malt suggestions? ----dark knight IPA

[darbbrewingco]

So I am going to brew 3g batch of a hoppy chocolate IPA. Going for a bitter chocolate flavor.

So far
4lbs of pale ale malt
.5lbs chocolate malt
1lb munich malt

now wondering if caramel malt or crystal would be better?

I am looking to achieve 6+abv and 70+ibu

thanks

 

[chickypad]

The terms crystal and caramel are essentially interchangeable, though there may be slight differences in process between maltsters. I believe the names originated in England and the US respectively. I'm not a big fan of roasty IPA's so I'll let others chime in on your recipe.

 

[darbbrewingco]

Any ideas on not making it roasty?
I just want a bitter chocolate flavor(not overpowering either)
Although I really haven't had a dark IPA I loved I am trying to make one ha.

 

[sweetcell]

chocolate malt gives hints of chocolate, but it doesn't turn your beer into a chocolate milkshake. it still mostly roast flavor.

if you want actual chocolate flavor, use chocolate - pure cocoa powder (unsweetened), cocoa nibs, some folks even melt dark chocolate at the end of the boil.

a chocolate IPA sounds weird to me. I'm not sure that chocolate bitterness and hop bitterness go well together... you'll note that most chocolate beers are stouts and have low bittering. to my mind, this is a case where two great tastes won't be that great together. but homebrewing is about experimentation, so go forth if this is your fancy.

if you want to make a dark IPA, or generally darken your beer without too much roast/coffee/astringent flavor you can use something like Carafa Special which is a de-husked black malt. it will give your beer a very dark color but with less roastiness.

 

[darbbrewingco]

hmm okay.
yeah I am not sure about the flavor either
I think I may go with cocoa and the carafe.
I probably should do 1g batch first lol.

 

[estricklin]

I would suggest not getting too crazy with the late hops if your going to do this, strong hop flavor and chocolate just don't' sound good together, that being said ya never REALLY know until you try.

 

[chickypad]

I think sweetcell's got good advice. When trying to bring out more chocolate flavor I will often use pale chocolate malt rather than dark, but for me this is always in the context of an already roasty beer like a porter or stout. Roasted nibs definitely give more chocolate flavor, just not sure how it would turn out in an IPA.

 

[benm1024]

I just made 5 gal of Janet's Brown ale, which I think would give you just what you are looking for in terms of a hoppy chocolaty beer. Its my favorite beer I've made out of the 20 or so batches I've done to date.

 

[Bobcatbrewing42]

Dark Knight: I do an excellent chocolate porter so use your chocolate malt. I started using Warrior hops for bittering instead of No. Brewer. It has a great bitter chocolate flavor and a great aftertaste. If you like high-cocoa European chocolates you will like the Warrior.

 

[Bobcatbrewing42]

Some people were skeptical of a bitter chocolate brew. My chocolate porter has 51 IBU's and it is great. I use 1/2 pound of black patent along with the chocolate malt.

 

[darbbrewingco]

awesome thanks.
warrior is one of my hops.
dry hop with as well?

 

[darbbrewingco]

Im thinking ...
warrior hops
cascade
east kent golding