ditch`s stout..

[Ditch]

SlayerKing; Thanks for finally asking The Question which has prompted me to try and provide An Answer. (And that's Not a play on the Irish language! ~ for those who'd see it )

Ok, mate; " DSM ". I've seen how this has become corrupted. To some, in some terms, it means " Dark Spray Malt ". It's also, seemingly, used to denote " Dry / Dried Spray Malt ". It's probably even worse than that, but I don't want to confuse things any further.

So, as the good folks of this forum tend to ~ sometimes ~ refer to Coopers Stout as " Ditch's Stout ", as per this very thread. And as I'm the " Ditch " sharing this honour. May I attempt to clarify?

When I make up Coopers Stout as I like and rave about, I use Medium 'Malt Powder'. Not Dark or Light. I have some Dark. Yet to use it. But shall we just say that the malt I use is a powdered form, I believe it's produced by a process known as 'Spray Drying'. But it's malt. And it's in a bag. Open the bag and out comes powder.

All this DSM. MDSM. DDSM. BDSM. It's getting a little trying, even for me.

Use MEDIUM 'Dry Malt Powder' and ye'll produce the original and genuine " Ditch's Stout ".

Clear as mud?

[slayerking]

Apologies for the ambiguity!!
I was refering to spray malt in the previous post, of the Medium and Dark kind.
Dang acronyms!!

Cheers for the reply, I might just try recreate your famous stout.

[jimjamjamie0]

Apologies for the ambiguity!!
I was refering to spray malt in the previous post, of the Medium and Dark kind.
Dang acronyms!!

Cheers for the reply, I might just try recreate your famous stout.

I can highly recomend the original 'ditchs stout" I did this with the recomended 1kg of medium spray malt, but made it to 20 litres to avoid the explosion and i can happily say it bloody fantastic everyone who has tried my batch cant belive i have made it (still new to all this brewing)..

[timothio]

I'm gonna get a brew of Ditch's Infamous Stout on the go at some point in the future, just to see what all the fuss is about and because I feel a bit left out (please can I play with you?)...

But TBH I'm not much of a stout drinker. I dabble in a few ales every so often, but lager is my norm (please dont hurl abuse at me).

So my question is, where should I start with stout? I wanna get a feel for the stuff before I try Ditch's, at least then I'll have something to compare it to. I found a bottle of Guiness Foreign Extra (7.5 % ) in the cupboard t'other day, I'd bought it to make a casserole with, but thought I should start my "research" instead. Wasnt really my cup of tea though, would've been nicer in the casserole... Aparently, its... "a beer like no other. The most full flavoured of all. Singular and striking. Uniquely satisfying. Brewed with extra hops and roasted barley for a natural bite. Bitter and sweet. Refreshingly crisp. Always rewarding. Pure beauty. Pure Guiness" (pure bollox, more like... )

Now, is there a stout thats the opposite of this? Maybe that'll be more my thang...

[Yeastman]

After reading this thread am just going to have to do a brew of ditch's stout i was thinking about the brewers choice ipa but i do like a good stout. Only thing is all my brewing is on hold at the moment as i am due to move house soon but not sure when. So i dont want to start a brew and then have to disturb it by moving. Its a little frustrating really will just have to wait.

[Mogwyth]

Hi Tim

You brought Guinness Foreign Extra to do what with I know I like to use good beer in cooking but using Extra is a bit to far even for me. TO be honest if you don't like Extra which is far superior to normal guiness IMHO then I would suggest that Stout is not going to be your cup of tea, I could be wrong. Stouts are always going to be "full" flavoured (toasty, chocolatey, coffee, liquorice etc) and traditionally should be quite strong like the Extra, although 4-6% is more common nowadays.

Cheers

Bill

[Ditch]

Tim; If ye really a Lager man, then ..... well, what can I say? 'Each to his own.', obviously. But, don't ever let ye opinion of Guinness faze ye when considering a Coopers Stout, made the way I like to do it. Put simply? There's absolutely No Comparison.

Guinness is ..... well ..... Dish Water! Produced to the denominator. Thirty odd years ago, maybe, it appeared to have more taste and body to it? These days it's just bland.

Try a Coopers (" Ditch's ") Stout, only try to forget it's a Stout. Just look on it as a dark beer with a lovely, creamy head. Let ye own taste buds decide on what it might be. And That'll prove a challenge too; Sorting ye way through all those subtle, underlying, elusive hints of flavours

I'm yet to make one with Dark malt (powder). But I suspect That might drive it into the realms of a truly dark, strong and 'stouty' stout. Probably too far over for your possible palette? But, my way, with the Medium? I reckon ye won't be too bothered that it wasn't another five gallons of Lager Be a nice change for ye, either way.

