Great variation on Coopers Stout

[markbrannan]

Hi, I am new to Jim's Beerkit, but have been reading posts on it for a long while - so first off, thanks!

My recipe for this stout (which I currently have conditioning) was:

2x 100g Morrison's own plain chocolate
1x (small-ish) jar Morrison's own clear honey
A couple of capfuls of Camp coffee syrup
1kg Demerera sugar

and of course, 1 tin of Coopers Stout.

I haven't tried it after conditioning yet, but sneaky samples whilst making and bottling have both been great. I would recommend that you try this recipe at some point - if its this good just after bottling, it can't get worse after conditioning (can it? =s).

I haven't tried a Coopers Stout on its own - but from reading through this forum and others, its meant to be one of the best.

Anyone got any other variations on Coopers Stout? Anyone tried this or something similar before?

[Invalid Stout]

200g of chocolate? Does the beer have a head on it?

[markbrannan]

I don't know yet, as its not conditioned - but when I upturned the bottles after priming and capping they foamed up a bit. So, maybe. It foamed up a bit in the fermenter too, so I expect it'll have a head. I'll let you know for sure after the 30th.

Is chocolate known for its head-taking-away abilities? Or is it just any heavy, thick additive?

[196osh]

Its the fats in the chocolate that lower head retention. Think of it like how a slightly greasy glass would reduce the head on a beer.

[Normski]

I cant wait for Ditch to post a coment on this recipe. Im all for experimenting, But this is a good un.

[markbrannan]

Before you read this, know that I am no tasting expert or stout expert.

Just had a pint of this after 9 days conditioning - and its alright. There's a bit of a chocolate-ey taste, and a bit more of the coffee/chicory taste from the Camp coffee syrup, but its quite bitter - and I know its a stout and all, but I thought it would be a little sweeter, considering all the stuff I put in. I couldn't taste the honey, and I don't really know what demerera sugar tastes like .

And it DEFINITELY has a head. I poured a pint of it and the top 2 inches were foam
- this is when I tasted it. However, after a few gulps I decided to pour the rest in - and it all went wrong.

Step back to when I was brewing it: When I melted in the chocolate, it seemed to melt down into tiny little, grit-like pieces, rather than completely liquifying, and this is basically what my sediment consists of. So I poured some liquid, then a thick, dark brown, muddy sludge - with bits - followed into the pint

Orange juice with bits is bearable, but stout with bits? bleh...

I think i'm just gonna have to be careful when pouring this one, to get it done first time - or pour it through a sieve.

Overall though, its okay. I am a bit disappointed that not all of the flavours came through, and that its not very sweet. However, I only put it in the fridge last night after sitting in the warm, so its probably not properly chilled, and its not been sitting for too long, for the sediment to solidify. I reckon it'll get better with time (they all do).

[Trunky]

[196osh]

Dont pour it through a seive that will not go well....

I have tried.

[markbrannan]

Had a long day at uni, got on the wrong train home, took me over an hour to do a 15min journey - so I thought i'd open a wee stout to chill out, and check how its going.

I'm glad to say its great now!

Its got back the nice smoky, dark chocolate taste - maybe a bit of chicory in there too. I'm not very good at describing tastes, but when you take a gulp of it, when you breathe back out your nose, you can almost taste it again. It kindof takes over your face - if that makes sense

But, bad descriptions aside - very nice indeed. I was struggling to finish a pint before, but now i'm gulping back half a pint in 15mins - with dinner.

Although, it doesn't have a head. Earlier I claimed that it had - but that's probably because when I poured it, I poured it straight down into the glass, saying "haha, i'll prove those Jims Beer Kit people wrong! My stout WILL have a head! muwahhahahaa!!" - but this time, I just poured it normally, and there was a little slice of foam on the top, but after I got my plate and cutlery, it was gone. Almost like the head on a glass of coke.

Very nice, very tasty - and no bits - at all!

I would now safely recommend it for others to try - just mind and let it sit for a while (right now, mines is at 20days in the bottle). I'm starting to realise that homebrew shouldn't really be touched for at least 28days, as my strawberry cider was diabolical initially, but is now great. So great that I drank myself ill with it at the weekend

[markbrannan]

I think this thread has ran its course already, and shall lie dormant - but here's a picture of the stout.

I'm bringing 24 bottles of this to Glasgow Beer and Pub Project - come along if you want a taste!