ploto
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I know there are quite a number of stout threads active atm and I have been through them all plus many old ones, not to mention the various AG recipes in the database, but in sifting through so many of them I think I have just managed to confuse myself even more. I have tried a few of the basic combos that a mate has brewed - stout + dark malt extract, stout + dark ale, stout + dme & maltrose. Some have been good, others average, but even the better ones seem to be lacking in depth of flavour. I know they do improve with age but even after a few months I can't say I've been overly impressed with any of them.
I want to give it a go myself but I would like to add something more to lift it above the regular. I know that using kits will always have limitations, but given how much better my recent kit ales have been with the addition of steeped grains & short boils I am sure similar improvements can be made to the stout kit.
As well as one can each of the Coopers Stout and Dark Ale, I have the following on hand that I feel would be most suitable:
500g dry oat malt extract
Pale Chocolate & Carafa II grains
East Kent Goldings, Styrian Goldings, Pacific Gem
For yeast I have the Craftbrewer English mix which I would like to use and I am aiming for a 25l brew of around 5 - 6% which I should get if I use all 500g of the dry malt extract.
My first question is how much of the dark grains to use. 250g of the pale choc seems to be a fairly standard amount, but what about the carafa II? I've seen amounts ranging from 100g to 400g in some recipes, but what sort of ratio would best compliment the pale choc, if any at all? I was thinking around 150 - 200g but would be happy to skip if it conflicts with the pale choc.
As for hops there seems to be two camps, either none at all or about 30g at the 20 - 5 min mark. I don't want to add too much that would muddle the brew, but I though a bit of EKG might add a nice earthy taste/aroma. I've seen the Pacific Gem used in bconnery's FES recipe but have not been able to find out much else about it. The cans should have plenty of bitterness and judging from the popularity of the stout/dark toucan there doesn't seem to be any complaints with it, so would adding hops at 20min be too much? I was thinking along the lines of 10g @ 20 & 20g @ 10.
Sorry for being long winded but not having had any experience with the dark grains or hops in a stout I am not sure if I am being too ambitious.
cheers,
ploto
I want to give it a go myself but I would like to add something more to lift it above the regular. I know that using kits will always have limitations, but given how much better my recent kit ales have been with the addition of steeped grains & short boils I am sure similar improvements can be made to the stout kit.
As well as one can each of the Coopers Stout and Dark Ale, I have the following on hand that I feel would be most suitable:
500g dry oat malt extract
Pale Chocolate & Carafa II grains
East Kent Goldings, Styrian Goldings, Pacific Gem
For yeast I have the Craftbrewer English mix which I would like to use and I am aiming for a 25l brew of around 5 - 6% which I should get if I use all 500g of the dry malt extract.
My first question is how much of the dark grains to use. 250g of the pale choc seems to be a fairly standard amount, but what about the carafa II? I've seen amounts ranging from 100g to 400g in some recipes, but what sort of ratio would best compliment the pale choc, if any at all? I was thinking around 150 - 200g but would be happy to skip if it conflicts with the pale choc.
As for hops there seems to be two camps, either none at all or about 30g at the 20 - 5 min mark. I don't want to add too much that would muddle the brew, but I though a bit of EKG might add a nice earthy taste/aroma. I've seen the Pacific Gem used in bconnery's FES recipe but have not been able to find out much else about it. The cans should have plenty of bitterness and judging from the popularity of the stout/dark toucan there doesn't seem to be any complaints with it, so would adding hops at 20min be too much? I was thinking along the lines of 10g @ 20 & 20g @ 10.
Sorry for being long winded but not having had any experience with the dark grains or hops in a stout I am not sure if I am being too ambitious.
cheers,
ploto
h34r: But I am intrigued... 
