Well Hung Porter

[Capper20]

This is my sixth AG brew and to be honest it was going to be called AG6 but given this morning's election results I think this name is more deserving. Using up some of my bits and pieces so this is more of an experiment really, I hope it tastes good. I'm biased so I will probably enjoy it!

Photos to follow.

MO Pale Malt - 3016g
Black Malt - 351g
Chocolate Malt - 213g
Cara-Pils - 200g
Lightly Toasted Rolled Oats - 200g (set smoke alarm off but lovely smell)
Torified Wheat - 200g
Caramunch Malt - 189g
Crystal Malt (118EBC) - 71g

90 minute mash

Fuggles - 15g at 90 mins
Cascade - 16g at 90 mins
Northern Brewer - 25g at 15 mins
Northern Brewer - 20g at 0 mins

Protofloc at 15 mins
Molasses - 150g at 15 mins

S04 Yeast

Is this really a porter or is it a stout. I'm not too sure of the clear definition? It will be black, that much is a cert.

Right, off to mash.

[chris_reboot]

it will be black alright!
blacker than the devils toenails.

porter vs. stout debate - not much in it in my opinion, but I've tasted big variations within each type, from too bland to I can't actually finish the bottle its too chewy!

[OldSpeckledBadger]

That looks well into stout territory. With all those speciality malts you'll be wasting your time (and money) with the aroma hops as the flavour of the malts will totally overpower them. 100g of Torrified Wheat would be enough for head retention.

[Capper20]

You reckon saving them for the next brew is better? I've not opened the pack yet...

Right:

Just given the mash tun a quick stir and 10 min rest before draining it out, smells very good. You're totally right about the strong smell, I doubt anything could cut through it.

Cheers.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I'd use a high-alpha hop such as your Northern Brewer on its own at start of boil. Aim for about 40 IBU as you'll need quite a bit of bitterness to cut through all those malt flavours.

[Capper20]

As I've weighed out the original bittering hops and mixed them together I will throw them in towards the end and use the NB ones at the start of the boil. 33.75g and the others at 1 minute give me an IBU of 40.

Anyone else want to contribute to the mix? Not like we can do owt else with the election!

[WishboneBrewery]

I say just do what you want, what is brewing if not experimentation?
Stout is pretty forgiving, with some late hops you do get an extra level to go with the complexity of those dark malts. Give it a long maturation period and it will be great.

[mysterio]

I'd use a high-alpha hop such as your Northern Brewer on its own at start of boil. Aim for about 40 IBU as you'll need quite a bit of bitterness to cut through all those malt flavours.

WHAT!? OSB recommends something that isn't Goldings, Fuggles or Challenger?

[Capper20]

Off to Australia in 2 weeks so if it is all bottled up by then I will not be tempted to try it;)

[OldSpeckledBadger]

WHAT!? OSB recommends something that isn't Goldings, Fuggles or Challenger?

I hope that hasn't come as too much of a shock

[Capper20]

Slight change to this in the end:

MO Pale Malt - 3016g
Black Malt - 351g
Chocolate Malt - 213g
Cara-Pils - 200g
Lightly Toasted Rolled Oats - 200g (set smoke alarm off but lovely smell)
Torified Wheat - 200g
Caramunch Malt - 189g
Crystal Malt (118EBC) - 71g

90 minute mash
Northern Brewer - 34g at 90 mins
Fuggles - 15g at 1 mins
Cascade - 16g at 1 mins

Protofloc at 15 mins
Molasses - 125g at 15 mins

S04 Yeast













Just transferred this to FV2 and the gravity has dropped from 1.044 to 1.016, going to give it another week before bottling and conditioning.

Tasted pretty good, with a nice bite to it now.

[WishboneBrewery]

Oats look good, I'll have to get round to doing this

[Capper20]

Bottled this up today. It had dropped to 1.012. Lots of crap in FV2 so I lost a pint or two transferring it to my bottling bucket. Tasted good but am looking forward to cracking it open later in the summer.