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Author Topic: Coconut Porter Thoughts?  (Read 7916 times)

Offline lom718

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Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« on: November 26, 2009, 04:23:23 pm »
Hi All,

I'm trying to get some coconut flavor into my porter. I took the recipe from a back issue of Zymurgy. Here's a thought and I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on this...

So, I'm thinking about filtering the beer (porter) through coconut in order to get the coconut flavor into the beer. What are people's thoughts on this? The porter is in the primary fermentor (brewed on Saturday November 14th). When racking, I'm considering running it through toasted coconut in order to add flavor AND filter it to pull out some particulate matter. If anyone has feedback on this, please let me know!

Thanks so much,
Lindsey
Bottled: RC's IPA, India Brown Ale, Springer Wit, Oatmeal not so Porter Porter, Coconut Porter
Aging: Cider
Fermenting: Punkin' Porter
Up next: Wheat

Offline tygo

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2009, 04:28:14 pm »
You might have better luck with getting coconut flavor by adding an extract either in the secondary or at bottling.  Maybe something like this:  http://www.faeriesfinest.com/E126.html (just found from a quick google search.  I've never used it so can't vouch for it.)
Clint
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Offline 1vertical

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2009, 04:50:29 pm »
I brewed beer once using spendy Jaggery sugar derived from coconut the jaggery tasted like coconut.
After the yeast got done chewing on the brew, it did NOT taste like coconut.  This may be more difficult
than you imagine.  The addition of extract to Secondary may be your best shot...IMO.
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

Offline troy4500

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2009, 05:41:56 pm »
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/coconut-extract-recipe/index.html

I added the extract in the secondary of a chocolate coconut porter I made.  It worked pretty well.

Offline KING__SIZE

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2009, 06:34:29 pm »
Try both, IMO you want to layer natural flavors and even artificial flavors (use an easy hand with these) to support the original flavor. For exampIe I used maple and fenugreek (used in artificial maple syrup) in a Baltic Porter, thanks to Randy Mosher's Book for the idea. I refined it a bit using some research about how artificial flavors are created, you can use this for just about any food or drink.

1. Character Item (Coconut)
2. Contributory Item (Artificial Coconut Extract) supports the flavor in item 1
3. Differential Item (Jaggery) makes item 2 acceptable to the taster

Use a light hand with this, remember that you don't want a coconut beer with a hint of porter.

Good luck.
“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” Alexander Graham Bell

Offline drf255

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2009, 04:33:43 am »
I'd be afraid that it would cause oxidation in the final beer.  I'd either make your own extract with some vodka, or add the toasted coconut shreds directly to the secondary.

Offline pashusa

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2009, 10:23:47 pm »
Coconut contains oils. this will affect your head retention at the very least.JMO.
I wasn't even in town that day, I swear.

Offline 1vertical

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2009, 05:45:30 pm »
IMO some minor experience as well, Vodka/Everclear will dissolve/break down oils.  The oils in a chocolate stout I made
using real Cacao beans (oily cocoa butter) were not a head retention factor after a long soak in Everclear.  Just a great smooth
BIG chocolate flavor for the stout.
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

Offline Dan

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2010, 05:25:49 pm »
Has anyone added coconut to the mash? Is it even possible to get sugars from the coconut?

Offline violaleebrews

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2010, 06:58:22 pm »
I'm interested in any results people could share about adding it to the mash as well.
I've read on some other forums that people have toasted one pound on their own (350° @ 10-15) and added it to the secondary with very good results.  No mention was made about head retention which is another factor I'm curious about.  I do think the vodka/everclear idea is a good one.

I know this is an old thread, but if anyone sees this and has any info, please share!

-JT

beveragebob

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2010, 09:23:17 pm »
I toast a lb of shredded coconut(baking section of the store) on top of the stove in a frying pan stirring on medium heat until it's somewhat golden brown, put it in a mesh bag inside the keg, add coconut water from a coconut, use the coconut to make a tap handle and it is tasty. No head retention problems etc.

Offline richardt

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2010, 09:39:31 pm »
I like the coconut for a tap handle idea. 

beveragebob

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2010, 09:45:39 pm »
This is what I based my Coconut Porter recipe on. It took BOS a number of years back.:

http://www.brewboard.com/index.php?showtopic=2235&st=15

 I also brewed a Coconut Blond Wheat Ale for a Hawaiian party using the same method with the shredded coconut and coconut water and it was a huge hit.

Offline abraxas

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2010, 10:41:57 pm »
So, I'm thinking about filtering the beer (porter) through coconut in order to get the coconut flavor into the beer.

Personally, I think this is brilliant.  I might give something like this a try soon.

Offline ryang

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Re: Coconut Porter Thoughts?
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2010, 07:28:50 am »
if you do try the filtering method, do whatever means possible to avoid splashing and/or any other method that would introduce additional oxygen into the brew.  You don't want an awesome coconut porter turning into a cardboard box.

if I were to do it, it'd be with dried, unsweetened coconut toasted till brown and dump in end of primary (read: after fermentation has more or less ceased)