My first Porter - Need some help!

Hi guys,

This is what i have ready to brew

1.7 kg of Black Rock Dark Malt Extract
1.7 kg of Black Rock Light Malt Extract
500g of powedered Malt Extract - Light Malt Brew Improver
500g Chocolate Malt Grains (for steeping)
500g Crystal Dark Malt Grains (for steeping)
25g Goldings
25g Fuggles
Ale yeast

I will be making 19litres (~5 gal)

I aim to make a Chocolate/caramel beer. (maybe with a hint of coffee, 4/5 beans for the next batch depending on how this one turns out, or should i put some in now?)

My questions:
1. Should I boil the Malt Extract with the hops or just add them from the can/bag into the fermenter?

2. Hoppping:
2.1 . I was planning on using 12.5g of Goldings and 12.5 of fuggles at 30mins and the same at 2 mins
2.2 but, from my understanding I should boil the bittering hops for 60 mins - not sure when to put the rest.

Whats the difference between the two in terms of flavour and bitterness?
Any suggestions for hopping?

3. I only have a 10l pot for the boil, is it ok to do the boil with 10l (or less) of water and top the fermenter with filtered water?

Thanks

 

Hey guys! I went well!! Bottled the beer (and tasted it ofcourse). Its actually come out really well!! I but all my hops in at 60, i think next time, i ll just put 25g of goldings or fuggles to reduce the bitterness otherwise A-OK

 

@Mothergoose03

I opened up a few of these last night - quite happy with the outcome - nice chocolate taste with a hit of caramel (which is not too strong).

The finish is a bit alcoholic more on the alcoholic scale (is there a reason for this? any way to reduce this, maybe age?)

 

@Mothergoose03 , After a few weeks, that alcoholic taste has deteriorated, its is now a really nice chocolate and caramel beer (a lot more caramel flavour). (I just have to open the bottles over the sink just incase it errupts)

 

the caramel flavour has actually become more prominent after it has aged for a bit. odd question, but why of this?