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Pack o' Hooligans Stout

Brewed: 11/02/2024   Kegged: 11/17/2024

So ... around the end of October, 2024 I realized I was getting low on beer inventory. It was also getting close to Learn to Homebrew Day

Looking through my recipes in Beer Smith, I saw that at some point I had developed a recipe for a 16A Sweet Stout. I assume that at some point I had gone to my Roll-a-Style list and "rolled" 14 ...




Which corresponded to 16A Sweet Stout.

A very dark, sweet, full-bodied, slightly roasty stout that can suggest coffee-and-cream, or sweetened espresso.

If I'm honest, I don't remember if this is a beer I had ChatGPT help me with the recipe, or if I developed it on my own with input from somewhere else.

Hooligans.jpg

But ... I'm claiming it as my own. The ingredients are specific enough that at the very least, I thought about it enough that I at least modified any recipe to reflect my LHBS.

As far as numbers, it runs pretty much right down the middle. 

The name "Pack of Hooligans" has been on my beer name list for quite awhile, and I don't remember if there was some movie or book or T.V. that prompted the name, or if I just thought it sounded cool.

Honestly it doesn't matter.


Brewing batch 1 at Learn to Homebrew Day was hectic and I ended up boiling longer than the recipe called for, which probably makes it a little too bitter for a "Sweet Stout", but I'm still counting it for the BJCP Goal

It tastes awesome.

I should have some left when my MIL is visiting around Christmas, which will likely make her happy.


For more information on this beer, see Sheppy's Blog: Hooligans.


Pack of Hooligans Stout --- Batch 1 (364)

Style Sweet Stout Batch Size 5.50 gal
Type All Grain Boil Size   6.42 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency   68.00   Boil Time   30 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity 1.052 SG Estimated FG 1.013 SG
Recipe Bitterness 30.1 IBUs (Rager) Alcohol by Volume 5.2 %
BU : GU   0.574        
Recipe Color 38.9 SRM
Color
   
Measured OG:   1.052    Measured FG:   1.018 
ADF:   64    Measured ABV:   4.5 

Ingredients

Ingredients
Amt Name Type # %/IBU Volume
7.68 gal Denver, Colorado Water 1 - -
6.00 g Calcium Chloride (Mash) Water Agent 2 - -
2.00 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash) Water Agent 3 - -
8 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 4 71.1 % 0.63 gal
12.0 oz Crystal, Dark (Simpsons) (80.0 SRM) Grain 5 6.7 % 0.06 gal
8.0 oz Midnight Wheat Malt (550.0 SRM) Grain 6 4.4 % 0.04 gal
8.0 oz Pale Chocolate Malt (200.0 SRM) Grain 7 4.4 % 0.04 gal
8.0 oz Roasted Barley (Proximity) (475.0 SRM) Grain 8 4.4 % 0.04 gal
1 lbs Milk Sugar (Lactose) [Boil] (0.0 SRM) Sugar 9 8.9 % 0.09 gal
1.000 oz Magnum [14.40 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 10 30.1 IBUs -
1.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 11 - -
1.00 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 mins) Other 12 - -
1.0 pkg Irish Ale (Wyeast Labs #1084) [124.21 ml] Yeast 13 - -
12.00 oz Whole Bean Coffee (Secondary) Flavor 14 - -

Mash Profile

Mash Steps
Name Description Step Temperature Step Time
Saccharification Add 30.70 qt of water at 162.5 F 156.0 F 45 min
Heat Heat to 158.0 F over 10 min 158.0 F 15 min
Mash Out Heat to 170.0 F over 7 min 170.0 F 10 min


If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wort

Recipe Notes
A couple days before brew day, make 6 cup starter with 3 cups DME.
Combine brewing salts in the mash and sparge water. This should bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=102,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=88,Cl=121,HCO3=104
Boil wort adding ingredients as specified.
Cool to as close to 60 degrees as possible to pitch.
Ferment under 65 for a couple of days, then let heat up to about 70.
Once fermentation slows down, ground coffee beans and add to fermenter in a "hop bag"
Total fermenation time 2 weeks.
Keg and force carbonate. Drink when ready

Brewing Record

Brew Date:   Strike Temp:  
Mash Temps:  
Pre-boil OG   (1.049 SG)   Pre-boil Vol   (6.42 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency   Pitch Temp    
Fermentation            
Day 1: 
Day ... 
Day ... 

