RIS with coffee and rum additions

[pcrofts27]

Hi all,

going to start an imperial stout tomorrow using three kits i got cheap at wilkos. Coopers stout, sweet newkie brown and a lager. I'm just going to add 1 kg dextrose, the 3 packets of yeast, and stand back.

However, at bottling i fancy trying a couple of additions. Once i've bottled most of it (in 330ml bottles) i'll add a cold steeped coffee to the last 6 litres and bottle half of that, then add rum to the last 3 litres and bottle that. I've done coffee before so i'm ok with the amount, but not sure about the rum.
Has anyone done this before?
I understand the alcohol content might affect the bottle conditioning. Is there a way round this?
I'm not going to add much priming sugar, maybe 60gm for the 23 litres, so would adding a bit more to the rum bottles help overcome the alcohol content?

all info gratefully received.
cheers
paul

[cellone]

I know adding the rum to the glass would miss the point but would also be easier. And, and you could do an experiment , scientific like on exactly how much to add.

[pcrofts27]

thanks cellone. i'll probably have to do a few tests with the amount, assuming no one has any suggestions. I'll get a bottle of RIS and then keep adding small amounts of rum till it seems right. i'm not after anything really strong, just the hint of it, like the Innis & Gunn rum finish. I like to pass a few bottles round my friends, so i'd prefer it to be in the beer.
cheers
paul

[Liverpool-Lad]

Should be interesting. I did the same brew but initially used 1kg dark DME. It didnt turn out very strong and ran out of puff at high 6%s. Added 1kg dextrose which boosted it upto 9% or so.

Its very heavy and sweet, shouldve done what you are attempting

[cellone]

Think to make it scientific you will need six bottles. The first one you'll go light or heavy, it doesn't matter which. Next two will be trying to get a balance. The two after that will be for refining the balance and the sixth will be for perfection.

[pcrofts27]

6 bottles!!!
after 6 bottles of imperial stout i doubt if i'll remember my own name, never mind why i'm messing about adding rum to it!
think it'll have to be one bottle split into 6 glasses.
thanks for the suggestion cellone, (though i've now made a mental note never to go out boozing with you)

cheers
paul

[pcrofts27]

Started this today as follows -

put the 3 yeast packets in 1/4 pint cooled boiled water with a spoon of sugar in it. Forthing nicely after 30 or 40 mins.
Put three kits in the FV with water and 1kg dextrose. Only topped it up to 15 litres and put a blow-off tube on the FV as everyone says this will go crazy.

However I'm trying to work out the OG.
By my calculations if i'm topping up to 23 litres in a day or two, the 15 litres are 65% of the final volume.
In my trial jar, the hydrometer accounts for 18ml, so i need 82ml of wort (?) to bring it up to 100ml when i add the hydrometer.
As the wort is only 65% of what it will be, i worked out 65% of the 82ml as 53ml .
I therefore put 53 ml of wort in the trial jar, topped it up to 82ml with water, and then bunged in the hydrometer.
It gave me a reading of 1060.

Does this sound right or have i miscalculated?
Also does anyone have an idea of what the FG might be?

cheers
Paul

[woblylegs]

i made a three can brew a few month back . looking at my notes og was 1090. that was with a coopers stout, geordie winter warmer, wilkos lager and 1kg sugar. made to 20ltr
i would say yours will be very much on them lines

[pcrofts27]

Cheers woblylegs. Sounds very similar I'm guessing the OG difference is due to you brewing short.
Have you tried any of it yet? I know it's best with several months conditioning, but we all like a sneaky taster to see how it's going.
Paul

[woblylegs]

ye i had a bottle a few weeks back. not bad at all but very young. christmas next year will see it right id say

[jaroporter]

to be honest, a starting gravity of 1,060 for three kits an a kilo of sugar in 15L sounds far to low. assuming similar results to woblylegs ('cause i've not done a 3can brew so have nothing to go from myself), you should have an OG of around 1,080 at 23L

[pcrofts27]

Hi all,

Just done a few taste tests using Sam Smiths imperial stout and a bottle of dark rum.
Arrived at a ratio of 1:30 rum to beer. I'm going to bottle in 330ml bottles, so works out at 11ml of rum per bottle.
Anyone think this sounds right/wrong?
Cheers
Paul

[cellone]

Bud, if you have got it right to your taste then it is bang on.

[pcrofts27]

well i'm planning on bottling this tomorrow.
Got the bottles soaking in a thin bleach solution, and 150gm coffee steeping in a pint of boiled and cooled water in the fridge. (House blend from Tamper at Sellers Wheel - best coffee house in Sheffield!, plus they have a bar and put decent beers on courtesy of The Hop Box. What's not to like!)
Anyway, stuck the hydrometer in it and got a reading of 1020. Does this sound right? I'll take another reading tomorrow to check it's finished, but after 3 weeks and a couple of days it ought to be. Assuming my OG reading of 1060 was wrong and I go with jaroporter's estimate of 1080, i should end up with an 8.4% beer.
I'm going to bottle most of it as is, but 3 litres will be bottled with rum added, 3 litres with coffee added, and 3 litres with rum and coffee.
I'm half expecting the rum to kill the yeast so they end up flat, but nothing ventured eh?
cheers
paul

[hazelbrew]

8.4%?

please tell me that you are bottling in 330 or 250ml bottles... :/