Coco nibs

[Poochops]

Hi all, not been on here for a while, I’ve been working my way through the stores in the garage and it’s about time now to do a few brews as my remaining stocks aren’t going to last through the zombie apocalypse. I did an Old Tom recipe today with some added oats for extra body and some Candi sugar I made a year ago to dry it out a little.
I bought some organic cacao nibs 6 months ago planning to add 300grammes to this 17litre brew in secondary. I opened them today for a looksee and I was surprised that they’re a bit sour smelling and tasting. Never tried them before so I was wondering is this right? They’re in date and unopened before today, but smell a bit like baby sick. This might be normal but can anyone comment! Thanks

 

[BeerCat]

Does not sound right to me. Mine don't smell like that. Unroasted have a light chocolate aroma.

 

[Poochops]

I just had a munch on a few half spoons full and well, it’s an acquired taste! Very bitter but not terrible, vomity in a not so bad way, if that’s even a thing. I'm doubting they’ve gone off now but do I don’t think I’d add them as is, I’ve heard of toasting them, any suggestions?

 

[Horners]

I just had a munch on a few half spoons full and well, it’s an acquired taste! Very bitter but not terrible, vomity in a not so bad way, if that’s even a thing. I'm doubting they’ve gone off now but do I don’t think I’d add them as is, I’ve heard of toasting them, any suggestions?

Not sure about the sick smell but they definitely meant to be very bitter. Ifyou try a bar of 86 pe cent cacao chocolate that is pretty bitter even though there is some milk and sugar. In termsof usage, i used them in a milk choc stout and having researched decided conventional wisdom seemed to be to soak them in vodka for a few hours and then launch the whole lot into the FV a few days in.

 

[Brew_DD2]

A lot of American chocolate has that vomity butyric acid thing going on. Might just be the cocoa variety.

 

[user 18729]

When you open the bag and smell them they should be rich and chocolatey. When I recently brewed with mine I couldn’t resist smelling them and even the girlfriend had her nose in the bag. If they don’t smell right my advice would be don’t use them

 

[Poochops]

Thanks for the feedback, I’m not going to risk using them, maybe they’ve been in the cupboard too long even though they’re still in date, I'm sure the sour notes would transfer to the beer. I might try the big Tesco for some more tomorrow.