Imperial Stout Recipes

[196osh]

I am a new brewer, just 1 under my belt.

My two favourite styles of beer are the Belgian Triple (most Belgians really) and Imperial Stouts.

It seems that the Brewferm kits will cover my Belgian cravings,

But there is only one Imperial stout kit that I can see.

Has anybody had any success in modifying any regular stout kits? If so how?

Cheers.

[stevezx7r]

Have a search on this forum in the recipes section and look for any stout you fancy. Then pop over to your local HB shop and get the hops it had in that recipe, throw them and see what happens

You could pre-boil them to make a "hop tea" then add the liquor to your wort - this will add an extra bitter/hop taste or you could put some loose leaf hops in a muslin bag (sterilised) and float in a keg to add extra hop aroma.

The fun part in this hobby is experimentation

[196osh]

Have a search on this forum in the recipes section and look for any stout you fancy. Then pop over to your local HB shop and get the hops it had in that recipe, throw them and see what happens

You could pre-boil them to make a "hop tea" then add the liquor to your wort - this will add an extra bitter/hop taste or you could put some loose leaf hops in a muslin bag (sterilised) and float in a keg to add extra hop aroma.

The fun part in this hobby is experimentation

So would that be, reduce the volume of the kit, add a bit extra sugar, and some different hops?

I was wondering about the volumes and things that should be done, just so I don't end up with either a 6% or a 13% Imperial Stout, am looking for a moderate ABV, if I can make it something like 8-10%.

I'm just not sure exactly how to work out the theoretical OG of someting from the Sugar/Grain content before its made.

Was thinking when I make it eventually some steeped chocolate malt or something like that would work well...

Obviously a bit advanced for where I am at, i am sure i'd more likly make some bitter tasting tanin rich guff, but anyway.

Yeah just want to have an idea of a theoretical ABV before I buy the gear.

[stevezx7r]

The simplest way of guessing what the end abv will be is to look on the tin It should say something like "enough to make 40 pints of X%abv..." So, when you make it (with it's recommended amount of fermentable sugar) plus the water required to make it up to 5 gallons you should end up very close to what it says on the tin.

If you wanted to, say, double the abv then all you need do is halve the amount of water used. This also keeps the flavours in ballance. Some would argue that "add another bag of sugar..." will do this too and give you the same amount (5 gallons) but the likely hood is the alcohol will overpower the other flavours.

So, increase the water by x% = decrease the abv by the same %. The reverse also applies.

[196osh]

The simplest way of guessing what the end abv will be is to look on the tin It should say something like "enough to make 40 pints of X%abv..." So, when you make it (with it's recommended amount of fermentable sugar) plus the water required to make it up to 5 gallons you should end up very close to what it says on the tin.

If you wanted to, say, double the abv then all you need do is halve the amount of water used. This also keeps the flavours in ballance. Some would argue that "add another bag of sugar..." will do this too and give you the same amount (5 gallons) but the likely hood is the alcohol will overpower the other flavours.

So, increase the water by x% = decrease the abv by the same %. The reverse also applies.

That makes a whole lot of sense.

Cheers.