Chocolate Stout Recipe

[jimjohson]

I couldn't find the chocolate extract in any of my local stores so I bought a bottle on-line. In my original recipe, I was planning on adding 3.5 teaspoons chocolate extract and 2.25 teaspoons vanilla extract at bottling. It was recommended by a few of you fine folks to add the vanilla to enhance the chocolate.

So the pure chocolate extract came in the mail today. The ingredients are listed like this: alcohol, water, vanilla extract, chocolate concentrate.

My question is this.....since this pure chocolate extract is already made with vanilla extract, should I even bother adding it at bottling? Or should I delete the vanilla extra addition and up the amount of the pure chocolate extract? Keep in mind that I am after a Chocolate Stout, not a Vanilla Stout.

Well now that don't fit my definition of Pure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZYsyrP3Co

[Beer-lord]

I'm not sure what to suggest. Maybe just wait until bottling time and see how it tastes then you can add a tiny amount of vanilla if you think it's needed.
As mentioned before, I guess they add vanilla to the chocolate extract to pull out the chocolate flavor a bit more.
Have you tasted a very small amount of the extract. Maybe add the very small amount to a small amount of milk to see what flavors it gives out. I'm stumped.

[BlackDuck]

I have not yet tasted the extract, but it smells awesome.

[BlackDuck]

UPDATE>>> I tasted a drop of the extract. It's actually really good. I was expecting a very strong and bitter chocolate, but it wasn't. It was a very balanced chocolate flavor. Thanks for the suggestion of tasting it. I think after the taste, I think I'm going to leave out the vanilla extract.

The original recipe that I was using from HBT used .60 ounces of extract which is a touch over 3.5 teaspoons. I think I'm going to adjust my amount from 3.5 to 3.75 teaspooons.

Just went to the basement to grab a beer and peeked at the airlock. It's still as can be and the temp strip reads 66F. Looks like primary is pretty much complete. That S-04 sure does work fast.

[Beer-lord]

This really sounds almost perfect. Breakfast and desert in one glass!

[BlackDuck]

Just finished with a gravity reading. It came in at 1.022. Way higher than the predicted 1.011. But I remember the thread on HBT where I got this recipe from that most of the people that brewed it commented that theirs were finishing high also. It's got 3/4 Lb. of lactose, so it's not a surprise that it's finishing that high. So, with that number the ABV is at 4.6%. I'm going to take a gravity reading again tomorrow night just to make sure this one is done fermenting. Nice low power stout to enjoy!!

The flavor and aroma were good. Slight roast with a nice hint of chocolate. Not too much of either one. The chocolate extract at bottling should really round the chocolate flavor out good.

[Beer-lord]

04 does that to me all the time. But I wonder if it's possible that the chocolate has something to do with it too.

[BlackDuck]

Yea....I guess it may have been the yeast. Another interesting thing to note, I always pour off a little sample to taste. I use a small flight style glass, you may remember it from pictures of other posts. After drinking, there was a small amount of stuff on the sides of the glass. The best way to describe it would be like a grainy texture. I am guessing that this might be the cocoa powder that may not have fully dissolved in the boil. I'm going to take another gravity reading tonight and I'll try to get a picture of it. Hopefully it's nothing that a two day cold crash can't cure.

[mashani]

Most software doesn't grok that Lactose is unfermentable, so as you used 3/4# of it (not oz) about 7 or 8 points of the extra FG comes from that. So the 1.014-1.05ish equivalent FG I end up with if I go with that removed is close to your predicted FG, and right in the proper realm of a beer mashed at in the mid range using S-04.

So, I think there is nothing to see here in that regards, it's fine.

[BlackDuck]

Thanks Mashani. I pretty much figured that was the case...especially with all the comments regarding this on the original HBT thread where I found the recipe. I'm not really worried about where the FG comes in at, I just want to make sure that it's completely done fermenting. That's why I'm going to double check it again tonight. Rather be safe than sorry.

Oh...and thanks for pointing out my typo on the amount of lactose...I went back in the post and corrected it!!

[BlackDuck]

Just finished bottling this up. The half bottle that was left was pretty darn tasty. Nice and chocolatey, but still a stout. Can't wait to drink some of these at Christmas. And since the FG came in high and it has a low ABV, I might have to drink one Christmas morning while opening gifts from Santa!!

[Beer-lord]

Yum, yum!
Don't worry about the FG, it's still beer. And you will just have to do another one to make you feel better but I'm sure this one is a winner.

[BlackDuck]

Here's the chocolate stout. It's quite tasty. The flavor and aroma are a nice mix of slight roasted malt (but not too roasty) and chocolate. I think it has the right amount of bitterness to it too, which hits late and on the back of the tongue. The chocolate flavor is real good. I like this quite a bit.

And the gingerbread dude is tasty too.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1419300749.432452.jpg (107.84 KiB) Viewed 754 times

[Beer-lord]

Looks very delicious!

[Inkleg]

Very nice!