Bri's AG2 Milk Choc Stout

[Manxnorton]

Morning World :party:
HEREEEEEEE we go!
was awake from about 4am and as usual my lil brain was at a 100MPH.
sorting the kit out and psyching myself up via endless cuppas.
as per my first AG brew I have the assistance of brewmate and researched all over the net.
with this recipe I am not going to utilise the addition of Cocoa, but rather stick with the one permutation and see how it comes out then adjust accordingly on future recipes if all goes well.
catchya all lata this afternoon hopefully with what I would class as a successful brew... :pray:
ATB
Bri

 

[bobsbeer]

Good luck and enjoy it. I know you will be like a new mother fussing over her baby, but try to relax. :

 

[Manxnorton]

This is what I am working on, many a variation out there.
Nothing fancy no added hot tips from the guys jus crazy ol Bri, ingredients, the kit and load of 'Calm the hell down Brian, stop flapping!'
I changed to East kent Goldings, just to see if I like it & Carapils maltodextrine

milk choc stout

Recipe Specs
----------------
Batch Size (L): 23.0
Total Grain (kg): 4.530
Total Hops (g): 15.00
Original Gravity (OG): 1.043 (°P): 10.7
Final Gravity (FG): 1.011 (°P): 2.8
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.22 %
Colour (SRM): 18.4 (EBC): 36.2
Bitterness (IBU): 8.3 (Average)
Brewhouse Efficiency (%): 70
Boil Time (Minutes): 60

Grain Bill
----------------
3.800 kg Maris Otter Malt (83.89%)
0.270 kg Crystal 60 (5.96%)
0.200 kg Carapils (Dextrine) (4.42%)
0.200 kg Chocolate, Pale (4.42%)
0.060 kg Black Malt (1.32%)

Hop Bill
----------------
15.0 g East Kent Golding Leaf (4.7% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil) (0.7 g/L)

Misc Bill
----------------
270.0 g Lactic Acid @ 15 Minutes (Boil)

Single step Infusion at 66°C for 60 Minutes.
Fermented at 20°C with WLP004 - Irish Ale

ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Good luck and enjoy it. I know you will be like a new mother fussing over her baby, but try to relax. :

HA HA Morning Bob,
Just spat my Coffee out reading ya reply.
As if !!!!!! :lol:
Ya right m8....Always getting my Temperature Right for either the Mash or getting the Wort temp for Pitching the yeast...so I am going to DOUBLY relax and get it right this time :lol:
Catchya lata on m8
ATB
Bri

 

[nobyipa]

mmmmm
nice black beer
:drink:

 

[Manxnorton]

mmmmm
nice black beer
:drink:

cant wait to smell the mash, but 1st NOTE TO SELF!
next time when wondering why the HLT is boiling away nicely on both elements and the temp is sitting at room temp....CHECK THAT THE BLUMMIN SENSOR CABLE IS IN THE HLT

now got a extended coffee break to adjust the strike temp back down to 71.5C
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol:

Nothing is easy when Geordie is playing.....and you said "Relax!"

No harm done as yet...at least ive double checked the taps
ATB
Bri

 

[PD]

oooh done that a few times !! ha haaa.

I once stood watching the temp guage for minutes wondering why it wasn't going up.................I was holding the probe in my hand at the time.... :lol:

 

[nobyipa]

mmmmm
nice black beer
:drink:

cant wait to smell the mash, but 1st NOTE TO SELF!
next time when wondering why the HLT is boiling away nicely on both elements and the temp is sitting at room temp....CHECK THAT THE BLUMMIN SENSOR CABLE IS IN THE HLT

now got a extended coffee break to adjust the strike temp back down to 71.5C
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol:

Nothing is easy when Geordie is playing.....and you said "Relax!"

No harm done as yet...at least ive double checked the taps
ATB
Bri

mmm that black malt sure smells nice
kitchen full o steam then :lol:

 

[Ceejay]

I was like that for my first few brewdays; I couldn't sleep at all the night before! Have a good'un :

 

[Manxnorton]

oooh done that a few times !! ha haaa.

