Chocolate Pumpkin Porter feedback

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by trevord13, Aug 21, 2014.

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  1. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    Took suggestions from a couple of different places to come of up with this. It should come in around 6%, 20IBU, SRM 25.

    CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN PORTER:
    GRAIN BILL (13.6lb):
    8.8lb American 2-Row (64.7%)
    2lb Munich (14.7%)
    1.2lb British Brown (8.8%)
    0.8lb Crystal 120 (5.9%)
    0.4lb Crystal 40 (2.9%)
    0.4lb Chocolate (2.9%)

    YEAST:
    US-05 Rehydrated

    HOP/ADDITION SCHEDULE:
    0.6oz Magnum ( ____ AA%) – FWH
    **Rehydrate cocoa powder & spice in wort - 30min
    45oz Libby`s Pumpkin Puree – 15min
    5oz Cocoa Powder – 3min
    2stp Pumpkin Pie Spice – 3min

    **Add 1 vanilla bean scraped / soaked in bourbon @ Day 8
     
    #1 trevord13, Aug 21, 2014
  2. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,915) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I made what I considered to be a very good Chocolate Pumpkin Porter about 2 years ago. Many similar characteristics to yours but a few things that I did which I think really helped the beer out.
    1. Maris Otter for the base malt
    2. I prefer to use WLP004 in my dark beers, it really complements the malt flavors well and leaves more body than US05
    3. I baked the pumpkin puree and tossed it in the mash (rice hulls too!)
    4. Cocoa powder (hydrated into a paste) and all spices (I made my own pumpkin spice blend to taste, so I could have more control over the flavor) were added to the secondary. I also used vanilla beans but I found that I needed 2 or 3, but that was just personal taste.
     
    #2 OddNotion, Aug 21, 2014
  3. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    are vanilla beans really that powerful that you only need no more than a few in 5 gallons? I would have never guessed that
     
    #3 jlordi12, Aug 21, 2014
  4. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    They are pretty potent. I generally use 2-3 in a 5gal batch, but I`m looking for just a touch of vanilla in this beer. I can always throw another one in the keg if it`s not where I want it to be.
     
    #4 trevord13, Aug 21, 2014
  5. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    If I were going to use actual pumpkin (and I admit I'd be unlikely to do so), I'd add it to the mash, not the boil, because it contains some starches.
     
    #5 VikeMan, Aug 21, 2014
  6. PINOT8

    PINOT8 Initiate (0) Nov 2, 2013 Canada (ON)

    I like it!
    I agree probably bake it and throw it in the mash. It could give you some trouble with lautering so I agree with oddnotion rice hulls will help!

    To try and better preserve the aromatics of the spices I would say flameout or secondary.
    Flameout so they have a chance to integrate durIng ferment, secondary for more intensity.

    Good luck!
     
    #6 PINOT8, Aug 21, 2014
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