Brewday 2 - Coopers Brewmaster Irish Stout with...

[Charlatan]

Found a spare few hours this afternoon and managed to fill the FV for a second time. I opted for a Coopers Brewmaster Irish Stout and added some Treacle and Chocolate too it. This one really stunk the house out, but the first taste from the hydrometer was not that bad actually. I may add a shot or two of cold expresso after the initial fermentation but dont want there to be too many flavours fighting each other.

Brew went as follows.

-1.7kg Coopers Brewmaster Irish Stout
-500g Muntons DME
-500g Coopers Beer Enhancer 2
-250g Brewing Sugar
-50g Chocolate Powder
- 200g (approx) treacle

Yeast pitched at 24 degrees and brewed to 23L

Edit to add, SG was 1044 which I thought was a little low. Gave it a damn good stirring aswell.

It is now sitting in the bath within another bucket for the expected explosive fermentation.

I really enjoy the whole process...apart from the waiting but when I get stocks up that should relieve itself.

 

[ScottM]

Treacle level is about spot on for me. I went with a whole tin but it's a little overpowering rather than complimentary to the other flavours.

What will chocolate bring to the mix? I can only imagine it being really bitter but unsure in the quantities that you have used?

Sounds good regardless :)

 

[alawlor66430]

I did a treacle and dark chocolate one s while back and it was boufing but I probably used to much of everything (as I do) but I'm sure it'll come out nice, I like the coffee idea allot.

 

[Charlatan]

I was going to drop the whole tin of treacle in but after reading some people commenting it was too overpowering and really needed many months to mature I opted for less.

The chocolate was a complete whim decision, I thought it may enhance the chocolate flavours already in the extract but it was a small enough amount to hopefully not have any adverse effects.

Really, I probably should of done three separate Brews with Treacle, Coffee and Chocolate rather than all in one. The coffee has not gone in yet and I may not bother.




On the plus side, Brew Number 1 has started to clear and the bottles are firming up. :party:

 

[ScottM]

There are definite coffee notes in the coopers stout, no idea with the Irish stout though. I wouldn't go overboard with the adjuncts if I were you. The last thing you want is the brew not to turn out nice and not be able to put the finger on what caused it

 

[Charlatan]

I did a treacle and dark chocolate one s while back and it was boufing but I probably used to much of everything (as I do) but I'm sure it'll come out nice, I like the coffee idea allot.

Im a big time coffee snob so its inevitable I end up with a few coffee brews.

I added the SG to the original post. Forgot to mention it earlier. :

 

[Charlatan]

There are definite coffee notes in the coopers stout, no idea with the Irish stout though. I wouldn't go overboard with the adjuncts if I were you. The last thing you want is the brew not to turn out nice and not be able to put the finger on what caused it

That decides it, coffee will go in another Brew and this one will get left as it is.

This forum is a wonderful place! :thumb:

 

[ScottM]

Going by your ingredients I calculate your OG to be spot on....

OG 1.044
FG 1.010
ABV% 4.37%

Is it dark DME you have used?

 

[Charlatan]

Going by your ingredients I calculate your OG to be spot on....

OG 1.044
FG 1.010
ABV% 4.37%

Is it dark DME you have used?

Yeah its Dark. I thought I had a fair bit of fermentables in there and was hoping for around 5% but you live and learn. I should of worked it out before I done it.

Thanks Scott, you have been great with your help.

 

[ScottM]

Going by your ingredients I calculate your OG to be spot on....

OG 1.044
FG 1.010
ABV% 4.37%

Is it dark DME you have used?

Yeah its Dark. I thought I had a fair bit of fermentables in there and was hoping for around 5% but you live and learn. I should of worked it out before I done it.

Thanks Scott, you have been great with your help.

The kits yield a lot less than sugar, as does treacle, so it pulls you down a bit. Not to worry, by the time you prime the batch you'll be sitting at 4.6% and it'll be FULL of flavour.

Very welcome :)

 

[Charlatan]

SO we are a day in and it has not taken off like others have experienced. A very light foamy head this morning but not going off like a rocket by any means. Its been sitting at 20-22 degrees and I suspect it is the Chocolate powder that has something to do with it. When I added it yesterday, they 1-2 inch head that had formed from stirring dissolved more or less instantly when it was added.

Well check in on it over the next few days.

 

[ScottM]

It's normally day 2 that it goes off like a rocket. The first day it will take off well and start bubbling. It's generally day 2-3 that it tries to climb out the FV

 

[Charlatan]

It's normally day 2 that it goes off like a rocket. The first day it will take off well and start bubbling. It's generally day 2-3 that it tries to climb out the FV

Excellent, I'll get the mop ready...



