Questions about brewing a Chocolate Stout

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by ilikebeer03, Mar 27, 2013.

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  1. ilikebeer03

    ilikebeer03 Pooh-Bah (2,616) Oct 17, 2012 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I want to brew a Chocolate Stout. I am not sure if it will be Imperial or not yet. I bought some sweet cacao nibs to age the beer on. My question is, are sweet cacao nibs okay for this? Do they need to be unsweet? Additionally, should I add them in my primary or secondary? I would imagine the secondary. How long should I let the beer sit on the cacao nibs for. And many ounces of cacao nibs should I use for a 5 gallon brew?

    Thank you in advance.
     
    #1 ilikebeer03, Mar 27, 2013
  2. VikeMan

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

    I've never even seen Sweet Cocao Nibs, but if they contain sugar, you're going to restart the fermentation.
     
    #2 VikeMan, Mar 27, 2013
  3. ilikebeer03

    ilikebeer03 Pooh-Bah (2,616) Oct 17, 2012 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Do you think that would have any adverse effects on the beer? It'd obviously raise the ABV. I may have to rack into again to get rid of the dead yeast like after primary fermentation.
     
    #3 ilikebeer03, Mar 27, 2013
  4. VikeMan

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

    I can't think of any adverse affects, except that you'll have more alcohol, probably only slightly more. I'm guessing that any sugar is sweet nibs must be some sort of coating...how would you get sugar into the raw bean pieces?

    There really shouldn't be a need to rack again (except to a bottling bucket or keg).

    To answer one of your original questions, I secondaried (in the keg) a mid gravity (about 6% ABV) porter with regular (not sweet) nibs, and after 5 days, the nibs were nothing but waxy and flavorless. So it doesn't take long.
     
    #4 VikeMan, Mar 27, 2013
  5. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Make it a regular easy drinking stout for the summer. It'll go great with steaks, ribs, and other grill food.
     
    #5 inchrisin, Mar 28, 2013
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