Brewing an Oatmeal Stout from Grain...tips? Suggestions?

[JayHawkeBrewer]

This is our first batch from grain. Just looking for any tips you all might have to make it a good first batch. thanks!!!

[Pentaquark]

It's hard to mess up stouts and porters. It'll be great. Just work on your bottling technique, re: the other thread you started.

[JayHawkeBrewer]

Thank you for the support. It's fun to know there are so many in the area doing the same thing.

[Frank]

I haven't good luck with this.

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Duck Head Stout
Brewer: Frank L Dillon
Asst Brewer:
Style: American Stout
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 13.95 gal
Post Boil Volume: 11.70 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 11.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 10.60 gal
Estimated OG: 1.059 SG
Estimated Color: 41.1 SRM
Estimated IBU: 59.8 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 82.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 83.9 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
10 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 43.5 %
3 lbs Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 2 13.0 %
3 lbs Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 3 13.0 %
2 lbs Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 4 8.7 %
2 lbs Munich Malt (8.0 SRM) Grain 5 8.7 %
2 lbs Roasted Barley (300.0 SRM) Grain 6 8.7 %
1 lbs Barley, Flaked (1.7 SRM) Grain 7 4.3 %
1.00 oz Magnum [14.00 %] - Boil 90.0 min Hop 8 25.8 IBUs
2.00 oz Centennial [11.60 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 9 28.0 IBUs
2.00 oz Willamette [3.50 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 10 6.0 IBUs
2.1 pkg American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) [124.21 Yeast 11 -


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Full Body
Total Grain Weight: 23 lbs
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 24.39 qt of water at 171.6 F 156.0 F 45 min
Mash Out Add 7.81 qt of water at 211.9 F 168.0 F 10 min

Sparge: Fly sparge with 8.72 gal water at 168.0 F

[Blktre]

I like to toast the oats in the oven. Adds a nice element to the beer. Also instead of using Flaked Oats you can use the Quick Oats found at the grocery store. Since they are rolled they are already gelatinized from the rolling process so all you need to to is toss them into the mash. No cereal mash is needed. That also goes for Flaked Oats but I've found its cheaper to get the Quick Oats from the grocery store. Quaker is the name brand but you can find off brands that are the exact same thing.