Adding spirit base to a dark ale kit?

[greatwombatski]

hay guys, yet another total noob here. got my 1st ever batch on a few days ago so yeah, total noob.

im looking to make a peat smoked dark ale (pretend barrel aged-ish) as my second brew as all my favourite whiskeys are the peated beasts from islay. eg caol ila, ardbeg, laphroaig etc

the recipe so far will be

1 x coopers dark ale can
1 x 800g light dry malt
1 x 200g dark dry malt
1 x 500g dextrose
1 x 150g choc grain
1 x 50ml bottle of peated whisky essence.
1 x safale s04 yeast

not sure how it will turn out but in my head it sounds ok. lol
I would have got peated grain but the brew shop didn't have any smaller bags than 5kg so I figured that would all just end up going to waste
any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated especially towards when and how much of the essence to add?
perhaps hop additions to compliment the peat/kit?

thanks in advance for any help guys.
wombat.

 

[kaiserben]

perhaps hop additions to compliment the peat/kit?

Definitely fuggles.

 

[greatwombatski]

thanks for the reply kaiserben. I don't mind buying whatever hops would do the trick.... I have access to 25g of hallertau (im pretty sure that's what its called) if that would also work or in a combo with the fuggles

 

[Mardoo]

There are definitely online brew shops in Oz you can order peated malt from by the gram. For example, and there are others. I'm guessing that will give you a flavour closer to what you're looking for. :

http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/products/category/NFBWLKNJ-grain-malted-and-unmalted/3BAPEATED%20MALT

 

[greatwombatski]

thanks mardo, ill look into that.