I think it will be fine as it is the new 'unsealed' Coopers FV with a Krausen Collar, it gives it another 4 inches or so...he says :grin:

 

[Charlatan]

So we are four days in and zero vigorous fermentation has occurred. Temps are between 20-22 but I think the chocolate powder may of killed they crazy lid popping froth.

 

[Charlatan]

So its been two weeks in the Primary FV (I can say Primary FV now thanks to Kev on here who donated some kit to this new brewer) for this Irish Stout. Its sitting at 1011 (4.4% ABV) just now but not once have I had any signs of visible fermentation. Not even a little amount, let alone the lid popping stuff that others have reported. Im wondering if it will be ok as I plan to bottle tomorrow and its not dropped anything for some time.

 

[ScottM]

Sounds good to me. It might be an idea to drop it into a secondary FV if you have one, just to make sure the yeast has finished all the cleaning up.

I like at least 3 weeks before bottling and it's always good to get a fresh beer off the trub IMO.

BTW, in the UK 1.044 to 1.011 is only 4.26% :P

 

[Charlatan]

Sounds good to me. It might be an idea to drop it into a secondary FV if you have one, just to make sure the yeast has finished all the cleaning up.

I like at least 3 weeks before bottling and it's always good to get a fresh beer off the trub IMO.

BTW, in the UK 1.044 to 1.011 is only 4.26% :P

Is that because of the difference in Gallons?

4.26% is a lot lighter than I was hoping for but you live and learn. If I can get the other FV's cleaned up i'll move it there for a week but no syphoning equipment yet and no tap on the other FVs so will need a day or two for an order (No LHBS for me, Edinburgh is the closest).

Im resisting at the moment at £150+ order online for another 5 brews (and bits and bobs) but i fear resistance is futile...

 

[ScottM]

Sounds good to me. It might be an idea to drop it into a secondary FV if you have one, just to make sure the yeast has finished all the cleaning up.

I like at least 3 weeks before bottling and it's always good to get a fresh beer off the trub IMO.

BTW, in the UK 1.044 to 1.011 is only 4.26% :P

Is that because of the difference in Gallons?

4.26% is a lot lighter than I was hoping for but you live and learn. If I can get the other FV's cleaned up i'll move it there for a week but no syphoning equipment yet and no tap on the other FVs so will need a day or two for an order (No LHBS for me, Edinburgh is the closest).

Im resisting at the moment at £150+ order online for another 5 brews (and bits and bobs) but i fear resistance is futile...

I'm not exactly sure what the difference is with regards to calculating ABV but in the UK customs use a particular calculation that varies based on strength (it's a weird fecker).

It won't be as bad as you think though, if you prime with 120g of sugar you'll be up at 4.5%. Not far off what you were after and it'll taste lovely.

Always shop around for what you are after. I use my homebrewbuddy site to work out who the best on line retailer is for whatever items I am after. It's saved me a few bob in the last little while :)

 

[Charlatan]

Sounds good to me. It might be an idea to drop it into a secondary FV if you have one, just to make sure the yeast has finished all the cleaning up.

I like at least 3 weeks before bottling and it's always good to get a fresh beer off the trub IMO.

BTW, in the UK 1.044 to 1.011 is only 4.26% :P

Is that because of the difference in Gallons?

4.26% is a lot lighter than I was hoping for but you live and learn. If I can get the other FV's cleaned up i'll move it there for a week but no syphoning equipment yet and no tap on the other FVs so will need a day or two for an order (No LHBS for me, Edinburgh is the closest).

Im resisting at the moment at £150+ order online for another 5 brews (and bits and bobs) but i fear resistance is futile...

I'm not exactly sure what the difference is with regards to calculating ABV but in the UK customs use a particular calculation that varies based on strength (it's a weird fecker).

It won't be as bad as you think though, if you prime with 120g of sugar you'll be up at 4.5%. Not far off what you were after and it'll taste lovely.

Always shop around for what you are after. I use my homebrewbuddy site to work out who the best on line retailer is for whatever items I am after. It's saved me a few bob in the last little while :)

I signed up for your site earlier actually so will use it when im on.

I pretty much learn something new on this site every day, I had no idea about the UK ABV being different. I forgot about the increase for priming so thankfully that will bring it back up.

I must admit, i have enjoyed the samples I have had from the hydrometer glass of this one so far but think it will be tucked away for a while before it can be really enjoyed.

 

[ScottM]

I signed up for your site earlier actually so will use it when im on.

I pretty much learn something new on this site every day, I had no idea about the UK ABV being different. I forgot about the increase for priming so thankfully that will bring it back up.

I must admit, i have enjoyed the samples I have had from the hydrometer glass of this one so far but think it will be tucked away for a while before it can be really enjoyed.

Ahh yeah, I just recognise the username lol. I've already authorised your account so the shopping area will be there. Any issues give me a shout, there have been a few teething issues but I'm learning as I go