Russian Imperial Meddling (Imperial Stout - Year 2)

Russian Imperial Meddling Stout (8.5%)

14 lb 2 row barley
1 lb Special B 150 (subbed 10 oz double roasted crystal 115 and 6 oz patagonia caramel 190)
12 oz Roasted Barley(subbed 6 oz carafa II, 4 oz carafa I and 2 oz midnight wheat)
0.5 lb Munich 55 Malt (subbed regular munich)
1 lb Pale Chocolate malt
0.5 lb Black Patent malt
1.5 lb Flaked Oats
1 tsp gypsum 10 min (mash water and sparge water)
1/2 tsp Calcium Chloride 10 min (mash water and sparge water)
2 oz cacoa powder at flameout
3.7 oz cacao nibs (secondary) 1-2 weeks (reduced from 4 oz)
vanilla beans (secondary) 1-2 weeks (excluded because too expensive)
4 oz cold steeped coffee secondary 1 week  (increased from 2)
1 Oak Spiral (medium toasted oak)  add to secondary for 1-2 weeks (sterilize with vanilla vodka)
1-2 oz per 5 gallons. 1-2+ weeks with chips. 1-2+ months with cubes


Mash at 153 deg for 60-90 min (started at 175 deg and maintained mash temp at 152-153!!)
Safale 04 (cool wort to 70 F before pitching yeast)
1 oz Zeus cones, 0.5 oz Apollo 60 min  (start with 6.5-7 gallons pre boil) (started with just under 7 gal and ended up with 5) (increased from 0.5 oz)
1 oz Zeus cones, 0.5 oz Apollo hops 10 min (increased from 0.25 oz)

Primary 3 weeks (due to vacation)
Secondary 1 week on coffee and cacao nibs and oak
Oak for an additional week, then added 2 oz cacao nibs for final 2 days.
Bottled on January 6th 2019

Brewed on Dec. 1st
Transferred to Secondary on Dec. 23

Tasting Notes:
It's a bit bitter and astringent for a stout.  Not sure if the bitterness is coming from the oak, hops or nibs.  Fantastic and strong chocolate nose.
Next time I would use correct grain bill, even if I have to wait,  don't do second steep of cacao nibs,
maybe eliminate coffee, reduce hops.  Its just too much chocolate and hops, not enough grains.  Maybe add some lactose.

It should mellow with age.

After 6-8 months if smoothed out and got more body, a little less bitter.