Stout kits

[Johnboy7702]

Hi folks
So my next brew is going to be made from a 'simply export stout' pack
Can i add flavouring to this?
I have bought some cocoa nibs and plan on adding those and raspberries, any idea if that would work ok?

Thanks

John

 

[phillc]

Add away! Recently I added 125grams of melted cooking chocolate to a Muntons Irish Stout kit. That was the only addition. There is certainly hints of chocolate in the brew, which is nice, but it does lack a little body, but that's probably down to being an extract can.

I just bottled a Muntons Export Stout, to which I added 2 litres of liquid from 24 hour cold steeped 250grams of chocolate malt and 250grams of roasted Barley. Very strong flavours of roasted chocolate at bottling time! I also used brew enhancer plus additional dark spray malt.

Add what you think will be nice. I think it's probably hard to go wrong.

 

[Johnboy7702]

Thanks Phill!
Might just experiment a bit, have two packs to play with so not like ill lose much
Cheers

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I've added cocoa nibs, lactose and coffee to an AG stout and to a Range kit. Not tasted the kit stout yet but the AG stout tasted nice at bottling.

 

[Johnboy7702]

I've added cocoa nibs, lactose and coffee to an AG stout and to a Range kit. Not tasted the kit stout yet but the AG stout tasted nice at bottling.

Thanks!

 

[Rigsby666]

I've added cocoa nibs, lactose and coffee to an AG stout and to a Range kit.

This is a very naive question I am sure, but when adding the cocoa nibs, I am presuming they are in solid form (as nibs) when added. Do you just add them loose in a bag, do they remain solid and you then need to remove them before kegging, or do they completely dissolve into the liquid? Thanks for any help.

 

[Gerryjo]

Have you brewed this before and if so what kind of bitterness and flavour comes with it?
This will help you determine the quantity of nibs and raspberries you will need to add so as to get them to shine through and compliment the brew rather than the raspberries get lost in the background or even help to add to an already chocolaty background in the Stout with the nibs.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I added the Cocao nibs to the primary FV in a muslin bag. It was 100g to a 15 litre batch.

 

[Rigsby666]

I added the Cocao nibs to the primary FV in a muslin bag. It was 100g to a 15 litre batch.

Thank you so much for the reply @Cheshire Cat. I really fancy having a go at this with the next stout I make.
When did you added them, at the start before fermentation or at the end like dry hopping? Did the nibs completely dissolve into the liquid or were they still whole and largely the same when you removed the muslin bag at the end? Just trying to get an idea what to do and what to expect. Thanks again.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I added them after two days, they remain whole and looked the same. It might be worth transferring them to the 2FV and maybe steep at 66C.r

 

[Rigsby666]

What do you guys do with your (pre-soaked vodka) and then beer soaked cocoa nibs after you have made the beer? Do you throw them away or do you use them in some further way?