VF # 6

As dark ales go this was a good attempt that aged really well as I recall. We struggled with the stepping mash temperatures, which in hindsight was pretty unnecessary. The hops were fairly standard and the yeast was just Safale 04 packet, so really nothing to impart any whopping flavour except the black and choc. The roasted malts did make it a great ale but the mix was a little unclear, with 4kg of Cara Munich combined with the choc malt the sweetness almost seemed overbearing, luckily there was sufficient acid to clean it up. The black malt did not have a huge chance to show up. I think we should revisit this recipe at some stage, but look at making more of a chocolate porter or stout in the vein of a Youngs or Fullers?
Giles