Herb Stout (My Neighbor, Not A Spice)

This beer is named after my next door neighbor, Herb Stout, who lifts weights and is built like a bodybuilder. Like Herb, this beer is big, strong, and can easily knock you on your butt. This is an Imperial Stout along the lines of a Russian Imperial Stout; dark, rich, and smooth as silk. This is a great beer named after a great neighbor!

Brewer:	Gary Slafka		Email:	GSlafka@aol.com
Beer:	Herb Stout (My Neighbor, Not A Spice)		Style:	Imperial Stout
Type:	Extract w/grain		Size:	5.7 gallons
Color:	202 HCU		Bitterness:	81 IBU
OG:	1.085		FG:	1.030
Alcohol:	7.0% v/v (5.5% w/w)
Grain:	8.0 oz. American crystal 60L 1.0 lb. American chocolate 4.0 oz. American black patent 12.0 oz. Roasted barley 12.0 oz. American crystal 120L 4.0 oz. Dextrine malt (Cara-Pils)
Steep:	Steep all grains until boil begins.
Boil:	60 minutes	SG 1.138	3.5 gallons
	7.0 lb. Amber malt extract 3.0 lb. Amber dry malt extract 1.0 lb. Light dry malt extract
Hops:	1.0 oz. Chinook (13.2% AA, 60 min.) 1.0 oz. Cluster (7.3% AA, 60 min.) 1.0 oz. Nugget (13.5% AA, 60 min.) 1.0 oz. Yakima (15.1% AA, 60 min.) 2.0 oz. Willamette (5.5% AA, 10 min.)
Yeast:	Irish #1084
Log:	1/15/2001 Brewed 1/28/2001 Bottled (After about two weeks)
Carbonation:	2.5 volumes	Corn Sugar: 3.96 oz. for 4.5 gallons @ 72°F
	Although the carbonation rates high for an Imperial Stout, 4.0 oz was fine, and I wouldn't decrease the amount the next batch.
Tasting:	This is a very dark chewy stout with great chocolate undertones. Don't be afraid of the quantity of hops and IBU's, as this is needed to balance the rich malty flavor of this wonderful Imperial Stout. I may try a second fermentation after two weeks next batch, with maybe a week of dry hopping. I think the extra week of fermentation will lower the final gravity below 1.030. Plus, I will only have 5.0 gallons in the fermenter, not 5.7, which will greatly increase the alcohol percentage. This is still a very strong beer, and is a great beer to sip on a cold winter night!!!

Recipe posted 02/23/01.