[Jerry Cornelius]

Made up the Cooper's Stout on the 17th. It's still in the FV, but I tried a taste today when I took an SG, and I have to say it's very nice. Not at all bitter like Guiness (which I don't like).

I would've said a Ditch's stout, but I didn't realise, and made it up with Dark Spray Malt.

Anyway, i think this is going to be very tasty

[Ditch]

I expect it Will be " Very Tasty " too, Jerry; Just 'different' from how I make it.

But, this is what drew me to strongly to Coopers Stout, from my first go at it; Taste. It has enough flavour that ye can actually discuss 'it' / them.

See, I've genuinely nothing Against a pub poured, or even a can of Guinness. It's what it is. And what it is is THE Stout available to me, outside of this cottage. I can buy it in any pub or offie. And it tastes about the same in 99% of them I've tried. Still light years better than Bud', Coors, Smythwicks, Heiniken or cider. That's about all else we have around here.

But, it's just SO f*cking The Same! And that same is more a thickness on the tongue than any actual, discernible range of flavours.

Water's good, when ye parched. Guinness is ok, when ye fancy a pint and have a very limited range available. Coopers Stout ....? Just out there on its own!

[timothio]

You brought Guinness Foreign Extra to do what with

Sausage casserole!! Go on, try it... Cant remember where the hell the recipe came from, but its really worth trying, lovely stuff... Think I still got a bit in my freezer... That'll do for dinner tomorrow!

Try a Coopers (" Ditch's ") Stout, only try to forget it's a Stout.

So ignore research? Jump in feet first? Dear, oh dear... Well, its pay day tomorrow, I've been promising myself for ages that I'll go all out and blow £65 online (to avoid the postage costs) on kits and the like, maybe tomorrow I'll finally do it. I must try to see it as an investment in the future, but times are hard, and I have many, many more things I also want to buy... Like food... And electricity... Maybe some gas aswell (cold showers make my bits shrink )...

[guidomax]

So my question is, where should I start with stout? I wanna get a feel for the stuff before I try Ditch's, at least then I'll have something to compare it to.

--- snip ---

Now, is there a stout thats the opposite of this? Maybe that'll be more my thang...

timothio, if you're looking to get a feel for the kind of flavours you'll find in a stout, I'd recommend trying both Young's Double Chocolate Stout, and (if you can find it) Hook Norton Double Stout. They both blow Guinness out of the water, and are well worth seeking out in bottles.
I have yet to see how Ditch's Stout compares - if it's half as good as everything I've read here, I'm in for a treat!

[dunc]

Hook Norton DS is absolutely fantastic - the best bottled stout I've ever had by a long shot. I'm gonna give this one a shot soonish though - I'm well impressed with Coopers so the Stout was already on my shopping list.

[FlourPower]

Hmm

I fear I'm going to blaspheme here.

I can't work out if I like cooper's stout or not.

I tried one by a young apprentice of mine two years ago and it tasted like fizzy water. Seriously the guy could not brew a decent pint from kit. He's since gone to chilli vodkas. Due to this I steered clear of the coopers range. That and they aren't British.

So after all this hoopla from Ditch I whacked a stout on, with 1kg MDSM, made to 20L on April 23rd. Now trying it I think there's too much of a roasted Barley flavour to it. It's charring and burnt with a slightly smokey nose. I just can't work out whether that's good or not!

I think I'll try their Dark Ale but for Stouts Munton's Conn. Imperial Stout beats Coopers for me.

[Yeastman]

hmmm i think you may have stirred a hornets nest there

[Ditch]

Well, I've no problem with Flour Powers post, that's for sure! He's tried it. He's not certain about it. He reckons, for his own tastes, he prefers something else. What's wrong with that?

Be a bit different if some committed 'All Grainer' came storming in here, decrying Coopers Kits and banging on about how a pinch of Dark Crystal Malt, pitched into some equipment heavy and esoteric brew could knock the spots off our stuff. Or a TC freak saying they can get more wrecked on that stuff than this. No comparisons there, see?

But, I think FP's given it a try. Made a fair, and rather considered, comparison. Fair play to the man! I don't like Addled's Jellied Eels. I prefer eel cooked over an open flame. Don't suppose Addled feels afronted by that disclosure either!

It's the exceptions that prove the rule!