Beginner Brewer, couple of questions

[D34THSPAWN]

Quick update, Brewed the Coffee stout tonight, hit an OG of 1.054, Mr. Beer recipe says it should be about 1.044 but I did a 30 minute oatmeal steep before I added the extract to add mouthfeel and body and an additional 250g LME packet (this one has both smooth and robust in it) Ended up with the temp at 60 degrees by the time I finished so I pitched the yeast anyway and have it with a towel wrapped around it to help it warm up to kick that yeast into gear.

Tried my Chocolate raspberry stout again tonight and it definitely mellowed out more, still a bit tart but it has gotten better, a few more weeks and I think it will be pretty decent, the tartness is definitely from the raspberries. Shaping up to be pretty good I think. Time will tell!

Again you guys rock!

[D34THSPAWN]

Nother update, chocolate raspberry is still quite off, not sure what it is, almost a bitter soapy flavor to it, possibly from poor temperature control, maybe just from the raspberries, pretty strong alcohol wise, too thin, and too harsh on the carbonation, definitely looking forward to moving forward, chock this one up to experience and choke it down lol

Edit: the first batch I brewed was the west coast pale ale which I believe is from pre cooper's Mr beer if i am correct was much better than this, and i dont even really like pale ales. I am glad I picked up that 5 gallon kit, looking forward to a decent homebrew again, nut brown ale here I come, aging the stout I made for 6 weeks, no coffee this time, if its decent I will do it again with coffee maybe, overall verdict of the Mr b kit is disappointed, glad it got me into the hobby but disappointed in the beer it made. Meh