My First Chocolate Porter - need some adive

[Ke-Oz-Beer]

Hi guys,

This is what i have ready to brew:

1.7 kg of Black Rock Dark Malt Extract
1.7 kg of Black Rock Light Malt Extract
500g of powedered Malt Extract - Light Malt Brew Improver
500g Chocolate Malt Grains (for steeping)
500g Crystal Dark Malt Grains (for steeping)
25g Goldings
25g Fuggles
Ale yeast

I will be making 19litres (~5 gal)

I aim to make a Chocolate caramel beer. (maybe with a hint of coffee, 4/5 beans for the next batch depending on how this one turns out)

My questions:
1. Should I boil the Malt Extract with the hops or just add them from the can/bag into the fermenter?
2. Hoppping:
2.1 . I was planning on using 12.5g of Goldings and 12.5 of fuggles at 30mins and the same at 2 mins
2.2 but, from my understanding I should boil the bittering hops for 60 mins - not sure when to put the rest.
Whats the difference between the two in terms of flavour and bitterness?
Any suggestions for hopping?

3. I only have a 10l pot for the boil, is it ok to do the boil with 10l (or less) of water and top the fermenter with filtered water?

Thanks

 

[ChelisHubby]

Well if no one else will answer I will try. You want the first hops to go in at 60 minutes. The hops you have are both nice mild hops made for bittering I would want my last porter hop addition to go in around 15 minutes as the porter I drink don't have much hop flavor or aroma. The later the last hops go in the more aroma you will have from the hop. You should Steep the Malt grains first for 30 minutes or so at 165 to 150, don't exceed 170 if you can help it. Then get the water to boil and turn off the heat and Slowly stir in your Malt extracts after you have added the extracts then put in the bittering hop that is your first one and boil away and stay there to keep a eye on it so it doesn't boil over, if it does it is just a sticky mess but no biggie. The second hop addition is your choice , even whether or not you do it. Most Porters are only hopped once and not very heavy. I would use the Kent Golding hops at 60 minutes and the fugues at 15 or not at all. either way you will have beer. Good Luck! Have fun. PS You can top off with the water you need to make 19 liter or 5 Gallon.

 

[Ke-Oz-Beer]

Awesome!! Thanks for the reply!! After reading a few forums, i am quite tempted to ad a bit of coca powder at 10mins.

 

[ChelisHubby]

If I remember right you don't want any cocoa butter in the powder, a better way is to use chocolate nibs. But honestly keep it simple make beer and learn as you go. the first brew is best if it is good and not complicated.

 

[m00ps]

Porters are generally not hop centered so I wouldnt worry too much about actual bitterness. They are more of a backdrop to contrast the raosty sweet malt flavors. I would just at the 60min addition and do your aroma addition (whichever one you think smells best) at 5-10min or so. That my usual protocol with porters. I'm never adding enough hops to it to make much difference either way. Anything you add at 30min will nto really come through in the flavor or aroma IME.

For the chocolate, youll get some chocolate flavor from the roasted malts and dark extract, but if you want more, I'd go with cacao nibs and possibly some vanilla for a more rounded caramel chocolate flavor. I usually do 4oz nibs and 2 vanilla beans right into my primary a week before bottling.