gallons made it into my fermenter at 5:45 this evening. What a beautiful day on the back lanai to brew and what a smooth brew day it was! Ended up with 1.064 so two points higher than the recipe called for but I am very happy with that! Getting even higher mash efficiency since I went to an additional filter from Jaybird under my false bottom for super flow, may have to cut back on my grain just a little more. I will report back after this one ferments and I pull a pint.

John

 

[degivens]

Looking to brew this as a 5-gal batch, all-grain. Anyone messed around with adding Oreos to the secondary (or primary for that matter)? Brewery near me just did it with a milk stout and is getting rave reviews. Any ideas on how to make that happen?

 

[jojacques]

Ahaha I saw that on Facebook. I dare you.

 

[degivens]

Ahaha I saw that on Facebook. I dare you.

My only question is how many oreos per gallon?

 

[jojacques]

Depends how much you want it to taste? If a subtle taste is wanted, I would go 5 Oreos per gallon maybe? Double that if you want it to taste A LOT

 

[JohntheKiwi]

Depends how much you want it to taste? If a subtle taste is wanted, I would go 5 Oreos per gallon maybe? Double that if you want it to taste A LOT

Yeah, I agree, 5 to 10 per gallon. I'd probably forego the cream, just use the cookie. I would freeze them then use food processor to turn to fine powder. I do that with all kinds of cookies for this brew.

 

[MelbBrew]

D'oh..... Just had one of those "if everything could stuff up, then it will stuff up" kind of brew days.

Was so excited about this recipe. Kept everything the same except up'd the lactose to an even 500g as that was the size of packet from LHBS.

My systematic downfall went as such...

- Daughter #1 smeared yogurt on outside of rehydrated 05 jar lid (I got too worried about lacto and dumped it)
- Filter for recirc pump on my Grainfather fell off in the black abyss of wort thus clogging pump
- No extra packet of US 05. Had to pitch a harvested jar of 1056
- Distraught to find i undershot my SG and landed at 1.057 (BS called for 1.061 for 21L) and now wondering how in the world this beer is going to turn out since I had 50g more lactose and don't expect a low FG (What do you reckon?)
- Aforementioned daughter, my assistant brewer, dropped/crushed the refractometer.... big time. Looks like a trip for us to the LHBS this week

About to go with SWMBO and Daughter 1 to take Daughter 2 to the doctors for her 4 month jabs!

Sorry for the whinge, I'm just ready for a frothy or two.

RDWHAHB
-

 

[brewski09]

D'oh..... Just had one of those "if everything could stuff up, then it will stuff up" kind of brew days.

Was so excited about this recipe. Kept everything the same except up'd the lactose to an even 500g as that was the size of packet from LHBS.

My systematic downfall went as such...

- Daughter #1 smeared yogurt on outside of rehydrated 05 jar lid (I got too worried about lacto and dumped it)
- Filter for recirc pump on my Grainfather fell off in the black abyss of wort thus clogging pump
- No extra packet of US 05. Had to pitch a harvested jar of 1056
- Distraught to find i undershot my SG and landed at 1.057 (BS called for 1.061 for 21L) and now wondering how in the world this beer is going to turn out since I had 50g more lactose and don't expect a low FG (What do you reckon?)
- Aforementioned daughter, my assistant brewer, dropped/crushed the refractometer.... big time. Looks like a trip for us to the LHBS this week

About to go with SWMBO and Daughter 1 to take Daughter 2 to the doctors for her 4 month jabs!

Sorry for the whinge, I'm just ready for a frothy or two.

RDWHAHB
-

The 1056 will be just fine. I would think you're FG would be lower with the low SG so that will help with the extra lactose you added. Even so, it's not a huge difference and some people like this more sweet than others (I always dial the lactose back personally). If it's too sweet for you do a tincture of cocoa nibs in vodka (pro tip - carbon filter the cheap vodka to cut the taste) and add that at bottling to taste as it's very astringent and can cut down on some of the sweetness. Also works with French pressed dark roast/espresso coffee. Both can also be added at serving to taste for the individual so keep the tincture around. Basically, I think the beer will be fine and you'll have an excuse to rebrew it soon.

