Looking for Winter kit

Hey all,

I'm interested in brewing a winter ale. Anybody have any suggestions on a good kit (extract with specialty grains) or a good recipe? I checked midwest and northern, but I would like some suggestions from the experts on this site. Thanks!

Have you tried BeerSmith? Good program for creating your own recipes.

I did something like this kit last winter. It was good:
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/winter-ale.html

Also: Search "Pumpkin Ales" and "Winter" in this forum.

Ziggy,
I saw that kit, but it says it takes 4-6 months for it to be ready. I'd like it for this winter.

Cyber,
I have BeerSmith, but I only have 2 brews under my belt plus a pumpkin ale fermenting right now. Not sure if I'm confident creating my own.
Thanks for the reply guys

I made the MW Winter Ale kit last year. It was delicious. Unfortunately, heavy beer = long conditioning. I made it in July of last year, and by January, it was more than ready.

OK. Maybe I'll try that one next year. If I do that one now it won't be ready until March. Anybody try this one?
http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/winter-warmer-extract-kit-2.html

Beuller?
Anyone?

salbast said:

Beuller?
Anyone?

Click to expand...

"dead grandmother, huh?" LOL

That's another long process. If you start now you can probably drink it by Super-bowl. I'd go for it. It sounds good.

Here is something I've always wanted to do: Buy a crap-load of the same ingredients and brew about six identical easy beers. The only difference being hops. That way I would be able to compare different hops and learn more about them. That's a fun winter project.

How do you figure that it would be ready by super bowl. The directions say 2 months. If I make it this weekend it should be ready by Thanksgiving. Is there something I'm missing?
I would do that experiment, but I'm limited to space and fermenters. I have a pumpkin ale in one fermenter. I want to make cider sometime soon and I would like a winter ale. I may nix the winter ale and just do a Christmas ale. Thanks for your help.

oh my bad.... I was reading some of the customer reviews and some made it sound like it took several months. I jumped to a conclusion, sorry.
Some folks just have a fat pipeline or are just super-patient and normally let their beers sit for months. I did not read the kit instructions. oops

Yea, in that case your good for the holidays!

It's all good. Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. I can't wait to get a nice pipeline going.

Northern Brewer's Winter Warmer is a very good all around winter brew.
I love it. I have some squirred away from last year and just keeps getting better with age.
Warming, but with out hot alcohol flavors, low hops, toffeee, and dark fruit flavor.

I may go with this one, but I want to add some flavoring as well to make it a Christmas ale. I was thinking about all-spice, honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and candy spice. Not sure about all of them but this is my first brew that I'm experimenting with. Any suggestions?

Bump^

Last year I did Austins Winter Warmer. It was awesome. I gave it away as Christmas presents. This year I did Midwest's Winter Ale. Not as much spice flavors as Austins but still a good beer. I'll go back with Austin's next year.