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Chocolate Bar Stout

This is my first time ever using real chocolate in a stout. It is based on both Brooklyn's Chocolate Stout, Rogue's Chocolate Stout, & one I like from John Harvards in Monroeville, PA. The brewer (my thanks to Andrew Maxwell) helped with advice on how much chocolate to add, as well as when to add to the boil.

Brewer: Gary Slafka Email: gtslafka@comcast.net
Beer: Chocolate Bar Stout Style: Imperial Stout
Type: Extract w/grain Size: 5.0 gallons
Color:
238 HCU
Bitterness: 55 IBU
OG: 1.099 FG: 1.030
Alcohol: 8.9% v/v (7.0% w/w)
Grain: 1 lb. American chocolate
12 oz. American black patent
12 oz. Roasted barley
8 oz. Flaked barley
5 oz. Rolled oats (Quick oats)
Steep: Steep grains until boil.
Boil: 90 minutes SG 1.141 3.5 gallons
2 lb. Brown sugar
9.9 lb. Light malt extract
This is the first time I've ever done a 90 minute boil.
I thought I'd try it since there's so much "stuff" in this beer.
Hops: 3 oz. Cascade (6.4% AA, 90 min.)
1.5 oz. Willamette (4.1% AA, 45 min.)
1 oz. Cascade (5.3% AA, 45 min.)
1 oz. Willamette (4.6% AA, 15 min.)
Yeast: White Labs WLP 007 Dry English Ale. I picked this one because
it's supposed to be good in high gravity & brown ales
Log: 12/11/06 Brewed, added 28 oz (800g) of Lindt Swiss 85% Cocoa Bars,
I melted these in a double boiler, then added last 10
minutes of the boil. Also used a blow off, it was needed.
12/20/06 Secondary Fermentation.
12/30/06 Bottled 43 12 oz bottles. For the last 4 bottles I added
vanilla extract to test batch the taste.
Actual OG was 1100, FG was 1030, or 9.3% ABV
Carbonation: Used 50% more priming sugar than normal, 7.5 ounces versus 5.
I did this because the chocolate inhibits the carbonation. The carbonation turned out fine, depending on how it matures, I might consider lowering the priming sugar, time will tell.
Tasting: Like drinking a liquid dark chocolate bar, yummy!!! The initial taste and mouth feel are a full bodied, chewy stout, with a huge dark chocolate finish. Because of the complex flavors, you'd never guess it was 9.3% ABV, but it is definitely a sipping beer. This could be the only beer you'd ever drink with a piece of chocolate cake, or an Oreo!!!
Brewing Notes-I may use a lower percent cocoa next time, in order to achieve more of a milk chocolate flavor instead of the dark bitter chocolate finish. Oh yeah, and the vanilla extract bottles I thought were a little more balanced, which smoothed out the finish a little better. So, next batch will have the vanilla extract, and maybe even a couple vanilla sticks in the boil.

Recipe posted 02/18/07.