I once stood watching the temp guage for minutes wondering why it wasn't going up.................I was holding the probe in my hand at the time.... :lol:

HA HA HA HA classic, like it..
Tell you what PD, this is actually fun instead of flappin like mad m8.
Hope ya weekend was good pal.
Forgot to PM u, Still gotta sauce a CO2 Cylinder.
Got the gas & Beer connectors with free line but the Party Tap is prob being sent from Australia by Carrier pigeon.
Not to worry got a couple of weeks....but thinking I should bottle the Stout, what do you think pal?
ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

I was like that for my first few brewdays; I couldn't sleep at all the night before! Have a good'un :

Hallow m8,
Yeah That was me last night was up half 4 that morning and drove 3.5hrs home and thought id be shattered....KNAAAAAA my head was on overdrive.
Bags dropped and straight into Homebrew! :lol:
ATB
Bri

 

[PD]

I prefer my stout bottled as I am partial to a pint at a time, so a corny would be tied up for a long period. Why is your party tap coming from abroad ?

Hop and Grape stock them so do most lhbs.

http://www.hopandgrape.co.uk/public/det ... LE20173245

 

[Manxnorton]

I prefer my stout bottled as I am partial to a pint at a time, so a corny would be tied up for a long period. Why is your party tap coming from abroad ?

Hop and Grape stock them so do most lhbs.

http://www.hopandgrape.co.uk/public/det ... LE20173245

No M8 the tap is from the UK on Evilbay....but seems like its coming from abroad...wants to hurry up as tonight its CO2 search time.
anyways got the Stout boiling away nicely so time to try a pint of my Youngs Definitive Bitter exract kit King kegged a couple of weeks ago...it is brew day anyways :

I'm so relaxed ive got my slippers on :lol:
trying to mix my time with my once upon a time hobby of custom knife making which is going to be full time after my Retirement in about a week on Friday lol.
its took me few years to be recognised in the world let alone the UK but ive had a great mentor who also shares my passion for everything homebrew :lol:
A full run down with yet more cheesey pics after I have finished lata today.
:thumb:
ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

it's like a Soap Opera this
nearly done jus got the final couple of Degree's to go to pitch the yeast :clap:
ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

well at last :lol:
Fired the HLT and as I said earlier Spot my deliberate mistake

yes! the STC1000 Sensor not in the HLT :wha:
Infredients & Adjuncts ready


a new addition from my 1st AG brew a insulated insert as it lost one or two degree's on the 1st one

got the strike temp nearly right this time :lol:

Started Doughin in and the smell was starting to be gorgous

Got her all wrapped up and let her mash.

Now my favourite part Sparging.

first runnings in and what a lovely colour yum yum



as last time the sparge was spot on and collected 27ltrs wort exactly down to the recommended end SG reading.
so estimating to get down to 24L after boil and 23L post chilling.
Boil time with twin elements, once up to boil alternated one element at a time.
added the East goldings hops @ 60mins then Lactose & profloc tab @15mins with the wort chiller.



This time got the desired pitching yeast temp down without flapping :lol:
SG 1054 23L spot on.
Cant think of any errors other than the Sensor....rackin my brain now just incase.
:drink:
For those who had the patients to persevere with me all day many thanks :hat:
As Always criticism hints tips whatever welcome
:
ATB
Bri

 

[PD]

apart from throwing the cat in , cant see any problems !

 

[joe1002]

Looks like a very successful day to me, well done :thumb:

 

[Manxnorton]

apart from throwing the cat in , cant see any problems !

is that where that Bloody Cat went to....... :lol:
:drink:
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Looks like a very successful day to me, well done :thumb:

Cheers Joe,
Was va great day, thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Well worth waking at 5am and my instant Brew head was on....
Doing a Milk Choc Stout was enjoyable and no sooner is it done and I'm searching for the next Brew.
That's 5 batches ive done in a month :shock:
Shamed to say Batch one the Blackrock Brown Ale has wittled away and was very tasty, on the sweet side for a Nut brown Ale but I like my ales sweet to be honest.
Cheers buddy
ATB
Bri

 

[Manxnorton]

Short but sweet,
Bottled tonight and the taste was out of this world.
The choc was straight there not over powering the after a lovely slight bitter taste, not too sweet either.
Can't wait for it to mature.
ATB
Bri