How much chocolate malt's needed before you get "chocolate" tones?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by atomeyes, Dec 14, 2015.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    what % of grist do you find gets you legit chocolate notes?
    any different when you add it with a crystal malt?

    just making a S'mores porter, so wondering how crazy i should/could go
     
  2. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    For chocolate flavor I actually like using a combo of pale chocolate malt and chocolate wheat. I'm usually in the 8 to 10 % range but I would go higher if I wanted a bigger flavor.
     
    wspscott likes this.
  3. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    can you tell me why you'd use that combo? curious to hear of your thought process or your experience. i thought that choco wheat wouldn't give me the chocolate notes i'd want.
     
    scottakelly likes this.
  4. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I would suggest that the type of chocolate malt (i.e., Malting company) is just as important as the amount.

    I notice chocolate notes in my Oatmeal Stout when I use 0.5 - 0.75 lbs. of Simpsons Chocolate Malt; 5 gallon batch with an OG of 1.050.

    Also, it depends on whether there are other 'character' malts which might obfuscate the Chocolate Malt flavors.

    Cheers!
     
  5. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    Thomas Fawcett brown malt at 10% will get you chocolate.
     
    MrOH likes this.
  6. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    I actually don't remember what exactly started me on using the mix, but if I had to guess I think it was a BYO or Zymyrgy article on porters years ago. I've also brewed a lot of porters over the years, experimenting with different grain combinations. I ended up settling on 3 parts pale chocolate to 1 part chocolate wheat as my favorite, and it has a big, smooth chocolate flavor.
     
    atomeyes likes this.
  7. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    I only use UK or German specialty malts in my beers. I've always liked the results better.
     
    wspscott and OddNotion like this.
  8. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    My favorite Porter recipes always use brown malt.
     
    NiceFly and MrOH like this.
  9. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    in addition to the chocolate malt?
     
  10. RogelioRodriguez

    RogelioRodriguez Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2015 California

    I would not add crystal malt at all for that kind of recipe Go to town on the pale chocolate and a touch of bitter black patent malt...the hops will take care of the rest. You could use no black patent.

    If you want a real cocoa flavor, just stick with an abundance of pale chocolate. 15-20 percent...You say you want a smore beer...well don't skimp on the pale chocolate.
     
  11. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    that's counter to everything else i've read, though. i've read that pairing crystal with any of the chocolate malt is how you get that chocolate perception. curious as to why you're saying what you're saying
     
  12. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    The more important question is how do you intend to get graham cracker and marshmallow flavors? Chocolate is easy.
     
    atomeyes likes this.
  13. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    there are two ways one can do it.
    graham crackers in the mash and burnt marshmellow in the fermentor (which i think is gross), or;
    perception of graham crackers (cinnamon, vanilla, demerara) and burnt marshmellow (vanilla, oak smoked wheat) in the beer
     
  14. RogelioRodriguez

    RogelioRodriguez Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2015 California

    Add marshmallow root powder, and vanilla bean, the pale chocolate will take care of the rest.
     
  15. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    Correct
     
  16. RogelioRodriguez

    RogelioRodriguez Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2015 California

    Cinnamon and Vanilla, use good pure extract. Then let the malts take care of the rest. I would rather have a more chocolate forward flavor so i'd use more pale chocolate. But if you want that carmel like finish use more crystal and caramel malts than you'd normally consider.

    Shave fresh cinnamon, you could use real vanilla too. Good luck. I wouldn't waste good gram crackers for the beer, save that for the little rascals.

    Good luck. Have fun. Perhaps a touch of special B malt in there for some toffee/plum character.
     
    atomeyes likes this.
  17. RogelioRodriguez

    RogelioRodriguez Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2015 California

    You get it in Canada, it's a common as dirt botanical. Do a search for herbalists in your area, they'll have the powder for you. It will add an earthy body to beer.
     
  18. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    probably going to use a mix of brown malt and pale chocolate in there with a bit of c40 (sorry, guy. crystal in porters is kind of what i think of with porters).
     
  19. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Perhaps I was fooling myself, but I thought I could taste cocoa notes when I used 2 oz of pale chocolate in a 5 gallon batch (cal common). I just checked gravity on a lager that has ~5 oz of cold steeped carafa special III, and I think there are chocolate notes there, too.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.