3 replies to this topic

[grenner]

I just started to brew and have only used the kits that are available. my question is am i able to screw around with the processes to add different things? IE i have a porter kit. I want to add a chocolate or a vanilla flavor to it. Is that possile?

[MakeMeHoppy]

Absolutely.... I liked to use the basic kit as if for a style and I started with a porter kit as well. I liked the idea of a smoked porter so I added some rausch grains to the kit. Pretty soon you should be designing your own recipes with extact and grains to dial in the exact flavor profile you want. Make a beer and ask yourself what you make it better. Hoppier, fuller body, additional flavor etc and then adjust the recipe to meet that goal.

[grenner]

Thanks HoppyI wasnt sure because no one ever asks. I was reading to add cocoa just add it when you boil and some again when you rack over to the secondary. ever done that? what should I use for vanilla?

[MakeMeHoppy]

Thanks Hoppy I wasnt sure because no one ever asks. I was reading to add cocoa just add it when you boil and some again when you rack over to the secondary. ever done that? what should I use for vanilla?

I haven't used cocoa or vanilla. There is a chocolate grain that I use in my porters usually about 1/2 pound. They key was again making a recipe and then changing something (either adding or deleting an ingrediant or increasing/decreasing its amount) and tasting the difference. Then when you taste a beer you can say things like, I like that with more crystal or I prefer the crystal 60 over the crystal 40.