I have to say that this is one of the best brews I have ever done and I have made a lot of beer over the years!
I am not normally a stout drinker but encouraged by the positive comments on here and various recipes given by others I thought I would have a go.
I used the kit, 500g dark DME, 500g golden syrup, 100g dark muscovada sugar, plus the kit yeast, and three measures of Italian Roast espresso from our coffee machine. I noted what others had said about the first part of the primary being very active so brewed short to 19 litres in the hope that I didn't get any carry over out of the FV. SG was 1.048. I used my water bath to control at 20*C. The first part of the primary was very active but although the krausen touched the lid I didn't need the blow off tube. The primary was all over and done with by about day 5 but I left it until day 9 before putting the brew into the barrel. FG was 1.011. I chose to barrel over bottles because I thought it would be a better way of serving. I primed with 85g dextrose and left it for a couple of days before I went for sample. Surprisingly drinkable even after so little time.
Now only 10 days on from the putting in the barrel I am drinking it as normal, something I do not usually do with beer so young. It serves with a deep coffee coloured head which stays down the glass. Rich fruity taste with chocolate, liquorice and a hint of coffee, with an aftertaste of the hops. Brilliant.
Very definitely one to do again. Roll on the next Tesco sale!
I am not normally a stout drinker but encouraged by the positive comments on here and various recipes given by others I thought I would have a go.
I used the kit, 500g dark DME, 500g golden syrup, 100g dark muscovada sugar, plus the kit yeast, and three measures of Italian Roast espresso from our coffee machine. I noted what others had said about the first part of the primary being very active so brewed short to 19 litres in the hope that I didn't get any carry over out of the FV. SG was 1.048. I used my water bath to control at 20*C. The first part of the primary was very active but although the krausen touched the lid I didn't need the blow off tube. The primary was all over and done with by about day 5 but I left it until day 9 before putting the brew into the barrel. FG was 1.011. I chose to barrel over bottles because I thought it would be a better way of serving. I primed with 85g dextrose and left it for a couple of days before I went for sample. Surprisingly drinkable even after so little time.
Now only 10 days on from the putting in the barrel I am drinking it as normal, something I do not usually do with beer so young. It serves with a deep coffee coloured head which stays down the glass. Rich fruity taste with chocolate, liquorice and a hint of coffee, with an aftertaste of the hops. Brilliant.
Very definitely one to do again. Roll on the next Tesco sale!
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