 

[MelbBrew]

The 1056 will be just fine. I would think you're FG would be lower with the low SG so that will help with the extra lactose you added. Even so, it's not a huge difference and some people like this more sweet than others (I always dial the lactose back personally). If it's too sweet for you do a tincture of cocoa nibs in vodka (pro tip - carbon filter the cheap vodka to cut the taste) and add that at bottling to taste as it's very astringent and can cut down on some of the sweetness. Also works with French pressed dark roast/espresso coffee. Both can also be added at serving to taste for the individual so keep the tincture around. Basically, I think the beer will be fine and you'll have an excuse to rebrew it soon.

Legend. Thank you for the tip. fermentation is up and about with a small but healthy krausen. I'm worried however that the yeast may be a bit overstressed at the end of the day. Trying not to pitch anymore and abide by RDWHAHB.

Thanks heaps for the tip. Will bear in mind as I actually saw cocoa nibs at the shops today when we were chasing up the groceries. Unfortunately even the cheapest vodka here in AUS is approx. $29 AUD for a 700ml (24 US fl. Oz)

Cheers

 

[jcav]

So I thought I'd report back. Pulled a pint yesterday and a friend and I also had a bottle of the real thing to compare. Now in all fairness I did put 8 ounces of cacao nibs in the fermenter after a week, and let it sit for two weeks on the nibs. All I can say is wow! This is a really great recipe. You get the milk aroma and taste in the head, it is creamy and has the body of a milk stout. It has chocolate and roast, and then because of the nibs, I get the slight bitter dark chocolate in the finish which is unreal and really balances out the sweetness. This makes this beer not too sweet at all and very enjoyable. We actually both liked it better than the original bottle that we bought at the store! Thanks to the op for the recipe

If anyone is debating on using nibs, I say go for it. I used 8 ounces of nibs for my 11 gallon batch of beer in my fementer, to end up with two full five gallon corny kegs. I crushed the nibs a little with a cooking mallet in a plastic baggie (you could use a rolling pin), and then I put them in a pot. I just used enough water to cover the nibs. I boiled the nibs in the water for about a minute and a half. I then poured the nibs and entire contents into the fermenter (there is a good soupy extract that's made when boiled and you want to use that also) and I let it sit in the fermenter for two weeks. This is another way of doing it instead of using Vodka. Since I can do this in my conical I pumped additional C02 into the fermeter and purged through the pressure release valve several times for peace of mind, as I opened the small hatch to put in the nibs. I will definitely make this stout again!

John

 

[Iceman6409]

I just tapped mine yesterday and I have to say this may be one of the best beers I ever made.

 

[JohntheKiwi]

Legend. Thank you for the tip. fermentation is up and about with a small but healthy krausen. I'm worried however that the yeast may be a bit overstressed at the end of the day. Trying not to pitch anymore and abide by RDWHAHB.

Thanks heaps for the tip. Will bear in mind as I actually saw cocoa nibs at the shops today when we were chasing up the groceries. Unfortunately even the cheapest vodka here in AUS is approx. $29 AUD for a 700ml (24 US fl. Oz)

Cheers

I concur, this recipe is so solid that the beer is still going to turn out great! I've had glithces along the way, but this is almost a foolproof grain bill that thrives with mistakes "tweaks!"

 

[MelbBrew]

I concur, this recipe is so solid that the beer is still going to turn out great! I've had glithces along the way, but this is almost a foolproof grain bill that thrives with mistakes "tweaks!"

"Tweaks" haha. Too right mate. Hot this week but this recipe was too good to pass on. Very excited for the outcome. Krausen is starting to fall back into the beer. A nostril to the airlock and I get loads of mocha and chocolate. Oughta be a ripper

 

[Sippingainteasy]

any suggestions on scaling for roasted black malt 500 L. I couldn't get the 300 L?

 

[JayInAmes]

brewed this on 2/21, been sitting in the basement, 62-64 degrees. Had it in a swamp cooler for a while, so it's been very steady. Beersmith says I should have a finished gravity of 1.017, today it was at 1.022. I'll take another reading this weekend, but does that sound out of place? I haven't had one finish at this high of a gravity above the recommended gravity. Usually I'm below.

Grain bill is the main page, mashed 151 for 75 mins, US05 yeast.

1.057 OG

 

[LLBeanJ]

1.022 is about right, actually, though I prefer it in the 1.016-1.018 range.

