Question About an Oatmeal Stout

[Wemet]

I brewed Midwest Supplies' Oatmeal Stout Extract Kit a little while ago. I did a full volume boil and ended up with about 5.25gal in the fermentor when I was done. The OG seemed a couple points low (1.039) compared to what the instructions were saying (1.042 - 1.046). It finished right where the instructions said it should, however (1.012). I bottled it last week, and although I know it's too early, I tried one after only 7 days in the bottles. I found the it to be too light in colour and in body for a stout. It didn't have the thick mouthfeel that I would associate with a good oatmeal stout. I brewed Midwest Supplies' Autumn Amber Ale Extract Kit previously and I would say this Oatmeal Stout is similar to the Autumn Amber Ale, only a little darker, and with a hint of coffee.

My question...

1) Can I expect it to darken/thicken with more bottle conditioning time?

2) If not, would you think that the colour and body could have been improved if I had used a smaller boil volume or boiled it down until a higher OG was reached?

 

[shanecb]

1) No, that won't really change in the bottle.

2) If it were boiled down more and had a higher OG then yeah, that would make a difference. Did it come out with a slightly lower OG because you accidentally had too much water in the boil or something?

 

[RandallFlag]

2) If it were boiled down more and had a higher OG then yeah, that would make a difference. Did it come out with a slightly lower OG because you accidentally had too much water in the boil or something?

I would say you are on to something here given that these kits are usually partial boil. The recipe is usually calibrated for a 2.5 gallon boil.

 

[RandallFlag]

1) Can I expect it to darken/thicken with more bottle conditioning time?

How long and at what temp did you steep your grains? The grains should be directly attributable to the color.

 

[Wemet]

1) No, that won't really change in the bottle.

2) If it were boiled down more and had a higher OG then yeah, that would make a difference. Did it come out with a slightly lower OG because you accidentally had too much water in the boil or something?

1) Shucks

2) Ya, I boiled for 60 minutes but when I transferred to the fermentor, I had a little more than 5gal.

 

[Wemet]

How long and at what temp did you steep your grains? The grains should be directly attributable to the color.

30min @ 155F.

 

[RM-MN]

1. Yes, your beer will continue to improve for some time. Being a stout, I'd suggest you put the bottles away for about 6 months and then try them again. I think you will be amazed at the change. It will continue to change for at least a year. The last stout I had that didn't get drunk too early spent more time than that as I finished the last bottle at 2 years at room temperature and it was the best one.

2. Yes, but don't be in a hurry to judge this beer.

3. I've been brewing for about 8 years now and know what to expect a porter to taste like. I bought a 6-pack of Lienenkugel's Vanilla Porter and it was so thin and flavorless. I wish they had hidden the entire batch of bottles away for 6 months because it would have been so much better by then.

 

[shanecb]

1) Shucks

Sorry, I do want to clarify something. The beer will definitely CHANGE in the bottle and I'm sure improve as it matures, but it won't necessarily darken or become thicker, which is what I was saying no to

 

[Calder]

The problem with extract kits is that you get very little from the oats.

Unlike others, I don't expect it will change much. It is a low gravity beer, made to drink young. It may improve for the first 4 to 6 weeks, but not much after that.