Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Rum Ball Bock?  (Read 1828 times)

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Rum Ball Bock?
« on: January 11, 2013, 10:40:07 am »
I brewed what should have been a doppelbock quite awhile ago.  Unfortunately, I badly missed my gravity and have a super malty bock with not nearly the alcohol I was anticipating.  It's not bad, just way too malty for me.

So, I added some rum that had been soaking with oak chips.  The bock is much improved, but could still use something.  I was thinking maybe chocolate or coffee.

Any thoughts on adding chocolate in the keg?  Process, amounts, etc.

Or other recommendations for flavors to add.  I've also thought about just adding more rum...
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline tschmidlin

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8198
  • Redmond, WA
Re: Rum Ball Bock?
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2013, 10:57:34 am »
If you plan to add chocolate, get some nibs and soak them in vodka, then add your chocolate extract to taste.  Do it in a glass first, that way if you don't like it you still have some chocolate extract for another batch.  You could also soak the nibs in the beer directly then pull them when you like the flavor.

It might be good with some chile flavor and a little bit of burn. :)
Tom Schmidlin

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Rum Ball Bock?
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2013, 11:05:56 am »
The wife won't drink it if it has any chile.

But chocolate she would drink.  I'll try to hit the health food store on the way home to get some nibs.

I need some good honey, anyway, so it'll be a twofer.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Rum Ball Bock?
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2013, 11:07:12 am »
If I add them directly, any suggestion on amounts? One ounce?  More?

I suppose I could also soak them in rum and get more rum plus chocolate...
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline jeffy

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4222
  • Tampa, Fl
Re: Rum Ball Bock?
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2013, 11:27:58 am »
If I add them directly, any suggestion on amounts? One ounce?  More?

I suppose I could also soak them in rum and get more rum plus chocolate...
I get cocoa nibs from my local homebrew store and they come in 4 ounce pkgs (I think).  I put those in a small muslin bag and throw them in the keg for 3 days, but you can try it on a daily basis to see how it goes.  It worked really well in a bock I made last year.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline mugwort

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 159
  • Baby T Aleworks
Re: Rum Ball Bock?
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2013, 12:32:35 pm »
Just bottled 3 gal of a richly malty, belgianized wee heavy that had sat on nibs since April 2012.  I used 3 oz in 3 gal and it was not too much.  The nibs add a nice subtle chocolate-toast flavor and somewhat drying character that helps to offset the tremendous malt sweetness of the ale.

I recommend Theo organic roasted nibs if you can find them.  Theo in Seattle is the only organic and fair trade chocolate factory in the U.S. that does the entire process in house, from raw beans to finished chocolate.

Sanitizing in rum and then adding both the rum and nibs to the brew would be a great way to go.  If you don't want to wait too long before enjoying the results, go 1.5 to 2 oz per gal.  This will help cut through the wall of malt sweetness.
Baby T Aleworks | 100% Organic Abode-Crafted Ales | San Gabriel, CA | On tap...