 

[thedon986]

any suggestions on scaling for roasted black malt 500 L. I couldn't get the 300 L?

I made this recipe recently and put it on nitro. I did a side by side with the real deal and found mine much more roasty and less sweet. I adjusted the roasted barley down and the milk sugar up in my recipe. Am going to give it another go later this year. I think you will be fine.

 

[aaronm13]

Hello everyone. Just signed up to say thanks to everyone and the OP for the recipe and advice. Brewed this two weeks ago now and am worried about my gravity still being too high. I got an OG of 1.073 but my gravity is only at 1.034 was hoping this would be lower by now. Fermentation in the air lock lasted a good 7 days which is the longest I've experienced. Am I worried over nothing and just need to wait a bit longer?

 

[JayInAmes]

Hello everyone. Just signed up to say thanks to everyone and the OP for the recipe and advice. Brewed this two weeks ago now and am worried about my gravity still being too high. I got an OG of 1.073 but my gravity is only at 1.034 was hoping this would be lower by now. Fermentation in the air lock lasted a good 7 days which is the longest I've experienced. Am I worried over nothing and just need to wait a bit longer?

I would wait longer. I always go 3 weeks. Your OG is a lot higher than mine was (1.057) and your current FG is higher by about the same amount.

I just checked mine from an earlier post here, and it's still at 1.022 after 4 days at 70. Bottling tomorrow.

 

[aaronm13]

I would wait longer. I always go 3 weeks. Your OG is a lot higher than mine was (1.057) and your current FG is higher by about the same amount.

I just checked mine from an earlier post here, and it's still at 1.022 after 4 days at 70. Bottling tomorrow.

Thanks for that. I've got a busy week or two ahead so reckon it will have to sit in the fermenter so hoping it will drop a fair bit then. Everything else where we'll for once with the brew so will suck if something goes wrong at this stage. Can't wait to try it.

 

[LoneTreeFarms]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1490387534.840860.jpg

Currently brewing this one. Cheers to the OP for the recipe.

 

[jekeane]

@jcav did you use two pounds of lactose for your batch?

 

[Sippingainteasy]

I had a lot of people say this was better than Left Hand stout and my best Homebrew yet

 

[jcav]

@jcav did you use two pounds of lactose for your batch?

Yes sir, 2 pounds of lactose for my batch (13.25 gallons pre boil for my system, 11 gallons into the fermenter, 10 gallons into the kegs). I also used 8 ounces cacao nibs in the fermeter as well. Came out fantastic. Will brew this one over and over. Excellent recipe. Can't go wrong with this one, with or without the nibs, you will like this one!

John

 

[jcav]

I had a lot of people say this was better than Left Hand stout and my best Homebrew yet

I got rave reviews on this one to by everyone that tried it. Just a solid beer!
John

 

[jekeane]

Yes sir, 2 pounds of lactose for my batch (13.25 gallons pre boil for my system, 11 gallons into the fermenter, 10 gallons into the kegs). I also used 8 ounces cacao nibs in the fermeter as well. Came out fantastic. Will brew this one over and over. Excellent recipe. Can't go wrong with this one, with or without the nibs, you will like this one!

John

thanks, filtering through the threads there was some questioning whether or not to use the full 2 lbs for 10 gallons. Seeing we have pretty much the same system Ill go with your experience.

 

[ten80]

Yep, I used 1 lb lactose in about 9-10 gallons and it was not quite enough, although my OG was lower than expected so the beer ended up as a "Light Hand Session Milk Stout."

 

[rowanb]

subscribe

 

[phyllobeddo]

I haven't read this thread in a while, but I plan to brew this some time during the summer and I will try cold steeping the roasted barley and chocolate malt. I've brewed this recipe several times before, but I mashed the roasted barley and chocolate malt. Has/does anyone cold steep the dark grains? Also, I plan to add the cold steep with 10 minutes left in the boil.

For a 2.5 gallon batch I will use the following grain bill:

Cold Steep 48 hours in fridge
8 oz Roasted Barley
8 oz Chocolate Malt
2 quarts RO

Mash
3.5 # Maris Otter
8 oz Flaked Barley
8 oz Flaked Oats
6 oz C60L
6 oz Munich

Before brewing, I will look into what water profile to use. Any suggestions on water profiles?