 
Brewing Notes:
10/19/2024 esheppy
Thinking about adding actual coffee to this recipe. Not sure how much, but maybe 6oz ground beans in a secondary.
10/25/2024 esheppy
Put an order in to the Brew Hut. Will pick up this weekend. I'll brew it on Learn to Homebrew Day.
11/01/2024 esheppy
Making a starter out of my harvested Irish Ale Yeast from Clan Dunbroch. This yeast is 5.5 months old, which is certainly not usually recommended. But, I think it will be fine. We'll see how it turns out. Brew day tomorrow (Learn to Homebrew Day)
11/02/2024 esheppy
Learn to Homebrew Day was crazy. Two batches. Lots of BBQ. Hosting. Pouring and explaining beers. I got distracted on this one and boiled too long. I think I had the Beer Model add the hops at 60, so it might end up more bitter than planned. Not sure the yeast is very viable either. 1.052 OG.
11/03/2024 esheppy
Tilt says 1.046 at 66. Fermentation has not actually started yet. If it goes another day, I'll pitch some dry yeast (probably US05)
11/04/2024 esheppy
Fermentation had taken off sometime yesterday, and has been rocking since. Tilt says 1.034 at 69.
11/05/2024 esheppy
Still bubbling away, but has slowed down quite a bit. Tilt says 1.019 at 68 degrees.
11/06/2024 esheppy
Not much bubbling now. Tilt says 1.008 at 68. I actually doubt 1.008 is correct, but I guess we'll see when I keg. I still have another 10 days before I plan to keg.
11/11/2024 esheppy
I think the Tilt battery died sometime over the weekend. Currently, I have one empty keg, but I think I'll use that for X-Mas. So, not sure when I'll keg this one.
11/15/2024 esheppy
Took a little sample. Not too bitter, but not really tasting "sweet" either. I don't think I'm going to add the coffee after all. The clarity isn't quite where I'd like it, so I may wait until next week to keg. Since I don't have a place to put it anyway, no need to hurry this along.
11/17/2024 esheppy
Kegged. Nice and black. Not sure I'd call this a sweet stout if I didn't know that was the original design. Personally, I like the more balanced bitterness. So, I think I'm going to keep this as my 16A style. FG at 1.018, which is higher than Beer Smith estimated, but more in line with my previous experience with lactose.
11/19/2024 esheppy
Poured a pint from kegerator. Not very carbonated, but it has a nice tan lasting head. Really dark. Opaque, but I think it would be fairly clear if it were lighter. Really not overly roasty. Pretty smooth. More balanced (less sweet) than the typical milk stout, but I really quite like it.
11/21/2024 esheppy
Poured a pint for the photo on this page. Beautiful black beer. Could probably still use some carbonation. Nice smooth and balanced. Roast not overpowering at all.
12/07/2024 esheppy
Foamy now, making for a wonderful thick head. Yummy beer.
12/12/2024 esheppy
After my last comment, I completely released the pressure. The carbonation built it back up enough to get a vigorous pour. Interestingly, the beer now tastes a bit sweeter and a bit more roast.
12/14/2024 esheppy
Comparing with Left Hand Milk Stout. Look very similar. Black with tan head. Left Hand sweeter and fuller in body. Mine better balanced and a touch more drinkable. Flavor very similar. Roast with touch of dark chocolate. I like mine better, although I think Left Hand's is closer to the style guidelines.
12/26/2024 esheppy
People actually really like this beer. My FIL mentioned he just can't handle the "big" beers. I had to tell him this is the lowest ABV beer I have on tap. People just see a black beer and think it is big. Cousin Troy made a similar comment. Oh well. All I can do is try to educate these people.
12/31/2024 esheppy
Happy Brew Year. Beautiful and black. Yummy 😋
01/05/2025 esheppy
Great beer. One of my favorite stouts ever.
01/09/2025 esheppy
Beautiful black. The more I drink this, the more I love it. Great roast without being overpowering. Touch of chocolate. Not overly sweet. Yummy 😋
01/17/2025 esheppy
Loving this beer. Easy drinking. Nice that it is so full flavored with low alcohol.
01/24/2025 esheppy
Still wonderful. Can't get over how smooth this beer is. I'm thinking my best stout ever. Don't think this will make it through the weekend.
01/25/2025 esheppy
Keg blew the next pour after that last comment. Good to the last drop. Wonderful beer.
Comments:
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