Funny how this thread went from 'simple' to 'complex' stouts in 2 pages!
![Stick Out Tongue :p :p](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I'll try and keep mine simple.
From discussions ive had with warren, (and i agree) you need something to add complexity to that kind of grain bill to make it sing. Ive done it twice, with varying amounts of flaked and roast with varying results. Both beers where great dry stout quaffers, one being mildy roasty and the other balls to the wall roast but unfortunatly, lacking complexity.
I did one as 70% Pale, 20% Flaked, 10% Roast (was the balls to the wall coffee/roast one) and got nowhere in stout extravaganza as it was too 'plain jane'. All of the judges where looking for chocolate (even though its not a requriement of the style, its a 'may have') <_< but that kind of complexity is searched for by discerning palates, or so it seems (or a poor interpretation of the style guidelines).
My next attempt i think even a small addition of carafa would go well to add some layering to it. This beer also needs some 'smoothness' to it, Carafa would help accentuate this caracter to offest the mild acrid notes you can get from roast barley.
Something like this is what i'll be shooting for:
SG: 1.050
IBU: 35
70% Maris Otter
20% Flaked Barley
7% Roast Barley
3% Carafa Special II
EKG 35 IBU FWH Addition only
A high attenuative clean profield yeast, something english for the purists.
I might even try it with 1272 fermented lowwwww. :beerbang: