🥜 Spring Peanut Butter Porter – A Smooth Twist on a Classic

Choobies
Apr 17
3 min read

Category: Choobrew 🍺

Posted by: John Isaiah

Brewed Package Date : 4/14/25

Every so often, I like to switch things up by letting the community decide what I brew next — and this time, I turned to the Choobies Ground chat for inspiration. I knew I wanted to make a porter, but I was torn on the direction: vanilla? Guinness-style? A roasty coffee one? Maybe chocolate?

But then someone said “Peanut Butter.” And I thought… hmm. That’s different. That’s bold.So I went with it.

What followed was one of the most creative (and weirdly smooth) brewing sessions I’ve had in a minute. I didn’t just throw peanut butter extract into a dark ale and call it a day — I wanted to craft something layered and clean, with just enough of a fun twist to keep you coming back to the glass.

And honestly? It worked.

👃 The Vibe

The Spring Peanut Butter Porter pours like black coffee and carries a soft, sweet chocolate aroma. It’s not overpowering — just the right amount of roast and subtle nutty depth. The ABV landed on the lighter side (~4.6%) so it’s easy to sip, especially in warmer weather. Smooth, balanced, and mellow — perfect for spring.

I even dry-hopped it with cocoa nibs to bring out that chocolate complexity — something I’d never done before in a porter. The result? A gentle roast meets dessert-like smoothness without being heavy or bitter.

📋 The Build (Overview Style)

Here's a snapshot of how it all came together — no overwhelming brew science, just the highlights:

🍫 Grain Bill:

10.5 lbs Pale Ale Malt
1.75 lbs Munich
1.25 lbs Chocolate Malt
1 lb Flaked Oats (for body)
0.75 lb Crystal 60
0.5 lb Roasted Barley (for that coffee roast backbone.

🔥 Hops & Extras:

1.25 oz Willamette at 60 min
0.5 oz Willamette in a whirlpool @ 180–190°F
4 oz Cocoa nibs (dry-hopped during secondary)
1–2.5 oz Peanut Butter Extract (added at packaging)

🍻 Yeast & Fermentation:

2 packets of Safale US-05
Fermented cool at ~66°F for 2 weeks
Optional gelatin fining + cold crash (I used a cooler bag, it works!)

📊 Final Stats:

ABV: ~4.6%
IBU: ~25
Color: Dark brown to black (SRM ~35)
Flavor: Smooth roast, hint of chocolate, peanut aroma without being sweet or gimmicky

💭 Reflections

This brew came out more mellow than I expected — not some sugar bomb dessert beer, but a balanced, roasty spring sipper with character. I wanted it that way. This isn’t the heavy winter stout you sip by a fire — it’s the porter you grab for a chill hang in shorts and a hoodie.

Would I brew it again? 100%. But next time, I might dial the peanut up just a notch for the folks who love bold flavors. It’s all about learning, testing, and drinking your way through the ideas.

📅 Want a Taste?

I’m pouring samples soon. If you’re down to try the Spring PB Porter, schedule a tasting here.

And if you feel like supporting the next batch of madness, donations are always welcome — they go right back into making Choobies better, one brew at a time 🍻

See y’all in the next one. Got a chocolatey-orange porter idea spinning already… stay tuned.

— John Isaiah#Choobrew #PeanutButterPorter #SpringSips