My Neighbor Cocoaro - Hentai-Brau #3

My Neighbor Cocoaro

Source Anime: My Neighbor Totoro
Style: Chocolate Stout
Brewed: 07/21/05
Bottled: 08/13/05

OG: 0.063
FG: 1.013
Alcohol Content: 6.6%
Color: 40.7 SRM
IBUs: 40.7 (medium to med-high bitterness)
60 minutes boiling time
Calories per 12 oz: 252.2
Primary Fermentation: up to 10 days
Secondary Fermentation: another 21 days
Bottle Conditioning: 14 days (longer for even smoother brew)

7.0 lb John Bull Amber Malt Extract (unhopped)
8 oz crystal malt 40L
16 oz English chocolate malt
8 oz English Black Roast malt
0.5 lb lactose
1/2 lb bitter, non-dairy chocolate (damn hard to find! =))
1/2 lb dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (or whole bean if you are hardcore)
Hops: 2 oz Fuggle (bittering 60 min)
1oz Saaz (finishing 5 min)
White Labs "Burton Ale Yeast"
1 cup of light DME at bottling

Brewing Notes:
Chocolate was melted in a bowl set over a pot of boiling water. Add chocolate at the end of the boil or if more chocollicious flavor is desired, mix with an oz of vodka and add to the secondary. Add the vanilla to the secondary. If using beans, soak them in an ounce of vodka for at least a week prior to addition. -Greg

Tasting notes:
It needed a looooong time to mellow in the bottle. It was somewhat harsh at the start, but ended up being perfect after about 4 months. Lots of chocolate odor. -Greg

Update: After 6 months, this stuff was fantastic. It had mellowed quite a bit and picked up a nice chocolate flavor to complement the dark grains. -Greg

Update: After 1 year, this brew is about hitting its peak. Excellent complexity and the carbonation issues have totally settled down. Silky is a good descriptor. There is still a slightly sour twinge that needs to be remedied next time. -Greg

Commercial Description:
“As dark as the heart of the cat-bus, this English-style stout has a decidedly desert-like quality. The nose is full of hot-fudge and java. The initial flavors are roasted grains and chocolate. The fuggles hops lend their rich, earthy bitterness towards the end of the tasting. Finally, a slight lactic tang clenses the pallet for the next sip”. -Greg