AG#2 Death by Chocolate Stout

[james1988]

For what it's worth, I think vanilla would best be added towards the end of the boil, say 5mins, and left in the FV. I think boiling it for too long would destroy the flavour.

Dennis

I disagree (in a polite way). I put the Vanilla in the boil for the whole ninety minutes. The flavouring is subtle, you know it's there and it compliments the rest of the flavours quite well.

Out of interest why do you feel it would destroy the flavour?

James

 

[simonkidder]

Help

Here's what I did.

After the fermentation was over FG 1.012 I racked it into a clean FV off the sidement. Don't think I got any at all. Primed the 16ltrs with 85 grams sugar and added to the FV then bottled. Now it's only been bottled a day and there is a lot of sediment in the bottom and it's quite dark. When I say a lot. I mean more than I've had in any brew before. Probably about 2 mm accross the entire bottom of the bottle.

Any feedback would be great

 

[pittsy]

Help

Here's what I did.

After the fermentation was over FG 1.012 I racked it into a clean FV off the sidement. Don't think I got any at all. Primed the 16ltrs with 85 grams sugar and added to the FV then bottled. Now it's only been bottled a day and there is a lot of sediment in the bottom and it's quite dark. When I say a lot. I mean more than I've had in any brew before. Probably about 2 mm accross the entire bottom of the bottle.

Any feedback would be great

2mm , relax that's nothing , really

 

[james1988]

Help

Here's what I did.

After the fermentation was over FG 1.012 I racked it into a clean FV off the sidement. Don't think I got any at all. Primed the 16ltrs with 85 grams sugar and added to the FV then bottled. Now it's only been bottled a day and there is a lot of sediment in the bottom and it's quite dark. When I say a lot. I mean more than I've had in any brew before. Probably about 2 mm accross the entire bottom of the bottle.

Any feedback would be great

Mine was the same. I just assumed it was the powdered chocolate that was once suspended. The sediment has been quite solid and hasn't ended up in the glass.

James

 

[simonkidder]

Forgot to mention they also have a little bit of gunk/ sediment floating round the top of the liquid in the bottle.

 

[dennisdk2000]

For what it's worth, I think vanilla would best be added towards the end of the boil, say 5mins, and left in the FV. I think boiling it for too long would destroy the flavour.

Dennis

I disagree (in a polite way). I put the Vanilla in the boil for the whole ninety minutes. The flavouring is subtle, you know it's there and it compliments the rest of the flavours quite well.

Out of interest why do you feel it would destroy the flavour?

James

I was simply speculating, and I based my speculations on custard! When you make vanilla custard, the usual method is to put the vanilla pod in the milk, heat up until near boiling, the turn off the heat and leave to infuse, then proceed as usual. Many flavourings from spices etc come from the aromatic coompounds in the plant and they have a low boiling point (they are generally extracted by distillation). I would have thought that a prolonged boil would cause most or all of the flavour to be lost, but judging by your experience, I have been proven wrong. Good to know, so thanks for sharing. I don't mind if people disagree with me, especially if they have a good reason to!

Dennis

 

[dennisdk2000]

PS: The flavour might have been stronger if the vanilla hadn't been boiled for so long, but that might not have been a good thing.

 

[james1988]

PS: The flavour might have been stronger if the vanilla hadn't been boiled for so long, but that might not have been a good thing.

You might be on to something there. At the moment it's just right; I don't think that the beer would work as well if the flavour was any stronger.

James

 

[The Goatreich]

Good to know for the future, as I will almost certainly be brewing this again.

 

[james1988]

I remembered tonight that I said I was going to post pictures for you. Here they are:
Full pint

Head retention

James

 

[simonkidder]

Well I treed another one tonight and after a few extra days of conditioning it tastes really nice with a more suttle choc flavour