I've got a pretty rad Coffee Stout that I wanted to make a little more "English." So I picked up some Crisp Roasted Barley(700L) and Crisp Chocolate(630L) and Muntons Black Patent(385L). Anybody have any experience brewing with any of these. The Roast and Chocolate are much darker than my usual English or American versions and the Black Patent is way lighter. I really have no idea how to use these 3 in the same recipe. The Stout is focused on the Coffee and Chocolate flavors and aromas. I'll post the current recipe. I'm thinking of just going back to the original recipe for this batch, but I already bought the malts. any ideas? Style: Imperial Stout OG: 1.093 Type: All Grain FG: 1.031 Rating: 4.0 ABV: 8.12 % Calories: 308 IBU's: 42.72 Efficiency: 72 % Boil Size: 13.50 Gal Color: 49.2 SRM Batch Size: 11.00 Gal Preboil OG: 1.079 Boil Time: 90 minutes Fermentation Steps Name Days / Temp (none) Grains & Adjuncts Amount Percentage Name Time Gravity 15.00 lbs 40.82 % Pale Malt (2 Row) UK 60 mins 1.036 3.50 lbs 9.52 % Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L 60 mins 1.034 3.00 lbs 8.16 % Oats, Flaked 60 mins 1.037 3.00 lbs 8.16 % Barley, Flaked 60 mins 1.032 20.00 ozs 3.40 % Chocolate Malt(350L) 60 mins 1.034 20.00 ozs 3.40 % Black Patent (500L) 60 mins 1.025 20.00 ozs 3.40 % Roasted Barley(300L) 60 mins 1.025 8.50 lbs 23.13 % Extra Light Dry Extract 60 mins 1.044 Hops Amount IBU's Name Time AA % 1.75 ozs 30.68 Chinook 90 mins 13.60 1.00 ozs 12.04 Nugget 30 mins 13.00 Yeasts Amount Name Laboratory / ID 4.00 pkg English Ale White Labs 0002
What brand crystal malts are you using? If Breiss (or another North American company), I would change those to an English maltster such as Baird's, Crisp, Muntons, or Fawcett. In my experience, English crystal malts produce significantly different flavors than their American counterparts. At nearly 10% of your grain bill I think they will help lend that English character you are looking for. As a matter of personal preference, I like to use WLP004 in my dark beers. Not sure that it will make it any more "English" than WLP002 will but I have had great results with it.
