Notes: A tricky one... First of all, this is a malt-forward beer for sure. As such, it relies on a huge, complex malt bill riddled with adjuncts, and as such, the diastatic power is low. Mash this one for 90 minutes for sure, and be sure to perform the iodine test. Also, because it's so dark, be sure to check pH. Albany NY tap water is world renown for brewing, and has a pH of about 7.6, so I already lean alkaline. Your mileage may vary, and may require bicarbonate addition to hit the ideal target of 5.4 - 5.45 for the mash.
That said... the real magic is in the peanut flavoring. Given that I prefer to do things the hard way, and avoid extracts and shoddy products, we're going to go old school alchemist on this one. Boogie on down to Whole Foods, and scoop up 1 pound of dry roasted peanuts from their peanut butter area. DON'T grind them. Instead, bring them home, and beat the living shit out of them in your food processor. You want basically as close to dust or fine gravel as you can get. Snatch some Everclear from the liquor store, place the nut dust in a mason jar (large), and cover with the Everclear, leaving at least an inch, no more than two over the top of the nuts. This is your baby; be sure to rock the baby once a day for... FOUR WEEKS. Yes, this is a commitment. But it's so much better than extract that sat on a shelf, and PB2 powder. For the last week, store this beast in the freezer. Each day, scoop the fat and scum off the top as best you can. When 4 weeks is up, use a coarse sieve to strain off the grain alcohol from the nuts; discard the nuts. Then, use coffee filters several times, passing the grain alcohol through until clear. This... is your peanut bomb. You should have about a cup left; toss into the keg and enjoy. |
