Pimping a stout kit

[phildo79]

A friend of mine has bought a Cooper's Irish Stout kit and 500g of lactose in an attempt to turn it into a milk stout. I think the target ABV of the kit is just 3.8%. I suggested brewing short to try and get it closer to 5% and adding the full 500g. Not quite sure what I am basing that on as I have never pimped a kit. Any of y'all have any hints or tips that would be of benefit to him?

Cheers

 

[Cheshire Cat]

The kit is only 1.7kg and it requires 1kg of sugar or malt extract. Lactose is a non fermentable sugar and is only there for sweetness. If he brews to 21 litres with the kit plus lactose then he will get an ABV of 2.3%. If he brews short to 10 litres he will get 4.9%.

 

[PhilBrew]

Hi phildo

Lactose sugar can have laxative effects, so you don't want to use too much ... your friend might want to try around 250-300g in a 21-23lts brew (which I've used in a Cooper's Original Stout kit (with 1kg DME) and that was plenty sweet enough) to start off with

Cheers, PhilB

 

[phildo79]

The kit is only 1.7kg and it requires 1kg of sugar or malt extract. Lactose is a non fermentable sugar and is only there for sweetness. If he brews to 21 litres with the kit plus lactose then he will get an ABV of 2.3%. If he brews short to 10 litres he will get 4.9%.

Whilst adding lactose will mess around with the OG and FG, I have never known it to affect the ABV by that much. I have used lactose in an imp stout and it threw the gravity numbers off but the final ABV remained the same.

When I punch the numbers into Brewers Friend, I am getting an ABV of 4.13 with or without the lactose. And that is for 23L.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Whilst adding lactose will mess around with the OG and FG, I have never known it to affect the ABV by that much. I have used lactose in an imp stout and it threw the gravity numbers off but the final ABV remained the same.

When I punch the numbers into Brewers Friend, I am getting an ABV of 4.13 with or without the lactose. And that is for 23L.

How much brewing sugar or malt extract are you adding I assumed none.

 

[terrym]

How much brewing sugar or malt extract are you adding I assumed none.

Without the lactose (which doesn't affect the ABV) and brewed to 23 litres BF calculator gives kit can plus 1kg dextrose as 4.1%, and with 1kg DME instead as 3.7%. As an example adding 200g lactose ups both the OG and target FG by 3 points

 

[phildo79]

How much brewing sugar or malt extract are you adding I assumed none.

Not me making it but I assumed the kit, which is 1.7kg of LME, 1kg of dextrose and 500g of lactose. He is essentially just doing the kit as you would normally do but whacking in a load of lactose.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Only use 50% of the Lactose.

 

[Norse John]

Never made a stout kit without extra dark spray malt. Do plan to do it one day with only sugar to see if there is much of a difference in body or taste. Has anyone noticed much of a difference?

 

[Drunkula]

Lactose sugar can have laxative effects,

Sure that's not lactulose? Or if you're lactose intolerant.

 

[phildo79]

Lactulose is the stuff you give to babies when they haven't taken a dump in a fortnight. Definitely wouldn't want that in my beer. Don't need it. Beer seems to be keeping me regular anyway.

 

[Norse John]

Never understood why people like sweet beer.

 

[PhilBrew]

Lactose sugar can have laxative effects,

Sure that's not lactulose? Or if you're lactose intolerant.

... lactulose is the more effective laxative, yes, to the extent where it is used as a main ingredient in commercial laxative products ... and if you're lactose intolerant, then the squits can be one effect of consuming lactose, clearly ... but lactose is a mild laxative generally which, like lots of those sugar alcohol based artificial sweeteners (e.g. sorbitol) is generally OK for consumption ... but that laxative effect becomes more prevalent, the more you consume

Cheers, PhilB

 

[carljbray]

Never understood why people like sweet beer.

isn't that a bit like saying never understood why people like bitter beer?
It's all about balance isn't it - and everyones taste is different

 

[Norse John]

isn't that a bit like saying never understood why people like bitter beer?
It's all about balance isn't it - and everyones taste is different

True, daft comment from myself.

 

[TedKennedys]

Hello! I've been lurking on here for ages and now I have some potentially stupid questions that have been asked a million times before for you... :P

I've ordered a Cooper's Irish, some DME and some Mangrove Jacks New World Strong Ale yeast. Current plan is to add a tin of treacle and a cafetierre or two of coffee at the first stage. I've seen some posts saying we'd be better off with cold brew coffee as opposed to hot brewed. What's the current consensus on that one?

Also, has anyone mixed the Wilko Velvet Stout kit with the Wilko Chocmeister kit? Does doubling up give you a more Imperial Stouty end result? Does that particular combination sound like it might work or would it be horrible?

Cheers in advance! We've gained loads of advice from this forum so far, so thanks for that too :)

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I've just made a pimped stout kit as follows
Chocolate Milk Stout 15L

Range stout kit 2200g LME
250g Molasses
150g Brown sugar
200g Lactose
CML Beoir yeast
After 4 days
100g Cocoa nibs
After 7 days
15g Galena kit hops
10g Admiral hops
Move to 2FV and add 350ml of cooled coffee.

 

[Banbeer]

Also, has anyone mixed the Wilko Velvet Stout kit with the Wilko Chocmeister kit? Does doubling up give you a more Imperial Stouty end result? Does that particular combination sound like it might work or would it be horrible?

Not done this but I would imagine it would be a tad bitter seeing as both kits have been hopped, there is a Youtube clip about Toucan (two can) brewing a Stout HERE. enjoy

 

[terrym]

Hello! I've been lurking on here for ages and now I have some potentially stupid questions that have been asked a million times before for you... :P

I've ordered a Cooper's Irish, some DME and some Mangrove Jacks New World Strong Ale yeast. Current plan is to add a tin of treacle and a cafetierre or two of coffee at the first stage. I've seen some posts saying we'd be better off with cold brew coffee as opposed to hot brewed. What's the current consensus on that one?

Also, has anyone mixed the Wilko Velvet Stout kit with the Wilko Chocmeister kit? Does doubling up give you a more Imperial Stouty end result? Does that particular combination sound like it might work or would it be horrible?

Cheers in advance! We've gained loads of advice from this forum so far, so thanks for that too :)

Why are you bothering to change the yeast? Coopers supply a specialist yeast for this kit.
And you don't want to add a 'tin of treacle' in my view unless a) you really like treacle and/or b) you have done this kit before and know what it tastes like unadultered and want to experiment. If you use that amount of treacle you will likely kill it, and overwhelm any of the coffee infusion whether it cold or hot steeped fresh ground or even, perish the thought, instant. Coopers Irish Stout is certainly one of the better kits out there in my view having done it a few times, and all you need to do is subtly enhance it. All I did to mine was brew to 19 litres, use 500g dark or extra dark DME, 500g golden syrup, 120g dark muscavado sugar and add four machine made measures of strong espresso, and found that hit the spot for me.

 

[TedKennedys]

Not done this but I would imagine it would be a tad bitter seeing as both kits have been hopped, there is a Youtube clip about Toucan (two can) brewing a Stout HERE. enjoy

Awesome! Cheers dude!